Oxfordshire · England
Tapas Catering for Islip events
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Islip: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Table tapas as a starter
- Tapas before paella
- Engagement celebrations
Tapas catering near Islip
For event organisers in Islip
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
About our tapas catering in Islip
We can add sangria and bar staff, so drinks and nibbles come from one booking. We are frequently asked to cater table tapas as a starter and drinks reception canapés, serving Manchego with membrillo, albóndigas and patatas bravas.
Near Islip, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. Timings are planned around your event, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Location
- Islip (OX5)
- County
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Before you choose a spot
We will be honest if a space won’t work, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- Access to unload near the serving area
- Space for a serving table or station
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Serrano ham
What tapas catering costs
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- The number of people
- How many courses
- Your choice of paellas
- Whether you need crockery
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Details that help
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: send us your details through our quote form.
More for events in Islip
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Step by step
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. A summer drinks reception in Islip has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s 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 arrive, set up and finish the hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We pack down when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Getting a price
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Tapas for events in Islip
Islip is about 5 miles north of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. From the centre of Islip to the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cater in 443 places in Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages.
Historic houses near Islip include Holywell Manor, Oxford (4.6 miles south). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. For guests coming by train, Islip station is in Islip itself.
Tapas catering in OX5 is planned around your venue and your guests. Whether your event is on High Street, King's Head Lane and Middle Way or a nearby road, we can cook there. We also cook at events in Gosford (2 miles south-west), Hampton Poyle (2 miles north-west), Kidlington (2 miles west), Bletchingdon (3 miles north-west) and Weston-on-the-Green (3 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Oxford (5 miles south), Didcot (15 miles south), Bicester (6 miles north-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (10 miles south), Witney (11 miles west) and Thame (12 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Churchill Hospital (4.1 miles south). The countryside around Islip includes Otmoor RSPB reserve and Headington Hill.
- Schools near Islip include Gosford Hill School (1.9 miles west)
- Pubs nearby include The Red Lion Inn (less than half a mile north-west)
Live paella or other catering?
Generic canapés all look the same. Tapas bring something different. There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why Islip hosts choose us
- Catering across Oxfordshire, including Islip
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Read Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
Why choose tapas catering in Islip?
They work for any size of event.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Islip:
- Tapas before paella
- Sharing tapas starters
- Engagement celebrations
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Nicholas' Church.
What to look for in a quote
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- What happens if it rains
- How long the team stays
- Whether VAT is included
Planning for every diet
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
- Label seafood clearly
- Tell us what role tapas play
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
Canapés circulate with drinks as guests arrive.
Churros or crema catalana to finish.
FAQs for Islip
Do you come out to small places like Islip?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Nicholas' Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Is halal food available?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
What does tapas catering cost?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Tell us your date and numbers and we’ll reply with a price.
Do you take everything away?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Is the paella gluten-free?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Can you cater for children?
Of course. Children frequently love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
- 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