Oxfordshire · England
Tapas Catering for Dean Court events
Planning tapas catering in Dean Court? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Engagement celebrations
- Evening sharing boards
Planning an event in Dean Court?
For event organisers in Dean Court
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Dean Court? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
How our tapas catering works in Dean Court
Tapas pair naturally with a live paella, as a starter while the rice cooks, but they work on their own too. We cook padrón peppers, gambas al ajillo and Manchego with membrillo, and typical bookings are for tapas before paella and canapés with welcome drinks.
Around Dean Court, tapas suit garden parties and village-hall celebrations. We serve straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Where
- Dean Court (OX2)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
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.
Space, weather and the venue
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- A spot for our serving station
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
Popular choices
- Gambas al ajillo
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
Drinks receptions around Dean Court
Dean Court is about 3 miles west of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. We cook at events in gardens, halls and venues around Dean Court. We cook in 443 places across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages.
Parks such as Raleigh Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there. For guests coming by train, Oxford station is about 1.7 miles away.
Here we cover the OX2 postcode area. That could mean an event in a garden on Green Lane, Hazel Road and Poplar Road. We also cook at events in Botley (1 mile east), Chawley (1 mile south-west), Filchampstead (1 mile west), Cumnor (2 miles south-west) and Farmoor (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Oxford (3 miles east), Didcot (10 miles south), Bicester (12 miles north-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (5 miles south), Witney (8 miles west) and Carterton (12 miles west).
Well-known places in the area include Radcliffe Infirmary (2.2 miles east) and Oxford University Press Museum (2 miles east). Open spaces near Dean Court include Harcourt Hill and Hook Meadow and The Trap Grounds.
- Schools near Dean Court include Botley School (0.6 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include The Seacourt Bridge pub (under half a mile east)
More for events in Dean Court
Why choose live paella in Dean Court?
Generic canapés all look the same. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why us?
- A clear, itemised quote
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Take a look at How we price Or The cost guide.
How we price tapas catering
These are the factors that matter most:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Guest numbers
- Parking and unloading
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What we need to know
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Your date and when you want to eat
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Who books tapas catering in Dean Court?
They suit standing receptions where a full meal doesn’t fit.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Dean Court and Oxfordshire:
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Office parties and launches
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Engagement parties
Nearby historic houses include Holywell Manor, Oxford (2.7 miles east) and Appleton Manor (3.4 miles south-west). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Before you book anyone
- The deposit and payment dates
- Space, access and power needs
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Whether VAT is included
The menu, dish by dish
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns with a little chilli.
Patatas bravas
Always popular and usually vegetarian.
The process
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. Sunset in Dean Court is around 9:25pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Before we arrive
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
How to get a price
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Common questions in Dean Court
How far is Dean Court from London?
Roughly 55 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
We’re having a ceremony at St Andrew's: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Do you cater for young children?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is typically popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
Are your tapas vegetarian-friendly?
Many tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. We label each dish.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans.
- 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