Oxfordshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in North Oxford, Oxfordshire
Love Paella cooks Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella across North Oxford and Oxfordshire, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Tapas and paella menus
- Tapas starters
- Anniversary parties
Tapas catering in North Oxford
FAQs for North Oxford
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Michael and All Angels?
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.
Could we have live paella in Oxford University Parks?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Should we have more than one paella?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will help you decide the split.
Will there be enough food?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
How much is live paella catering?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we will reply with a price.
Do you provide serving staff?
Staff make canapés work, and we can provide them.
How our tapas catering works in North Oxford
Canapé tapas suit standing receptions; table tapas suit seated meals. Many events have both. Typical bookings include launches and office parties and engagement celebrations, serving padrón peppers, albóndigas and croquetas.
For a party in a place like North Oxford, a tapas spread is easy and sociable. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, not reheated.
- Where
- North Oxford (OX2)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Towns and villages near North Oxford
Also in North Oxford
Planning the cooking area
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- Unloading access
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
On the menu in North Oxford
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
The process
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. A summer drinks reception in North Oxford has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:10pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
Get a quote
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
What tapas catering costs
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The paellas you choose
- Waiting and bar staff
- How many courses
- How long we are needed on site
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Anything your venue supplies
- The address or venue name
- Expected numbers
Send us the date, your venue or OX2 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Events we cater in North Oxford
They’re ideal when a full meal doesn’t fit.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in North Oxford and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Office parties and launches
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Birthday drinks
- Engagement parties
Historic buildings near North Oxford often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
Comparing caterers
- The deposit and payment dates
- Allergen information for each dish
- If the price includes VAT
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Live paella or other catering?
Standard canapés can feel samey. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before you book.
Why choose Love Paella in North Oxford
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- No hidden extras in your quote
See How we price Or The cost guide.
Tapas for events in North Oxford
North Oxford is about 2 miles north-west of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. We cook at events in gardens, halls and venues around North Oxford. North Oxford is one of 443 places in Oxfordshire we cover.
Nearby historic houses include Holywell Manor, Oxford (1.5 miles south-east). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. For guests coming by train, Oxford station is about 1.4 miles away.
We cook at events all over the OX2 postcode area. Streets in the area include Hobson Road, Linton Road and Banbury Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Main roads around North Oxford include the A4165, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. We also cook at events in Summertown (1 mile north), Park Town (1 mile south), Walton Manor (1 mile south), Norham Manor (1 mile south-east) and Sunnymead (1 mile north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Didcot (11 miles south), Bicester (10 miles north-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (7 miles south), Witney (10 miles west), Carterton (14 miles west) and Thame (13 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Oxford University Press Museum (1.1 miles south) and Oxford Castle (1.5 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Hook Meadow and The Trap Grounds and Headington Hill.
- Schools near North Oxford include St Edward's School (under half a mile north-west) and St Aloysius' Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include Dew Drop Inn (within half a mile north)
- Local facilities include St Hugh's College Main Building Including Library (0.5 miles south)
Catering for every guest
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Check diets in advance
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
- Allow more variety if tapas are the whole meal
- Ask for labels on each dish
Afterwards, we clear away.
Crockery and serving dishes.
Organising for someone else?
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
- 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