Oxfordshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Drayton, Oxfordshire
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Drayton.
- Evening grazing
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Tapas with a paella main course
Tapas catering in Drayton
Tapas catering in Drayton, made fresh on the day
A good spread mixes hot and cold: cold cheese and ham with hot bravas, croquetas and garlic prawns. We cook gambas al ajillo, patatas bravas and tortilla española, and we’re regularly asked to cater table tapas as a starter and launches and office parties.
In a rural spot like Drayton, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
- Location
- Drayton (OX16, OX15, OX17)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Diets, allergies and planning
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Collect dietary needs
- Label seafood clearly
- Ask for labels on each dish
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Serving boards and crockery.
Receptions and parties in Drayton
Drayton is about 1 mile north-west of Banbury, in Oxfordshire. Anywhere in OX16, we can bring the pans to you. Drayton is one of 443 places in Oxfordshire where we cook. Our nearest city page is Oxford, about 23 miles away.
If you are looking at a historic venue around Drayton, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. A picnic in People's Park? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering.
Tapas catering in OX16, OX15 and OX17 is planned around your venue and your guests. That could mean an event in a garden on Smythe Road, Hermon Road and Poulter Road or the roads around them. For events just outside Drayton, we cover Wroxton (1 mile west), Neithrop (1 mile south-east), Ruscote (1 mile south-east), North Newington (1 mile south-west) and Banbury (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Bicester (15 miles south-east), Bure Park (15 miles south-east), Chipping Norton (12 miles south-west), Bloxham (4 miles south), Bodicote (3 miles south-east) and Charlbury (14 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Castle Quay Shopping Centre (1.9 miles east) and Hanwell Castle (1.3 miles north). Open spaces near Drayton include Crouch Hill.
- Local schools include Drayton School (within half a mile east) and William Morris Primary School (0.5 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include Roebuck Inn (within half a mile north)
For planners, venues and organisers
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Hosting a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Questions from Drayton
Is Drayton too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can you cook in People's Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Can you serve drinks?
We can make sangria, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and meat eaters often go back for seconds. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Do you supply canapé staff?
Staff make canapés work, and we can provide them.
Do you take everything away?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Can we have tapas without paella?
Yes, tapas work on their own.
How do you work out quantities?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Tell us what else is being served. See how much paella per person.
Nearby places to Drayton
Also in Drayton
What tapas catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Guest numbers
- Travel, parking and access
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- How many courses
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What we need to know
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The venue or postcode
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
About the dishes
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Patatas bravas
Always popular.
Why choose live paella in Drayton?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas make a proper course. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Drayton
- A clear, itemised quote
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Sangria and bar staff available
See Our prices page Or The cost guide.
How it works
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. At midsummer, it is light in Drayton until about 9:30pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want 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.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Before we arrive
- Give us a contact for the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Plan cover in case of rain
Ask for a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Who books tapas catering in Drayton?
Big or small, tapas work.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Launches and office parties
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Sharing tapas starters
- Engagement parties
Nearby historic houses include Broughton Castle (2.3 miles south) and Upton House (4.5 miles north-west). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
Questions to ask before you book
- VAT, if it applies
- The venue requirements
- How long the team stays
- How late numbers can change
DIY paella versus live catering
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 for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
- 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