Reading · England
Festival & event paella in Shinfield, Reading
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 Shinfield.
- School fairs and fundraisers
- VIP and hospitality areas
- Village fêtes and summer fairs
Book festival paella catering in Shinfield
Festival paella catering in Shinfield, made fresh on the day
The cooking is part of the show. People stop, watch and come back to eat. Whether it is school and charity events and open days, we can cook chicken and chorizo paella, churros and giant-pan paella and more.
Village fêtes and summer fairs around Shinfield are made for a paella stall. Send us the pitch and access details. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Ask traders about serving speed at peak times
- Put picnic tables near the traders
- Schedule crew meals
- Make allergen information visible at every stall
We keep our pitch tidy and safe.
Catering for crew and VIP areas.
What festival paella catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- How many staff you need
- The length of service
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
What to tell us
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- The address or venue name
- The date and rough timings
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Send us the date, your venue or RG2 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Other catering in Shinfield
Perfect for your event in Shinfield
Organisers book paella because it draws people into the food area.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- County and country shows
- Community events and open days
- VIP and hospitality areas
- Christmas and farmers’ markets
For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as Church of St Mary the Virgin, a paella stall adds a hot meal to the cakes and tombola.
Comparing caterers
- Who provides the crockery
- The venue requirements
- VAT, if it applies
- Staff numbers and hours
For event organisers in Shinfield
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Shinfield? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
What happens on the day
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. At midsummer, events in Shinfield stay light until about 9:25pm, so evening trading generally finishes in daylight in high summer. For winter markets, dark by about 3:55pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- Organisers send us the event details, dates and pitch information.
- You get our menu, pitch requirements and paperwork.
- We arrive at the agreed time to set up the pitch.
- The paella cooks in full view, and we serve from the pan through the event.
- We pack down and leave the pitch tidy.
Getting ready for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Ask for a quote
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Before you choose a spot
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Trader information and site rules
- Details of power, water and waste arrangements
- Room for our cooking and serving area
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Menu ideas
- Seafood paella
- Churros
- Vegan paella
- Giant paella pans
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Shinfield: your questions answered
How far is Shinfield from London?
About 37 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cook in Pearman's Copse?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it’s cooked separately.
What about pudding?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
How much paella per person?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Tell us what else is being served. See how much paella per person.
Can we book you as a trader?
Tell us about your event, and we’ll confirm availability and requirements.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Do you have vegan options at events?
Yes. Vegan paella is cooked in its own pan.
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s 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.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Paella compared with other options
Hot-cabinet food lacks theatre. Paella cooking in full view sells itself. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why book with us
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- A clear, itemised quote
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
Take a look at How we price And What paella catering costs.
Running an event in Shinfield
Shinfield is about 3 miles south of Reading, in Reading. Tell us where your event in Shinfield will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up. We cook in 34 places across Reading, from the larger towns to small villages.
Events in parks such as Pearman's Copse need permission from the council or landowner, and we will send any documents they ask for. If you are organising a summer fair or fundraiser for a school such as Shinfield Infant and Nursery School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
For festival paella catering in RG2, we plan around your venue and your guests. That could mean an event in a garden on Teal Grove, Songbird Close and Skylark Way or the roads around them. For events just outside Shinfield, we cover Ryeish Green (1 mile south-west), Whitley Wood (1 mile north-west), Three Mile Cross (1 mile west), Great Lea Common (1 mile west) and Arborfield (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Caversham (5 miles north), Norcot (5 miles north-west), West Reading (4 miles north-west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles north-west), Arborfield Garrison (3 miles south-east) and Caversham Heights (5 miles north). As one of the bigger places in Reading, Shinfield has lots of places to hold an event.
A little further out are Berkshire Library & Museum of Freemasonry (2.9 miles north-east) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (3.1 miles north). Not far away are Longwater and Sonning Hill.
- Local schools include Oakbank (0.7 miles west) and Ryeish Green School (0.7 miles west)
- Local pubs include Bell & Bottle pub (less than half a mile south-east)
- 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