Oxfordshire · England
Tapas Catering for Checkendon events
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Checkendon: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, right in front of your guests.
- Evening grazing
- Tapas before paella
- Cocktail parties
Book tapas catering in Checkendon
Planning the cooking area
If a space is not suitable, we’ll tell you. What matters most:
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Space for a serving table or station
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Checkendon
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Albóndigas
- Gambas al ajillo
How our tapas catering works in Checkendon
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they’re served at their best. For receptions and drinks parties and work receptions, we’ll put together a menu of tortilla española, gambas al ajillo and patatas bravas for your guests.
Near Checkendon, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Where
- Checkendon (RG8)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Perfect for your event in Checkendon
One spread covers many tastes and diets.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Drinks reception canapés
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Engagement parties
- Tapas before paella
For guests coming by train, Goring & Streatley station is about 4.4 miles away.
What your quote should include
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Whether travel is included
- If the price includes VAT
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Checkendon: venues and local tips
Checkendon is about 6 miles north-west of Caversham, in Oxfordshire. For an event in Checkendon, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Checkendon. Checkendon is one of 443 towns and villages in Oxfordshire we cover. We cook right across the region, from Checkendon to Reading (about 7 miles away).
After a ceremony at a church such as St Peter and St Paul, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Historic houses near Checkendon include Greys Court (3.5 miles east) and Mapledurham House (4.3 miles south). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed. The Chilterns National Landscape is within about 7 miles of Checkendon, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
Wherever your event is in RG8, we can cook for your guests. Whether your event is on Uxmore Road, Whitehall Lane and Lovegrove's Lane or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Other places close to Checkendon for tapas catering include Stoke Row (1 mile east), Hook End (1 mile south), Woodcote (2 miles south-west), Heath End (2 miles north) and Ipsden (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Didcot (10 miles north-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles north-west), Thame (14 miles north), Henley-on-Thames (6 miles east), Benson (6 miles north-west) and Chinnor (12 miles north-east).
Green spaces nearby include Hartslock.
- Nearby schools include Langtree School (1.6 miles south-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Black Horse pub (less than half a mile north)
For planners, venues and organisers
Throwing a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Checkendon? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
What else we do in Checkendon
FAQs for Checkendon
Is Checkendon too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Which station should guests use for Checkendon?
The closest is Goring & Streatley station, roughly 4.4 miles away.
Can we add drinks?
We can add sangria and bar staff.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan for them.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
How much paella per person?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and we will cook a separate pan.
Do you cover Checkendon?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including Checkendon and the rest of Oxfordshire. To check your date, fill in our quote form.
What affects the price in Checkendon
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Travel, parking and access
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- The number of people
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
What to tell us
For a quote, it helps to have:
- The address or venue name
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Anything your venue supplies
- Roughly how many adults and children
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can use our quote form.
Paella compared with other options
Tapas are flexible, so they fit most plans. There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Checkendon
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- A clear, itemised quote
- Events in Checkendon and across Oxfordshire
Take a look at Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
Tapas go out to the tables at the start of the meal.
Crockery and serving dishes.
The process
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is served at its best. Sunset in Checkendon is around 9:25pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Getting a price
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, use our quote form.
Read more
- Cooked live in giant pans at your event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options
- Paella, tapas, canapés and desserts
- Sangria, bar staff, crockery and waiting staff