Oxfordshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Lyford, Oxfordshire
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella turns food into part of your event in Lyford.
- Drinks reception canapés
- Sharing tapas starters
- Tapas and paella menus
Live tapas catering in Lyford
Tapas for events in Lyford
Lyford is about 4 miles north of Wantage, in Oxfordshire. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Lyford. Lyford is one of 443 towns and villages in Oxfordshire where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Lyford to Oxford (11 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Longworth House (3.2 miles north). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed. If you’re looking at a historic venue around Lyford, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Anywhere in OX12, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Nearby, we also cater events in Charney Bassett (1 mile west), West Hanney (1 mile south-east), Denchworth (2 miles south), Kingston Bagpuize (3 miles north) and Pusey (3 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Oxford (11 miles north-east), Didcot (8 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (7 miles east), Witney (10 miles north), Carterton (11 miles north-west) and Wantage (4 miles south).
Nearby you will also find Abingdon Community Hospital (6 miles east) and Hinton Waldrist Castle (3.1 miles north). The countryside around Lyford includes Hitchcopse Pit and Chain Hill.
- Nearby, you’ll find The Chequers pub (0.8 miles west)
Tapas catering for your event in Lyford
Sangria and bar staff can be added, so drinks and nibbles come from one booking. We cook patatas bravas, padrón peppers and gambas al ajillo, and we are often booked for office parties and launches and welcome-drink canapés.
In a rural spot like Lyford, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
- Area
- Lyford (OX12)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Perfect for your event in Lyford
Tapas are sociable food.
In Lyford and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Tapas and paella menus
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Birthday and anniversary parties
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Mary, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
What your quote should include
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Payment terms and deposit
- When final numbers are due
- Space, access and power needs
What we need at the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Space on each table
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Parking near the venue
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
What we offer
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
DIY paella versus live catering
Weighing up DIY against 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.
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.
Places near Lyford
Other catering in Lyford
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Collect dietary needs
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
Afterwards, we clear away.
Crockery and serving dishes.
What happens on the day
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is served at its best. At midsummer, it is light in Lyford until about 9:25pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 4:00pm.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, use our quote form.
Read more
How we price tapas catering
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- How long we’re needed on site
- The paellas you choose
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What to tell us
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- The venue or postcode
- The date and time of the event
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
What’s in the pans
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite.
FAQs for Lyford
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Mary: can you cater afterwards?
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 usually elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Is Lyford too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it is short notice, it is worth asking.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
Do you do starters?
Of course. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, while the rice is cooking.
How do you work out quantities?
That depends on their role in the meal. Tell us about the event and we will suggest quantities.
What about pudding?
We can add a dessert. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
Planners, venues and businesses
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
- 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