Isle of Wight · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Oakfield, Isle of Wight
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Oakfield.
- Office parties and launches
- Drinks reception canapés
- Tapas and paella menus
Tapas catering near Oakfield
Dietary needs and planning tips
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Label seafood clearly
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
Hot dishes are finished on site.
Staff to serve canapés.
Tapas catering in Oakfield, made fresh on the day
Tapas and paella go hand in hand, served while the paella cooks, but they’re great on their own. We are frequently asked to cater receptions and drinks parties and tapas before paella, serving albóndigas, tortilla española and Manchego with membrillo.
Around Oakfield, tapas suit garden parties and village-hall celebrations. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
- Area
- Oakfield (PO33)
- Region
- Isle of Wight
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
More for events in Oakfield
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Working with your venue
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’ll follow them.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Perfect for your event in Oakfield
Tapas get people talking, because everyone shares.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Oakfield, people book us for occasions like:
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas starters
- Tapas and paella menus
- Canapés with welcome drinks
Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St John's Church.
Before you book anyone
- What happens if it rains
- Travel and parking costs
- A clear list of what’s included
- Space, access and power needs
Step by step
We work to your timings. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s still served fresh. At midsummer, it’s light in Oakfield until about 9:20pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:10pm; winter receptions, dark by 4:00pm, are better indoors.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Preparing for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Getting a price
Send us the date, your venue or PO33 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just use our quote form.
Planning help
Questions from Oakfield
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Which station should guests use for Oakfield?
Ryde St Johns Road station, in Oakfield itself.
What happens if it rains?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Do you do vegan paella?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes. Children frequently love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
Sangria, yes, plus bar staff for your own drinks.
How many tapas per person?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. We’ll suggest quantities for your event.
Is tapas catering available separately?
Yes. Tapas and canapés can be booked on their own.
Tapas for events in Oakfield
Oakfield is about 6 miles south-west of Southsea, in the Isle of Wight. Across the PO33 area, we can bring the pans to you. Oakfield is one of 125 places in the Isle of Wight where we cook. Our events stretch from Oakfield to Southampton (about 17 miles away).
Historic buildings near Oakfield often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. Nearby historic houses include Nunwell House (2.6 miles south) and Morton Manor (3.2 miles south). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. With the sea within about a mile, seafood tapas such as gambas al ajillo are a natural choice.
Wherever your event is in PO33, we can bring tapas catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Your event could be at a home on Park Road, Rink Road and Hope Road. With the A3055 close by, Oakfield is easy for us to reach with everything for your event. For events just outside Oakfield, we cover Elmfield (1 mile east), Ryde (1 mile north-west), Appley (1 mile north-east), Westridge (1 mile south-east) and Haylands (1 mile west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Newport (6 miles west), Cowes (7 miles west), Sandown (5 miles south), Shanklin (6 miles south), Ventnor (9 miles south) and East Cowes (6 miles west). As one of the bigger places in the Isle of Wight, Oakfield has plenty of venues and gardens for events. For an event at a remote venue, tell us early so we can plan the journey.
A little further out are Gosport War Memorial Hospital (5 miles north) and The Donald Mcgill Museum (0.8 miles north). Open spaces near Oakfield include Alan Hersey Nature Reserve and Brading Down.
- Nearby schools include Ryde School with Upper Chine (0.7 miles north-west) and Ryde Academy (0.9 miles west)
- Local pubs include The Railway pub (within half a mile north)
Space, weather and the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Unloading access
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
Oakfield is a more remote spot, so tell us early and we will plan the journey.
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
On the menu in Oakfield
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Chorizo in red wine
About the dishes
Croquetas
Croquetas disappear fast.
Manchego & membrillo
Manchego with sweet quince.
Prices and what affects them
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- Parking and unloading
- How many guests are eating
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- How long we’re needed on site
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.
Getting an accurate quote
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Roughly how many adults and children
- A picture of where we’d cook
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, use our quote form.
- 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