Oxfordshire · England
Tapas Catering in Shillingford
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella makes the food a highlight of your event in Shillingford.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Engagement parties
- Receptions and drinks parties
Planning an event in Shillingford?
A closer look at the menu
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Tapas catering in Shillingford, cooked live
Tapas suit drinks receptions, evening parties, office events and weddings in and around Shillingford. Whether it’s office parties and launches and engagement celebrations, we’ll put together a menu of Serrano ham, tortilla española and gambas al ajillo for your guests.
In a rural spot like Shillingford, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. You will know exactly what’s included before you book: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
- Area
- Shillingford (OX10)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
What tapas catering costs
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- How many guests are eating
- Parking and unloading
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Details that help
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Which courses you have in mind
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
Towns and villages near Shillingford
Other catering in Shillingford
Space, weather and the venue
Every venue is different, so we will ask about yours before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Parking near the venue
- A spot for our serving station
- Space to finish hot dishes
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
Menu ideas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Olives & bread
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
What happens on the day
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s still served fresh. A summer drinks reception in Shillingford has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it’s dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
Preparing for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Let us know the timings for the day
Get a quote
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Read more
Events we cater in Shillingford
Big or small, tapas work.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Table tapas as a starter
- Birthday drinks
- Engagement parties
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Lawrence, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Questions to ask before you book
- How each diet is kept separate
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- How long the team stays
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 be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
For planners, venues and organisers
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Hosting a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Planning for every diet
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Decide whether tapas are a starter, canapés or the whole meal
- Match tapas with Spanish drinks
- Canapés need staff to serve
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Staff to serve canapés.
Tapas for events in Shillingford
Shillingford is about 5 miles east of Didcot, in Oxfordshire. Whether your event is in the middle of Shillingford or on the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cook in 443 places across Oxfordshire. We cook right across the region, from Shillingford to Oxford (about 9 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Cholsey station, about 4.3 miles south. Historic buildings near Shillingford often have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue. The Chilterns National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Shillingford, ideal for an outdoor reception.
Anywhere in OX10, we can cook for your guests. Streets in the area include Warborough Road, New Road and Hartley Close, and we can cook for an event on any of them. For events just outside Shillingford, we cover Warborough (1 mile north), Dorchester (1 mile north-west), Brightwell-cum-Sotwell (1 mile south-west), Benson (2 miles south-east) and Berrick Salome (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (9 miles north-west), Didcot (5 miles west), Abingdon-on-Thames (7 miles north-west), Thame (11 miles north-east), Wantage (13 miles west) and Henley-on-Thames (12 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include Aston Martin Heritage Trust Museum (1.9 miles north) and Brightwell Castle (1.7 miles south-west). The countryside around Shillingford includes Ewelme Watercress Beds and Wittenham Clumps.
- Nearby schools include Wallingford School (1.9 miles south)
- Local pubs include The Six Bells Inn (within half a mile north-east)
Questions from Shillingford
Which station should guests use for Shillingford?
Cholsey station, about 4.3 miles south of the centre.
Is Shillingford too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Will there be enough food?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Yes. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria can be added, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
- 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