Oxfordshire · England
Tapas Catering for Shirburn events
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Shirburn.
- Office parties and launches
- Anniversary parties
- Engagement celebrations
Planning an event in Shirburn?
Drinks receptions around Shirburn
Shirburn is about 6 miles south of Thame, in Oxfordshire. Give us the address of your event in Shirburn, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up before the day. We cater in all 443 towns and villages across Oxfordshire. You can also see our page for Oxford, about 12 miles away.
After a ceremony at a church such as All Saints Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. The Chilterns National Landscape is within about 2 miles of Shirburn, a lovely setting for a drinks reception outdoors.
For tapas catering in OX49, we plan around your venue and timings. From Watlington Road, Castle Road and Blenheim Road or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. If your venue is just outside Shirburn, we also cover Lewknor (1 mile north-east), South Weston (2 miles north), Christmas Common (2 miles south-east), Postcombe (2 miles north) and Howe Hill (3 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (12 miles north-west), Didcot (11 miles west), Abingdon-on-Thames (13 miles west), Thame (6 miles north), Henley-on-Thames (9 miles south-east) and Benson (5 miles south-west).
Open spaces near Shirburn include Aston Rowant NNR and Bald Hill.
- Schools near Shirburn include Watlington Primary School (1 mile south-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Chequers pub (0.9 miles south-west)
Tapas catering for your event in Shirburn
Plenty of tapas are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers, and several can be made gluten-free. For tapas and paella menus and evening grazing, we can cook padrón peppers, Serrano ham and tortilla española for your guests.
Near Shirburn, tapas and sangria suit a garden or field party. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Location
- Shirburn (OX49)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Also near Shirburn
Other catering in Shirburn
Questions from Shirburn
Do you come out to small places like Shirburn?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cook at venues in the Chilterns National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Do you cover Shirburn?
We do. We cook at events in Shirburn and across Oxfordshire. Send us your date to check availability.
Can we have tapas without paella?
Yes, tapas work on their own, for receptions, parties and evening food.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Do you supply canapé staff?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to carry them round.
Do you cook inside?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Live paella or other catering?
Generic canapés all look the same. Tapas bring something different. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Why choose Love Paella in Shirburn
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Read How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Where we can cook in Shirburn
Every venue is different, so we will ask about yours when you contact us. In general, we need:
- Unloading access
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- A spot for our serving station
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Menu ideas
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Manchego & membrillo
- Olives & bread
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
- Albóndigas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
Should I cook it myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. 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 enjoy the party, let us cook.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
The menu, dish by dish
Croquetas
Crisp outside, creamy inside.
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce, often with alioli.
Planning for every diet
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Collect dietary needs
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Label vegetarian and allergen-free dishes
- Separate seafood dishes from the rest
Each dish is labelled.
Bar staff and sangria.
What happens on the day
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is still served fresh. A summer drinks reception in Shirburn has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, perfect for canapés outdoors. In late September, sunset is about 7:10pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- We clear away our equipment when service is finished.
Before we arrive
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
How to get a price
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Read more
Perfect for your event in Shirburn
One spread covers many tastes and diets.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Shirburn book us for events such as:
- Birthday drinks
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Tapas before paella
- Receptions and drinks parties
Nearby historic houses include Adwell House (2.4 miles north) and Stonor Park (4.9 miles south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed.
Comparing caterers
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- The deposit and payment dates
- The deadline for final numbers
- Allergen information for each dish
Organising for someone else?
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Shirburn? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
- 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