Oxfordshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Donnington, Oxfordshire
Looking for tapas catering in Donnington? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Launches and office parties
- Engagement drinks
Tapas catering near Donnington
Donnington: your questions answered
What’s the nearest station to Donnington for guests?
The closest is Oxford station, roughly 1.9 miles away.
Can you cook in South Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Donnington.
Can you cook indoors?
Usually we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Do you supply canapé staff?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to serve.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it is cooked separately.
Can you cater for children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we’ll plan for them.
About our tapas catering in Donnington
Tapas are sharing food, made for conversation. We serve them in two ways: canapés carried round while guests mingle, or table tapas set down to share. Typical bookings include drinks reception canapés and table tapas as a starter, serving Manchego with membrillo, albóndigas and padrón peppers.
Around Donnington, tapas suit garden parties and village-hall celebrations. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, not reheated, and served as soon as it’s ready.
- Area
- Donnington (OX4, OX1)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Planners, venues and businesses
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
If you’re 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 saves passing messages back and forth.
Receptions and parties in Donnington
Donnington is about 1 mile south of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. We bring tapas catering to gardens, halls and venues around Donnington and nearby villages. We cover 443 places across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages.
After a ceremony at a church such as St Alban the Martyr, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Oxford station, about 1.9 miles north-west.
This part of Oxfordshire takes in OX4 and OX1, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. From Meadow Lane, Arnold Road and Iffley Road or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. Donnington sits on or near the A4158, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. Nearby, we also cater events in Iffley (1 mile south-east), New Hinksey (1 mile west), Cowley (1 mile south-east), Oxford (1 mile north) and Redbridge (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cater in Didcot (9 miles south), Bicester (12 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (5 miles south-west), Witney (12 miles west), Thame (11 miles east) and Wantage (13 miles south-west).
Nearby you will also find Warneford Hospital (1 mile north-east) and British Tattoo History Museum (0.5 miles north-east). The countryside around Donnington includes CS Lewis Nature Reserve and Headington Hill.
- Nearby schools include Greyfriars Catholic School (less than half a mile east) and Emmanuel Christian School (1.3 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include Magdalen Arms (under half a mile north-west)
- Other local spots include Alexander Library of Ornithology (1.1 miles north-west)
Also near Donnington
Also in Donnington
Step by step
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you can enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first while the paella cooks. At midsummer, it’s light in Donnington until about 9:25pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- On the day we arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Preparing for the day
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Ask for a quote
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
DIY paella versus live catering
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Space, weather and the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Unloading access
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before booking.
What we offer
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
Dishes our guests love
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite when made carefully.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat.
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Include staff for canapés
- Add sangria or cava
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Tell us what role tapas play
Staff carry canapés round and keep boards topped up.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
How we price tapas catering
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Guest numbers
- How many courses
- How long we are needed on site
- Parking and unloading
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The courses you’d like
- Where the event is
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Donnington, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Why choose tapas catering in Donnington?
They work for any size of event.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Office parties and launches
- Table tapas as a starter
- Canapés with welcome drinks
A picnic in South Park? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering.
Comparing caterers
- Staff numbers and hours
- How bad weather is handled
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- The venue requirements
- 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