Oxfordshire · England
Tapas Catering for Crowell events
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Crowell: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests.
- Engagement drinks
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Evening sharing boards
Book tapas catering in Crowell
Tapas catering for your event in Crowell
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, served while the paella cooks, but they work on their own too. Popular choices include padrón peppers, tortilla española and Serrano ham, and typical bookings are for work receptions and drinks parties and receptions.
For a country party near Crowell, tapas and sangria set the mood. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Where
- Crowell (OX39)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Crowell questions
How far is Crowell from London?
Roughly 38 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you cater in the Chilterns National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Can you cook indoors?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Do you supply canapé staff?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
What space do you need to cook?
Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a photo if you’re not sure.
Do you do starters?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Do you take everything away?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
DIY paella versus live catering
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Planning the cooking area
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- A spot for our serving station
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
Menu ideas
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
How the day works
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Evening receptions in Crowell stay light until about 8:55pm in late May and 9:25pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Preparing for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
How to get a price
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
Planning help
Catering for every guest
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
Dishes are labelled for diets and allergens.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
Drinks receptions around Crowell
Crowell is about 4 miles south-east of Thame, in Oxfordshire. Anywhere in OX39, we’ll come to your venue or garden. We cater in 443 places in Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Crowell to Oxford (14 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Princes Risborough station, about 3.9 miles north-east. After a ceremony at a church such as Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. The Chilterns National Landscape is within about 3 miles of Crowell, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Here we cover the OX39 postcode area. For events just outside Crowell, we cover Kingston Blount (1 mile west), Oakley (1 mile north-east), Crowell Hill (1 mile south-east), Aston Rowant (1 mile south-west) and Postcombe (2 miles west). Further out, we also cater in Oxford (14 miles west), Didcot (15 miles west), Abingdon-on-Thames (15 miles west), Thame (4 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (11 miles south) and Benson (9 miles south-west).
Nearby you will also find Thame Community Hospital (4.2 miles north-west). The countryside around Crowell includes Oakley Hill nature reserve and Bald Hill.
- Pubs nearby include The Shepherd's Crook pub (less than half a mile south)
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Standard canapés can feel samey. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why book with us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- A quote that spells everything out
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Also near Crowell
More for events in Crowell
The menu, dish by dish
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite when made carefully.
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
How we price tapas catering
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Timings and hours
- The number of people
- How many courses
- Whether you need crockery
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What to tell us
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- Anything your venue supplies
- Where the event is
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Thinking about tapas catering for your event in Crowell? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just use our quote form.
For event organisers in Crowell
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
- 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