Oxfordshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Steventon, Oxfordshire
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella for events in Steventon and across Oxfordshire.
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Evening grazing
- Birthday drinks
Live tapas catering in Steventon
Tapas catering in Steventon, made fresh on the day
We finish hot tapas on site, so they arrive hot. On the menu are albóndigas, Serrano ham and patatas bravas, and we are frequently booked for cocktail parties and tapas before paella.
In a rural spot like Steventon, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Area
- Steventon (OX13)
- County
- Oxfordshire
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Before you choose a spot
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Parking near the venue
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Space for a serving table or station
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Popular choices
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
How the day works
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. A summer drinks reception in Steventon 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.
- First, we check availability.
- You pick the style.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
How to prepare
- Give us a contact for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Getting a price
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Paella compared with other options
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, which makes them easy to plan around. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why choose Love Paella in Steventon
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
See How we price And What paella catering costs.
Receptions and parties in Steventon
Steventon is about 3 miles west of Didcot, in Oxfordshire. From the centre of Steventon to the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cook in all 443 towns and villages across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Oxford, about 10 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Didcot Parkway station is about 3.6 miles away. After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Michael and All Angels, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
We cover events in every part of the OX13 postcode area. Streets in the area include High Street, St Michael's Way and Hanney Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Other places close to Steventon for tapas catering include Milton Heights (1 mile south-east), Milton Hill (1 mile south-east), Drayton (2 miles north), Sutton Wick (2 miles north-east) and Marcham (3 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Oxford (10 miles north-east), Didcot (3 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (4 miles north-east), Witney (13 miles north-west), Carterton (15 miles north-west) and Wantage (5 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include FitzHarris Castle (3.9 miles north-east) and Atlas Computer Laboratory (3.5 miles south). Open spaces near Steventon include Chain Hill and Mowbray Fields.
- Local pubs include The North Star Public House (within half a mile south-west)
Why choose tapas catering in Steventon?
Tapas get people talking.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Tapas starters
- Launches and office parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Anniversary parties
Historic buildings near Steventon frequently have strict catering rules, so ask early if that is your venue.
What to look for in a quote
- The wet-weather plan
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- When final numbers are due
Working with your venue
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Steventon? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Hosting a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Collect dietary needs
- Label seafood clearly
- Include staff for canapés
- Widen the selection for a tapas-only menu
Staff carry canapés round and keep boards topped up.
Sangria and bar staff.
Prices and what affects them
The price comes down to a few factors:
- How many guests are eating
- How many staff you need
- The paellas you choose
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
What to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Which courses you have in mind
- A photo of the space, if you can
- The address or venue name
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Common questions in Steventon
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Michael and All Angels: can you cater afterwards?
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.
Is Steventon too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Where do you cater?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria can be added, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Places near Steventon
What else we do in Steventon
What’s in the pans
Tortilla española
A thick potato and egg omelette served in wedges or squares.
Croquetas
Creamy croquettes with a crisp coat.
- 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