Oxfordshire · England
Tapas Catering for Summertown events
Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Summertown: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Drinks reception canapés
- Tapas starters
Tapas catering in Summertown
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Tapas catering in Summertown, cooked live
We can add sangria and bar staff, so drinks and nibbles come from one booking. We cook tortilla española, patatas bravas and albóndigas, and we’re frequently booked for birthday drinks and tapas and paella menus.
In Summertown, tapas work at home or in a local hall. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
- Location
- Summertown (OX2, OX3)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Places near Summertown
What else we do in Summertown
Questions from Summertown
Can you cook in Oxford University Parks?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
What’s the nearest station to Summertown for guests?
The closest is Oxford station, roughly 1.7 miles away.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
Do you cater for young children?
Of course. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
What areas do you cover?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Summertown.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
How many tapas per person?
We plan quantities around your timings and courses. Give us the details for a suggestion.
Do you have vegetarian tapas?
Lots. Tortilla, bravas and Manchego are popular vegetarian choices.
Working with your venue
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Tapas for events in Summertown
Summertown is about 2 miles north-west of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. For tapas catering in Summertown, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Summertown is one of 443 towns and villages in Oxfordshire we cover.
Nearby historic houses include Holywell Manor, Oxford (1.7 miles south-east). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed. Parks such as Oxford University Parks have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there.
This part of Oxfordshire takes in OX2 and OX3, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Islip Road, Hobson Road and Hernes Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. With the A4165 close by, Summertown is easy for us to reach. For events just outside Summertown, we cover North Oxford (1 mile south), Sunnymead (1 mile north), Cutteslowe (1 mile north), Park Town (1 mile south) and Norham Manor (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include Didcot (12 miles south), Bicester (10 miles north-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (7 miles south), Witney (10 miles west), Carterton (14 miles west) and Thame (13 miles east).
Nearby you will also find Clarendon Shopping Centre (1.8 miles south) and Oxford University Museum of Natural History (1.4 miles south). Not far away are Hook Meadow and The Trap Grounds and Headington Hill.
- Local schools include Oxford Academy (less than half a mile south-east) and Cutteslowe Primary School (0.7 miles north)
- Pubs nearby include Dew Drop Inn (under half a mile south-east)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include St Hugh's College Main Building Including Library (0.8 miles south)
What affects the price in Summertown
There’s nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- How many guests are eating
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- The paellas you choose
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Getting an accurate quote
To check availability and price, we need:
- The date and time of the event
- The address or venue name
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
The menu, dish by dish
Tortilla española
Potato omelette cut into bites.
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Why choose tapas catering in Summertown?
Tapas are sociable food.
Whatever you are celebrating in Summertown, live paella can be the centrepiece. We frequently cook for:
- Engagement celebrations
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Evening sharing boards
- Birthday and anniversary parties
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Oxford station, about 1.7 miles south.
What your quote should include
- What the price includes, item by item
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- How each diet is kept separate
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
How the day works
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. Evening receptions in Summertown stay light until about 9:00pm in late May and 9:25pm in late June, so canapés can go round outdoors on a summer evening.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
How to prepare
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
Ask for a quote
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, use our quote form.
Read more
Before you choose a spot
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space when you get in touch. In general, we need:
- Parking near the venue
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- An area to prepare hot tapas
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
What we offer
- Albóndigas
- Tortilla española
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Croquetas
- Padrón peppers
- Olives & bread
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
Is live paella right for your event?
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, which makes them easy to plan around. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why Summertown hosts choose us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Take a look at Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
- 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