Oxfordshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Great Holcombe, Oxfordshire
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Great Holcombe: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, right in front of your guests.
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas starters
- Launches and office parties
Planning an event in Great Holcombe?
About our tapas catering in Great Holcombe
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, served while the paella cooks, but they work on their own too. For engagement parties and drinks parties and receptions, we can cook gambas al ajillo, tortilla española and croquetas and more.
Near Great Holcombe, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Location
- Great Holcombe (OX10)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Is live paella right for your event?
Crisps and nibbles fill a gap. Tapas are a real course. There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Why book with us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Towns and villages near Great Holcombe
More for events in Great Holcombe
Receptions and parties in Great Holcombe
Great Holcombe is about 3 miles north of Benson, in Oxfordshire. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in Great Holcombe and the surrounding area. We cover all 443 towns and villages in Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Great Holcombe to Oxford (8 miles away).
Historic buildings near Great Holcombe often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Giles. Great Holcombe is within about 8 miles of the Chilterns National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
We cater events across the OX10 postcode area. Nearby, we also cater events in Newington (1 mile north), Drayton St Leonard (1 mile west), Brookhampton (1 mile north), Stadhampton (1 mile north) and Berrick Salome (1 mile south-east). Further out, we also cater in Oxford (8 miles north-west), Didcot (7 miles south-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (7 miles west), Thame (9 miles north-east), Wantage (14 miles west) and Henley-on-Thames (13 miles south-east).
A little further out are Brightwell Castle (4 miles south-west) and Littlemore Hospital (5.8 miles north-west). Open spaces near Great Holcombe include Wells Farm and Wittenham Clumps.
- Nearby, you’ll find The Catherine Wheel pub (0.7 miles west)
Your questions about tapas catering in Great Holcombe
Is Great Holcombe close to London?
About 45 miles from central London, and well within our area.
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 follow the site rules.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it’s short notice, it is worth asking.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Yes. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
For event organisers in Great Holcombe
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
What affects the price in Great Holcombe
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Your choice of paellas
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Timings and hours
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What to tell us
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Which courses you have in mind
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
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.
Diets, allergies and planning
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Let us know if tapas are a starter or the main event
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Label seafood clearly
Hot tapas are finished on site and served right away.
Serving boards and crockery.
About the dishes
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.
Croquetas
Always among the first to go.
Where we can cook in Great Holcombe
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- A spot for our serving station
- Space on each table
- Unloading access
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
The process
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. A summer drinks reception in Great Holcombe has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. 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.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Ask for a quote
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Read more
- 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