Buckinghamshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Downley, Buckinghamshire
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Downley. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Table tapas as a starter
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Canapés with welcome drinks
Live tapas catering in Downley
About our tapas catering in Downley
For standing receptions, canapés work best; table tapas suit seated meals. Many events have both. Whether it is anniversary parties and engagement celebrations, we’ll put together a menu of Manchego with membrillo, patatas bravas and Serrano ham and more.
In a rural spot like Downley, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras.
- Location
- Downley (HP13)
- Area hub
- Buckinghamshire
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Planners, venues and businesses
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Who books tapas catering in Downley?
Easy to eat with a glass in hand.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We frequently cook for:
- Anniversary parties
- Evening grazing
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Welcome-drink canapés
After a ceremony at a church such as St. James the Great, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Before booking anyone
- How bad weather is handled
- VAT, if it applies
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- What the price includes, item by item
What we need at the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- Parking near the venue
- A spot for our serving station
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
Menu ideas
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
What’s in the pans
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat, frequently with ham or mushroom.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
What tapas catering costs
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The number of people
- Waiting and bar staff
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Your choice of paellas
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What to tell us
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Which courses you have in mind
- Anything your venue supplies
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
Downley: venues and local tips
Downley is about 2 miles north-west of High Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire. From the centre of Downley to the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Downley is one of 263 towns and villages in Buckinghamshire we cover. Our nearest city page is Reading, about 16 miles away.
Historic buildings near Downley frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue. Nearby historic houses include Hughenden Manor (0.8 miles east) and West Wycombe Park House (1.2 miles west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. The Chilterns National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Downley, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Anywhere in HP13, we can bring tapas catering to you. From Willoughby's Walk, Gray's Lane and West Court or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. Other places close to Downley for tapas catering include Naphill (1 mile north), Hughenden Valley (2 miles north-east), High Wycombe (2 miles south-east), Terriers (2 miles east) and Four Ashes (2 miles east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Aylesbury (12 miles north), Chesham (8 miles north-east), Marlow (5 miles south), Amersham (8 miles east), Beaconsfield (6 miles south-east) and Chalfont St Peter (10 miles east).
A little further out are Wycombe Hospital (1.7 miles south-east) and West Wycombe Rural (2.2 miles west). Not far away are Prestwood Local Nature Reserve.
- Nearby schools include The Tower (1.4 miles south-east) and The Royal Grammar School (1.6 miles east)
- Local pubs include Le De Spencers Arms (0.6 miles north)
Places near Downley
What else we do in Downley
Your questions about tapas catering in Downley
Is Downley too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you cater in the Chilterns National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Can you cook indoors?
Normally 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?
Canapés work best with staff serving, which we can supply.
How many tapas per person?
We plan quantities around your timings and courses. Give us the details and we will advise.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan for them.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Step by step
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so the timing is planned around your event. Sunset in Downley is around 9:25pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- We check your date.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Before we arrive
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. Start when you are ready: fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Paella compared with other options
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why Downley hosts choose us
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Fast service from the pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Events in Downley and across Buckinghamshire
Take a look at Our prices page Or What paella catering costs.
- 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