Oxfordshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Kirtlington, Oxfordshire
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Kirtlington and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Engagement drinks
- Launches and office parties
Planning an event in Kirtlington?
About our tapas catering in Kirtlington
Many classic tapas are naturally vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and some can be gluten-free. Whether it’s engagement drinks and welcome-drink canapés, we’ll put together a menu of Manchego with membrillo, patatas bravas and gambas al ajillo.
In a rural spot like Kirtlington, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
- Where
- Kirtlington (OX5)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Why choose live paella in Kirtlington?
A sandwich buffet is easy but forgettable. Tapas feel special. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why us?
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Fast service from the pan
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Events in Kirtlington and across Oxfordshire
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Kirtlington: your questions answered
Do you come out to small places like Kirtlington?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you cater in Kirtlington?
We do. We cook at events in Kirtlington and across Oxfordshire. Send us your date to check availability.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Do you do tapas on their own?
Absolutely.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
Is halal food available?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we’ll cook a separate pan.
Will there be enough food?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
Planning for every diet
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Add sangria or cava
- Collect dietary needs
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Tell us what role tapas play
Canapés go round with the drinks as guests arrive.
Add a live paella main.
Should I cook it myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
The process
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests normally gather round to watch while it cooks. Evening receptions in Kirtlington stay light until about 9:00pm in late May and 9:30pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
How to prepare
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
Get a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Planning help
A closer look at the menu
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
Tortilla española
Potato omelette cut into bites.
Also near Kirtlington
Also in Kirtlington
Events we cater in Kirtlington
They’re the classic starter before paella.
In Kirtlington and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Anniversary parties
- Cocktail parties
- Work receptions
- Engagement parties
If you are looking at a historic venue around Kirtlington, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Before booking anyone
- Space, access and power needs
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- The deposit and payment dates
- What happens if it rains
Where we can cook in Kirtlington
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- A spot for our serving station
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
Popular choices
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
What affects the price in Kirtlington
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Guest numbers
- Timings and hours
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
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 to tell us
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- The venue or postcode
- Your date and when you want to eat
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Diets and allergies you know about
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, use our quote form.
Receptions and parties in Kirtlington
Kirtlington is about 6 miles west of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. Events in Kirtlington are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cook in all 443 towns and villages across Oxfordshire. Our events stretch from Kirtlington to Oxford (9 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Tackley station is about 1.1 miles away. Historic houses near Kirtlington include Blenheim Palace (4.3 miles south-west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
Anywhere in OX5, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Streets in the area include South Green, Church Lane and Hatch Way, and we can cook for an event on any of them. We also cook at events in Bletchingdon (1 mile south), Enslow (1 mile south-west), Weston-on-the-Green (2 miles east), Hampton Poyle (3 miles south) and Weston Otmoor (3 miles east). Further out, we also cater in Oxford (9 miles south), Banbury (13 miles north), Bicester (6 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles south), Witney (11 miles south-west) and Carterton (15 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include Bicester Community Hospital (5.3 miles east) and Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum (3.9 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Woodsides Meadow.
- 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