Reading · England
Corporate Paella Catering in Play Hatch
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: paella catering for office lunches, staff parties, team days and client events in Play Hatch and the surrounding area.
- Product launches and open days
- Office lunches and away days
- Fundraisers
Corporate paella catering near Play Hatch
Corporate paella catering in Play Hatch, made fresh on the day
Live cooking gets people out of their usual groups, which is exactly what a team event is for. Typical bookings include team-building days and charity and fundraising events, serving Spanish desserts, paella lunches and vegan and vegetarian paella.
Team away days in the countryside around Play Hatch suit live paella: no kitchen needed, just level ground and access. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Planning the cooking area
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Paella lunches
- Drinks service
- Bowl food
- Desserts
- Vegan & vegetarian pans
- Canapé tapas
Nearby places to Play Hatch
Other catering in Play Hatch
Dishes our guests love
Paella lunches
Two or three paellas served from the pan, ideal for a lunch break.
Canapé tapas
Canapé tapas suit client events.
Play Hatch for staff parties and team days
Play Hatch is about 1 mile east of Caversham, in Reading. We cater work events at homes, gardens and venues in Play Hatch and nearby villages. We cover all 34 towns and villages in Reading, from the larger towns to small villages.
Historic houses near Play Hatch include Mapledurham House (4.4 miles west) and Greys Court (4.6 miles north). For a client event at a historic house or estate, ask early about catering rules and where cooking is allowed. For staff and clients coming by train, Reading station is about 2.2 miles away.
This part of Reading takes in RG4. We can cater a work event on streets such as Dene Close, Henley Road and Foxhill Lane or the roads around them. For work events just outside Play Hatch, we cover Dunsden Green (1 mile north), Caversham Park Village (1 mile west), Littlestead Green (1 mile north-west), Emmer Green (1 mile west) and Sonning (1 mile south-east). Further out, we also cater in Norcot (4 miles west), West Reading (3 miles south-west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles west), Shinfield (5 miles south), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south) and Horncastle (5 miles south-west).
Nearby you will also find The Oracle (2.4 miles south-west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.3 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Alder Moors and South Lake.
- Schools near Play Hatch include Reading Blue Coat School (1 mile south-east) and Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre (1.8 miles west)
- Pubs nearby include The Shoulder of Mutton pub (within half a mile south-west)
For planners, venues and organisers
Organising a club, school or community event in Play Hatch? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
How it works
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, which we agree with you beforehand. For a Christmas party in Play Hatch, it is dark by about 3:55pm, so the cooking and serving areas need good lighting. A summer party has daylight until about 9:25pm.
- Tell us the date, venue, headcount and timings.
- You get a menu, a price and documents.
- Access and set-up are agreed with facilities.
- We cook in front of your team and serve on time.
- We clear our area and leave it clean.
How to prepare
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Leave space around the cooking area
Get a quote
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Should I cook it myself?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
What corporate paella catering costs
These are the factors that matter most:
- How many staff you need
- Guest numbers
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The length of service
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What we need to know
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- What the venue already provides
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Where the event is
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can fill in our quote form.
Events we cater in Play Hatch
It’s perfect for summer parties, paired with lawn games and music.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Summer parties for staff
- Client and customer events
- Conferences and training days
- Fundraisers
Play Hatch is about 36 miles from central London, so it’s a practical spot for away days and team events.
Before you book anyone
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- The deadline for final numbers
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Diets, allergies and planning
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Send us totals for each diet and any serious allergies
- Get facilities approval early
- Have water and soft drinks available
- Collect dietary needs when people sign up
We arrive on time and follow your site rules.
Canapés for drinks receptions.
Your questions about corporate paella catering in Play Hatch
How far is Play Hatch from London?
Roughly 36 miles from the centre of London.
Can you cook in Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Can staff get involved?
Mention it in your enquiry, and we’ll see what works.
Can we pay by invoice?
We will explain booking and payment when you enquire.
Do you cover Play Hatch?
We do. Play Hatch is one of the places we cover. Send us your date to check availability.
Can you cook in the rain?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will make a plan B with you.
Is the paella gluten-free?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is usually popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
- 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