Oxfordshire · England
Tapas Catering for Upper Basildon events
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Upper Basildon.
- Engagement celebrations
- Office parties and launches
- Welcome-drink canapés
Tapas catering in Upper Basildon
Drinks receptions around Upper Basildon
Upper Basildon is about 7 miles north-east of Thatcham, in Oxfordshire. For tapas catering in Upper Basildon, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Upper Basildon. We cover 443 places in Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Reading, about 8 miles away.
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Upper Basildon, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Nearby historic houses include Basildon Park (1.4 miles north-east) and Mapledurham House (4.7 miles east). Where a historic venue doesn’t allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue. The North Wessex Downs National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Upper Basildon, ideal for an outdoor reception.
This part of Oxfordshire takes in RG8, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Local streets include Aldworth Road, Beckfords and Emery Acres; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Other places close to Upper Basildon for tapas catering include New Town (1 mile south-east), Stubbles (1 mile west), Ashampstead (2 miles west), Ashampstead Green (2 miles west) and Burnt Hill (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Didcot (10 miles north-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (15 miles north-west), Wantage (14 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (11 miles east), Grove (15 miles north-west) and Benson (10 miles north).
A little further out are Yattendon Castle (2.9 miles south-west). The countryside around Upper Basildon includes Hartslock.
- Nearby schools include St Andrew's School (1.4 miles south)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Red Lion pub (under half a mile south-east)
Tapas catering in Upper Basildon, cooked live
A good spread mixes hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. On the menu are gambas al ajillo, Manchego with membrillo and croquetas, and we are frequently booked for canapés with welcome drinks and tapas and paella menus.
For a country party near Upper Basildon, tapas and sangria set the mood. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Where
- Upper Basildon (RG8)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Dishes our guests love
Gambas al ajillo
Popular with prawn fans.
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Space, weather and the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Venue approval for outside catering
- Parking near the venue
- Space on each table
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
On the menu in Upper Basildon
- Tortilla española
- Serrano ham
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Gambas al ajillo
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
Paella compared with other options
Standard canapés can feel samey. Spanish tapas bring colour and flavour. 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.
Why us?
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Catering across Oxfordshire, including Upper Basildon
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
Take a look at Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
How we price tapas catering
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- How long we are needed on site
- Whether you need crockery
- How many guests are eating
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Getting an accurate quote
To speed things up, tell us:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The date and time of the event
- Which courses you have in mind
- Where the event is
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
Towns and villages near Upper Basildon
Other catering in Upper Basildon
How it works
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. At midsummer, it’s light in Upper Basildon until about 9:25pm, perfect for canapés outdoors. By late September it is dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- We check your date.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- Afterwards, we clear up.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Tell us when you want to eat
How to get a price
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, use our quote form.
Related guides
Diets, allergies and planning
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Check diets in advance
- Add sangria or cava
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
Each dish is labelled.
Serving boards and crockery.
Upper Basildon questions
Is Upper Basildon too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
We’re having a ceremony at St Stephen's Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
How much is live paella catering?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Do you supply canapé staff?
We can provide staff. Canapés need staff to serve.
Do you cook tapas on site?
Hot tapas are finished on site and served straight away; cold tapas are laid out as guests arrive.
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 cater in Upper Basildon?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, and Upper Basildon is within our area and the rest of Oxfordshire. To check your date, use our quote form.
Occasions we cook for in Upper Basildon
Big or small, tapas work.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Upper Basildon, people book us for events such as:
- Engagement celebrations
- Cocktail parties
- Tapas and paella menus
- Sharing boards for evening guests
For guests coming by train, Pangbourne station is about 2.3 miles away.
What to look for in a quote
- How each diet is kept separate
- How late numbers can change
- Whether VAT is included
- The venue requirements
- 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