Reading · England
Festival Paella Catering in Play Hatch
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events for events in Play Hatch.
- School and charity events
- VIP and hospitality areas
- Music and food festivals
Live festival paella catering in Play Hatch
Festival paella catering in Play Hatch, made fresh on the day
Big batches mean lunchtime rushes are easy. Portions are served in seconds. For school fairs and fundraisers and sports clubs and race days, we can cook chicken and chorizo paella, seafood paella and churros for your guests.
At a field event near Play Hatch, power and water may be limited; let us know and we’ll plan for it. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Common questions in Play Hatch
Is Play Hatch close to London?
Roughly 36 miles from the centre of London.
What’s the nearest station to Play Hatch for guests?
Reading station, about 2.2 miles south-west of the centre.
Is halal food available?
Yes, on request. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it’s cooked separately.
Do you cover Play Hatch?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including Play Hatch. To check your date, use our quote form.
What areas do you cover?
We cover London and the South East, Reading included. See all areas.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, served while the paella cooks.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
DIY paella versus live catering
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
What we need at the venue
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Details of power, water and waste arrangements
- Firm, level ground
- Vehicle access to the pitch at set-up and break-down
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Popular choices
- Giant paella pans
- Vegan paella
- Churros
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Tapas
Fairs, fêtes and events in Play Hatch
Play Hatch is about 1 mile east of Caversham, in Reading. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Play Hatch and nearby villages. Play Hatch is one of 34 places in Reading where we cook.
For visitors coming by rail, the nearest station is Reading station, about 2.2 miles south-west. School fairs, for a school like St Martin's Catholic Primary School, are a natural fit for a paella stall.
We cook at events all over RG4 and the streets around it. Your event could be at a home on Dene Close, Henley Road and Foxhill Lane. If your venue is just outside Play Hatch, we also 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). Larger places within reach include 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).
A little further out are The Oracle (2.4 miles south-west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.3 miles south-west). Open spaces near Play Hatch 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)
- Local pubs include The Shoulder of Mutton pub (under half a mile south-west)
Planners, venues and businesses
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Also near Play Hatch
Other catering in Play Hatch
About the dishes
Seafood paella
Seafood paella is always popular.
Chicken & chorizo paella
A hearty, smoky pan.
Diets, allergies and planning
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Book crew catering in advance
- Provide seating near the food
- Ask for allergen information at each stall
- Agree waste arrangements with traders
At the end, we clear the pitch and leave it clean.
Crew, volunteer and VIP catering.
How the day works
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. At midsummer, events in Play Hatch stay light until about 9:25pm, which helps evening trading. For winter markets, dark by about 3:55pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- We check your dates.
- We agree what we’ll serve and where.
- We set up our burners and pans.
- The first pans are ready as visitors arrive.
- We serve, then clear the pitch at the end.
Preparing for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Plan cover in case of rain
Get a quote
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, use our quote form.
Planning help
What festival paella catering costs
These are the factors that matter most:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- The length of service
- Distance and access to the venue
- Waiting and bar staff
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
What to tell us
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The date and rough timings
- The address or venue name
Planning festival paella catering in Play Hatch? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, use our quote form.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
If you want a trader that adds atmosphere, paella is a strong choice. There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why Play Hatch hosts choose us
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want 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