Oxfordshire · England
Tapas Catering in Standlake
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Standlake: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Canapés with welcome drinks
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
Tapas catering in Standlake
About our tapas catering in Standlake
Tapas are sharing food, made for conversation. We serve them in two ways: canapés carried round while guests mingle, or table tapas set down to share. Whether it’s drinks reception canapés and tapas starters, we’ll put together a menu of patatas bravas, Manchego with membrillo and padrón peppers.
In a rural spot like Standlake, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Area
- Standlake (OX29)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Why choose tapas catering in Standlake?
One spread covers many tastes and diets.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Birthday drinks
- Office parties and launches
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Tapas starters
Historic buildings near Standlake frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
What to look for in a quote
- When final numbers are due
- The venue requirements
- When payment is due
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
Working with your venue
Throwing a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Include staff for canapés
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
- Label seafood clearly
- Ask guests about diets and allergies
Tapas go out to the tables at the start of the meal.
Serving boards and crockery.
What happens on the day
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. Evening receptions in Standlake stay light until about 9:00pm in late May and 9:30pm in late June, which suits an outdoor reception.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We set up on arrival.
- We serve the spread.
- We clear away at the end.
Getting ready for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
Get a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Also near Standlake
Other catering in Standlake
What affects the price in Standlake
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- The length of service
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Distance and access to the venue
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before booking.
What we need to know
To check availability and price, we need:
- Where the event is
- The date and rough timings
- Which courses you have in mind
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, use our quote form.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Generic canapés all look the same. Tapas bring something different. The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Why book with us
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Real theatre, not just catering
See How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Standlake: your questions answered
How far is Standlake from London?
About 59 miles from central London.
Do you come out to small places like Standlake?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
How do you work out quantities?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. We will suggest quantities for your event.
Can you cook indoors?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Lots. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a photo.
What’s in the pans
Patatas bravas
A tapas classic and generally vegetarian.
Manchego & membrillo
Spanish sheep’s cheese with quince paste.
Standlake: venues and local tips
Standlake is about 5 miles south-east of Witney, in Oxfordshire. From the centre of Standlake to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cater in 443 places across Oxfordshire. Our nearest city page is Oxford, about 9 miles away.
Historic houses near Standlake include Longworth House (2.5 miles south) and Appleton Manor (3.2 miles east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking is not allowed. Canapé tapas suit the drinks after a ceremony at a church like St Giles' Church.
Tapas catering in OX29 is planned around your venue and timings. Your event could be at a home on High Street, Manor Crescent and Horns Way or the roads around them. For events just outside Standlake, we cover Brighthampton (1 mile west), Hardwick (2 miles north-west), Stanton Harcourt (2 miles north-east), South Leigh (3 miles north) and Ducklington (4 miles north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Oxford (9 miles east), Didcot (11 miles south-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (7 miles south-east), Witney (5 miles north-west), Carterton (8 miles west) and Wantage (9 miles south).
A little further out are Hinton Waldrist Castle (2.9 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Hitchcopse Pit and Cumnor Hill.
- Local schools include Mulberry Bush School (0.5 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include The Bell Inn (within half a mile south-east)
- 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