Oxfordshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Chilson, Oxfordshire
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Chilson. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Cocktail parties
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Work receptions
Planning an event in Chilson?
Chilson: your questions answered
We are having a ceremony at Church of All Saints: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Which station should guests use for Chilson?
Ascott-Under-Wychwood station, about 1.2 miles west of the centre.
Can you do sangria?
We can add sangria and bar staff.
Are your tapas vegetarian-friendly?
Yes. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
Do you provide serving staff?
Staff make canapés work, which we can supply.
Do you do starters?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
How do you work out quantities?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
Tapas catering for your event in Chilson
Tapas are sharing food, made for conversation. Canapés go round while guests mingle, or table tapas go out to share. On the menu are gambas al ajillo, tortilla española and Serrano ham, and we’re regularly asked to cater drinks reception canapés and tapas before paella.
Near Chilson, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, not reheated, and served as soon as it is ready.
- Area
- Chilson (OX7)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Step by step
On the day, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so the timing is planned around your event. A summer drinks reception in Chilson has daylight until about 9:30pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Tell us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- Canapés go round or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Get a quote
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Is live paella right for your event?
Standard canapés can feel samey. Tapas bring something different. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
What you get with us
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- We cover Chilson and the whole of Oxfordshire
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Take a look at How we price Or The cost guide.
Planning for every diet
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Include staff for canapés
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Spanish desserts to finish.
Dishes our guests love
Manchego & membrillo
A simple, classic pairing.
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, often with ham or mushroom.
Prices and what affects them
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Distance and access to the venue
- How many guests are eating
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
What we need to know
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- What the venue already provides
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The date and time of the event
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Events we cater in Chilson
One spread covers many tastes and diets.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Launches and office parties
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Engagement celebrations
- Tapas and paella menus
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of All Saints, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Comparing caterers
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Allergen information for each dish
- VAT, if it applies
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
Drinks receptions around Chilson
Chilson is about 6 miles north of Witney, in Oxfordshire. Anywhere in OX7, we can cook for your guests. Chilson is one of 443 places in Oxfordshire where we cook. You can also see our page for Oxford, about 16 miles away.
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Ascott-Under-Wychwood station, about 1.2 miles west.
We cater events across OX7 and the streets around it. We can cater an event on streets such as Pudlicote Lane and School Lane or the roads around them. For events just outside Chilson, we cover Shorthampton (1 mile north-east), Ascott-under-Wychwood (1 mile south-west), Ascott d'Oyley (1 mile south-west), Ascott Earl (1 mile south-west) and Chadlington (2 miles north). Further out, we also cater in Banbury (15 miles north-east), Witney (6 miles south), Carterton (8 miles south), Faringdon (15 miles south), Kidlington (11 miles east) and Chipping Norton (5 miles north).
Open spaces near Chilson include Blenheim Farm.
Places near Chilson
More for events in Chilson
Organising for someone else?
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
- 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