Oxfordshire · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Sydenham, Oxfordshire
Looking for tapas catering in Sydenham? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Tapas before paella
- Anniversary parties
- Drinks reception canapés
Planning an event in Sydenham?
Step by step
When we arrive, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. A summer drinks reception in Sydenham has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- You tell us the date, venue, numbers and how you’d like the tapas served.
- We put together a tapas selection and a quote.
- We arrive, set up and finish hot dishes on site.
- Canapés circulate with drinks, or tapas go to the tables.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
How to prepare
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
How to get a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Planning help
Tapas catering for your event in Sydenham
The best spreads mix hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. For evening sharing boards and birthday drinks, we will put together a menu of gambas al ajillo, croquetas and patatas bravas and more.
In a rural spot like Sydenham, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
- Where
- Sydenham (OX39)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
What affects the price in Sydenham
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- The length of service
- How many staff you need
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Expected numbers
- The date and time of the event
- The venue or postcode
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, fill in our quote form.
Sydenham questions
Do you cater in the Chilterns National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll follow the site rules.
Is Sydenham too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Are the tapas served hot?
Yes, hot dishes are finished at the venue so they’re served at their best.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria can be added, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Do you cover Sydenham?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Sydenham and across Oxfordshire. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Do you serve drinks with tapas?
Sangria and bar staff can be added.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
For food that gets people mingling, tapas work brilliantly. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why choose Love Paella in Sydenham
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- We cover Sydenham and the whole of Oxfordshire
Take a look at Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Events we cater in Sydenham
They make a perfect starter before paella.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Table tapas as a starter
- Engagement celebrations
- Launches and office parties
- Birthday and anniversary parties
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St Mary, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos.
Questions to ask before booking
- How long the team stays
- VAT, if it applies
- The deposit and payment dates
- When final numbers are due
Planning the cooking area
We’ll be honest if a space will not work. What matters most:
- Unloading access
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- A spot for our serving station
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Popular choices
- Patatas bravas
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Tortilla española
- Padrón peppers
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
What’s in the pans
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce, frequently with alioli.
More for events in Sydenham
Should I cook it myself?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Tapas for events in Sydenham
Sydenham is about 3 miles south-east of Thame, in Oxfordshire. We bring tapas catering to gardens, halls and venues around Sydenham and nearby villages. We cook in all 443 towns and villages across Oxfordshire. Our events stretch from Sydenham to Oxford (about 13 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Haddenham & Thame Parkway station, about 4.3 miles north. Historic houses near Sydenham include Adwell House (2.4 miles south-west). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. The Chilterns National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Sydenham, ideal for an outdoor reception.
We cover events in every part of OX39 and the streets around it. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Kingston Stert (1 mile south-west), Emmington (1 mile north-east), Chinnor (2 miles east), Towersey (2 miles north) and Thame (3 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (13 miles west), Didcot (15 miles south-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (15 miles west), Henley-on-Thames (12 miles south), Benson (9 miles south-west) and Headington Quarry (11 miles west).
A little further out are Thame Museum (3.2 miles north-west) and Thame Community Hospital (2.7 miles north-west). Not far away are Bald Hill and Oakley Hill nature reserve.
- Pubs nearby include The Crown Inn (within half a mile north)
For planners, venues and organisers
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
- 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