Oxfordshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Kennington, Oxfordshire
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Kennington: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Drinks reception canapés
- Birthday drinks
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Live tapas catering in Kennington
How it works
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. Sunset in Kennington is around 9:25pm in June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Getting ready for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you’re ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Tapas catering in Kennington, cooked live
A good spread mixes hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. Popular choices include patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo and albóndigas, and typical bookings are for cocktail parties and table tapas as a starter.
Around Kennington, tapas suit garden parties and village-hall celebrations. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Where
- Kennington (OX1, OX14)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Towns and villages near Kennington
Other catering in Kennington
FAQs for Kennington
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Swithun's Church?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
What’s the nearest station to Kennington for guests?
Radley station, about 1.8 miles south of the centre.
How do you work out quantities?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. We’ll suggest quantities for your event.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Yes. Tapas and canapés can be booked on their own.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and it is cooked separately.
What affects the price in Kennington
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Waiting and bar staff
- How long we are needed on site
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
What to tell us
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- The date and rough timings
- The venue or postcode
- Expected numbers
- Which courses you have in mind
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Working with your venue
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Organising a club, school or community event in Kennington? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
Why choose tapas catering in Kennington?
They work for any size of event.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Engagement celebrations
- Sharing tapas starters
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Birthday drinks
Historic houses near Kennington include Holywell Manor, Oxford (3.1 miles north) and Garsington Manor (3.7 miles east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
Before you book anyone
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- How late numbers can change
- Allergen information for each dish
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
Before you choose a spot
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Permission from the venue
- An area to prepare hot tapas
- A spot for our serving station
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
What we offer
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Patatas bravas
Tapas for events in Kennington
Kennington is about 3 miles south of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. For tapas catering in Kennington, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. Kennington is one of 443 places in Oxfordshire where we cook.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Radley station, about 1.8 miles south. Historic buildings near Kennington often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that’s your venue.
This part of Oxfordshire takes in OX1 and OX14. Local streets include Simpsons Way, The Avenue and Liddiard Close; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. If your venue is just outside Kennington, we also cover Sandford-on-Thames (1 mile east), Littlemore (1 mile north-east), Redbridge (1 mile north), Hinksey Hill (1 mile north-west) and Bayworth (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include Oxford (3 miles north), Didcot (7 miles south), Bicester (14 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (3 miles south-west), Witney (12 miles north-west) and Carterton (15 miles west).
A little further out are Templars Square (1.9 miles north-east) and Oxford Castle and earlier settlement remains (2.9 miles north). Open spaces near Kennington include Lashford Lane Fen and Harcourt Hill.
- Local schools include Emmanuel Christian School (1.1 miles north-east) and The Oxford Academy (1.4 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Tandem pub (0.5 miles north)
A closer look at the menu
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns with a little chilli.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat.
Should I cook it myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Paella compared with other options
Tapas are flexible, which makes them easy to plan around. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why book with us
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Catering across Oxfordshire, including Kennington
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Take a look at Our prices page Or The cost guide.
- 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