Oxfordshire · England
Tapas Catering in Nettlebed
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Nettlebed: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, in full view of your guests.
- Tapas and paella menus
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Planning an event in Nettlebed?
Tapas catering in Nettlebed, cooked live
Canapé tapas suit standing receptions; table tapas suit seated meals. Many events have both. We cook gambas al ajillo, albóndigas and Serrano ham, and typical bookings are for welcome-drink canapés and tapas before paella.
Near Nettlebed, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated.
- Where
- Nettlebed (RG9)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Common questions in Nettlebed
Do you come out to small places like Nettlebed?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Do you cater in the Chilterns National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
What do you need at the venue?
Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a photo if you’re not sure.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Do you cover Nettlebed?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including Nettlebed. To check your date, fill in our quote form.
How do you work out quantities?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
What happens if it rains?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
Where do you cater?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Nettlebed.
DIY paella versus live catering
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Generic canapés all look the same. Tapas bring something different. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why choose Love Paella in Nettlebed
- We cover Nettlebed and the whole of Oxfordshire
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- A clear, itemised quote
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
See Our pricing And The cost guide.
Catering for every guest
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Add sangria or cava
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Ask for labels on each dish
Afterwards, we clear away.
Bar staff and sangria.
How it works
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. A summer drinks reception in Nettlebed has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Send us the date, venue, numbers and serving style.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
Get a quote
Send us the date, your venue or RG9 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Space, weather and the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Permission from the venue
- Unloading access
- Space for a serving table or station
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
On the menu in Nettlebed
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Croquetas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
What affects the price in Nettlebed
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Distance and access to the venue
- Whether you need crockery
- How many guests are eating
- The length of service
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
What we need to know
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Expected numbers
- The date and rough timings
- Anything your venue supplies
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Nettlebed, and we will put together a menu and price.
Places near Nettlebed
What else we do in Nettlebed
Why choose tapas catering in Nettlebed?
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Nettlebed, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Cocktail parties
- Sharing tapas starters
- Tapas with a paella main course
Historic houses near Nettlebed include Greys Court (2.7 miles south-east) and Stonor Park (3 miles north-east). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
What to look for in a quote
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- The deadline for final numbers
- Whether travel is included
- The wet-weather plan
Drinks receptions around Nettlebed
Nettlebed is about 7 miles north of Caversham, in Oxfordshire. For tapas catering in Nettlebed, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Nettlebed. We cook in all 443 towns and villages across Oxfordshire. Our nearest city page is Reading, about 9 miles away.
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like Church of St Bartholomew. Nettlebed is within about 5 miles of the Chilterns National Landscape, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Here we cover the RG9 postcode area. Local streets include The Ridgeway, Wanbourne Lane and Watlington Street; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Catslip (1 mile south-east), Highmoor (2 miles south), Highmoor Cross (2 miles south), Bix (2 miles south-east) and Shepherd's Green (3 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Didcot (11 miles west), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles north-west), Thame (12 miles north), Henley-on-Thames (5 miles south-east), Benson (6 miles north-west) and Chinnor (9 miles north).
Open spaces near Nettlebed include Warburg Nature Reserve.
- Nearby, you will find The Sun Inn Public House (less than half a mile south-east)
Planners, venues and businesses
If you’re organising for someone else, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
- 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