Oxfordshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Shipton-on-Cherwell, Oxfordshire
Paella 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 Shipton-on-Cherwell.
- Engagement drinks
- Work receptions
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Book tapas catering in Shipton-on-Cherwell
Tapas catering in Shipton-on-Cherwell, 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 drinks reception canapés and engagement parties, with albóndigas, patatas bravas and tortilla española.
Near Shipton-on-Cherwell, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
- Where
- Shipton-on-Cherwell (OX5)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Space, weather and the venue
We’ll be honest if a space won’t work, and help find another spot. What matters most:
- Space on each table
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Space for a serving table or station
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Menu ideas
- Gambas al ajillo
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Olives & bread
- Manchego & membrillo
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Albóndigas
- Padrón peppers
Paella compared with other options
Standard canapés can feel samey. Tapas bring something different. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What you get with us
- Drinks service on request
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Take a look at How we price And What paella catering costs.
Also in Shipton-on-Cherwell
About the dishes
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside, often with ham or mushroom.
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite when made carefully.
Common questions in Shipton-on-Cherwell
What’s the nearest station to Shipton-on-Cherwell for guests?
The closest is Tackley station, roughly 2.3 miles away.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of Holy Cross?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you take everything away?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
How many different paellas?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so contact us early.
Do you do vegan paella?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
DIY paella versus live catering
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Planners, venues and businesses
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Occasions we cook for in Shipton-on-Cherwell
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Work receptions
- Tapas and paella menus
- Anniversary parties
- Drinks parties and receptions
If you are looking at a historic venue around Shipton-on-Cherwell, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking.
Comparing caterers
- The deposit and payment dates
- How each diet is kept separate
- How bad weather is handled
- The venue requirements
The process
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests usually gather round to watch while it cooks. Evening receptions in Shipton-on-Cherwell stay light until about 9:00pm in late May and 9:30pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
How to prepare
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Getting a price
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote.
Read more
Drinks receptions around Shipton-on-Cherwell
Shipton-on-Cherwell is about 7 miles south-west of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. Give us the address of your event in Shipton-on-Cherwell, and we will plan the journey and set-up. We cover 443 places in Oxfordshire. Our nearest city page is Oxford, about 7 miles away.
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of Holy Cross, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Historic houses near Shipton-on-Cherwell include Blenheim Palace (2.5 miles west). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
Here we cover the OX5 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. If your venue is just outside Shipton-on-Cherwell, we also cover Thrupp (1 mile south), Bunkers Hill (1 mile north-west), Woodstock (2 miles west), Begbroke (2 miles south) and Bladon (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Oxford (7 miles south-east), Banbury (15 miles north), Bicester (7 miles north-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (12 miles south), Witney (9 miles south-west) and Carterton (14 miles south-west).
A little further out are Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum (2.3 miles west). Open spaces near Shipton-on-Cherwell include Woodsides Meadow.
- Nearby, you will find The Boat Public House (0.6 miles south)
What affects the price in Shipton-on-Cherwell
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- Your choice of paellas
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Timings and hours
- The number of people
The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Details that help
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The courses you’d like
- Where the event is
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you’re ready, send us your details through 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