Oxfordshire · England
Tapas Catering for Shippon events
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Shippon: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Tapas before paella
- Tapas starters
- Cocktail parties
Tapas catering for Shippon events
What tapas catering costs
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many staff you need
- The length of service
- Travel, parking and access
Larger events normally cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What to tell us
These details help us quote quickly:
- The address or venue name
- Anything your venue supplies
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- A photo of the space, if you can
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Tapas catering for your event in Shippon
We’ll recommend a tapas selection for your event, whether tapas are a starter or the whole meal. On the menu are Manchego with membrillo, tortilla española and padrón peppers, and typical bookings are for tapas before paella and office parties and launches.
Near Shippon, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Area
- Shippon (OX13)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Step by step
Watching it cook is half the fun. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. Sunset in Shippon is around 9:25pm in June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- We suggest a selection and confirm a quote.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- We serve canapés with drinks or set table tapas down to share.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Getting a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Read more
For event organisers in Shippon
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Space, weather and the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Parking near the venue
- A suitable spot to finish hot tapas
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
What we offer
- Manchego & membrillo
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Patatas bravas
- Padrón peppers
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
Planning a tapas spread in Shippon
Shippon is about 1 mile west of Abingdon-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire. Give us the address of your event in Shippon, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up before the day. Shippon is one of 443 places in Oxfordshire where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Shippon to Oxford (6 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Radley station, about 2.8 miles east. After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Mary Magdalene, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
For tapas catering in OX13, we plan around your venue. From Chestnut Tree Close, Willow Tree Close and Whitehouse Close or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Other places close to Shippon for tapas catering include Cothill (1 mile north-west), Dry Sandford (2 miles north-west), Marcham (2 miles south-west), Sutton Wick (2 miles south) and Frilford Heath (2 miles west). Further out, we also cater in Oxford (6 miles north-east), Didcot (6 miles south-east), Witney (11 miles north-west), Carterton (14 miles north-west), Thame (15 miles east) and Wantage (8 miles south-west).
A little further out are Abingdon Community Hospital (0.8 miles south) and FitzHarris Castle (1 mile south-east). Open spaces near Shippon include Cumnor Hill and Dry Sandford Pit.
- Schools near Shippon include School of St Helen and St Katharine (0.5 miles south-east) and St Nicolas Church of England Primary School (0.9 miles east)
- Local pubs include Prince Of Wales pub (less than half a mile south-west)
More for events in Shippon
Paella compared with other options
Plated starters need a kitchen. Table tapas are relaxed and sociable. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Why us?
- A clear, itemised quote
- Fast service from the pan
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Label seafood clearly
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
Staff keep the canapés coming.
Spanish desserts to finish.
Dishes our guests love
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic.
FAQs for Shippon
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary Magdalene?
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 normally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
What’s the nearest station to Shippon for guests?
Radley station, about 2.8 miles east of the centre.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
What areas do you cover?
We cater across London and the South East, Oxfordshire included. Find your area.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes, plus bar staff for your own drinks.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
Can you serve drinks?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities around your timings and courses. Tell us more and we will advise.
- 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