Oxfordshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Forest Hill, Oxfordshire
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Forest Hill and across Oxfordshire.
- Tapas and paella menus
- Evening sharing boards
- Welcome-drink canapés
Tapas catering near Forest Hill
Tapas catering for your event in Forest Hill
Receptions, parties, office events and weddings all suit tapas. Popular choices include albóndigas, Manchego with membrillo and tortilla española, and we’re often booked for tapas and paella menus and sharing tapas starters.
In a rural spot like Forest Hill, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. You’ll know exactly what’s included before you book: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
- Area
- Forest Hill (OX33)
- County
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Paella compared with other options
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, so they fit most plans. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Forest Hill
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- We cover Forest Hill and the whole of Oxfordshire
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Also near Forest Hill
More for events in Forest Hill
Why choose tapas catering in Forest Hill?
They suit standing receptions where a full meal does not fit.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Table tapas as a starter
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Nearby historic houses include Garsington Manor (3.6 miles south) and Holywell Manor, Oxford (4 miles west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
Comparing caterers
- The deposit and payment dates
- Staff numbers and hours
- Allergen information for each dish
- How late numbers can change
How we price tapas catering
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Your choice of paellas
- How long we’re needed on site
- Guest numbers
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Larger events typically cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What we need to know
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The venue or postcode
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Anything your venue supplies
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Common questions in Forest Hill
Do you come out to small places like Forest Hill?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Could we have live paella in Shotover Country Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
How do you work out quantities?
That depends on their role in the meal. Tell us about the event and we will suggest quantities.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
When do you arrive?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Yes. Tapas can be booked without paella.
Do we need staff for canapés?
Canapés work best with staff serving, which we can supply.
Planning a tapas spread in Forest Hill
Forest Hill is about 3 miles east of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. Whether your event is in the middle of Forest Hill or on the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Forest Hill is one of 443 places in Oxfordshire we cover.
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Nicholas, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Parks such as Shotover Country Park have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there.
For tapas catering in OX33, we plan around your venue and timings. From Main Street, Milton Crescent and Powell Close or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. For events just outside Forest Hill, we cover Holton (1 mile south-east), Stanton St John (1 mile north), Littleworth (1 mile south), Risinghurst (2 miles west) and Wheatley (2 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Oxford (3 miles west), Didcot (11 miles south), Bicester (9 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (8 miles south-west), Witney (14 miles west) and Thame (8 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Waterperry Gardens Rural Museum (2.9 miles east) and Templars Square (3.5 miles south-west). Not far away are CS Lewis Nature Reserve and Shotover.
- Local schools include Wheatley Park School (1.1 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Kings Arm's Public House (less than half a mile north-east)
Catering for every guest
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Ensure dishes are labelled
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
Canapés go round with the drinks.
Sangria and bar staff.
A closer look at the menu
Gambas al ajillo
A favourite with seafood lovers.
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic and usually vegetarian.
For planners, venues and organisers
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
The process
When we arrive, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. Sunset in Forest Hill 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.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Before we arrive
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Ask for a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Space, weather and the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Parking near the venue
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Space on each table
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
Menu ideas
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- 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