Oxfordshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Headington Quarry, Oxfordshire
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Headington Quarry.
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Launches and office parties
- Engagement drinks
Book tapas catering in Headington Quarry
Tapas catering in Headington Quarry, made fresh on the day
Hot tapas are finished on site, so they’re served at their best. We are often asked to cater engagement celebrations and birthday and anniversary parties, serving patatas bravas, tortilla española and gambas al ajillo.
In Headington Quarry, tapas work at home or in a local hall. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Area
- Headington Quarry (OX3)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Drinks receptions around Headington Quarry
Headington Quarry is about 2 miles north-east of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. Whether your event is in the middle of Headington Quarry or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cater in all 443 towns and villages in Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Holy Trinity Church. Historic houses near Headington Quarry include Holywell Manor, Oxford (2 miles west) and Garsington Manor (3.7 miles south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
Tapas catering in OX3 is planned around your venue. We can cater an event on streets such as Old Road, Mark Road and York Road. If your venue is just outside Headington Quarry, we also cover Headington (1 mile north-west), Headington Hill (1 mile west), Northway (1 mile north-west), Oxford (2 miles south-west) and New Marston (2 miles west). Further out, we also cater in Didcot (11 miles south), Bicester (10 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (7 miles south-west), Witney (13 miles west), Thame (10 miles east) and Wantage (15 miles south-west).
Nearby you’ll also find Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (0.5 miles south-west) and Templars Square (2.1 miles south). The countryside around Headington Quarry includes CS Lewis Nature Reserve and Shotover.
- Local schools include Windmill Primary School (within half a mile south-west) and Cheney School (1.1 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Chequers pub (under half a mile south-east)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include English Faculty Library (2 miles west)
A closer look at the menu
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce.
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil.
Live paella or other catering?
A plated starter needs a kitchen and staff. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What you get with us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Towns and villages near Headington Quarry
Also in Headington Quarry
What happens on the day
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Evening receptions in Headington Quarry stay light until about 9:00pm in late May and 9:25pm in late 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.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Ask for a quote
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
Related guides
Who books tapas catering in Headington Quarry?
Tapas get people talking, because everyone shares.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Headington Quarry, people book us for events such as:
- Birthday drinks
- Tapas and paella menus
- Engagement celebrations
- Work receptions
Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Oxford station, about 3 miles west.
Before you book anyone
- Staff numbers and hours
- The wet-weather plan
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
Working with your venue
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Headington Quarry? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Catering for every guest
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
Canapés circulate with drinks as guests arrive.
Follow tapas with a live paella.
What we need at the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Unloading access
- Space for a serving table or station
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
On the menu in Headington Quarry
- Chorizo in red wine
- Padrón peppers
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
Your questions about tapas catering in Headington Quarry
Is Headington Quarry close to London?
About 51 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
We’re having a ceremony at Holy Trinity Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Are the tapas served hot?
We finish hot dishes on site; cold ones go out as guests arrive.
What does tapas catering cost?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
When do you arrive?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Yes. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Can we add drinks?
Sangria and bar staff can be added.
- 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