Reading · England
Live paella catering in Arborfield Cross, Reading
Paella for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Arborfield Cross.
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Retirement celebrations
- Garden get-togethers
Planning an event in Arborfield Cross?
Paella catering in Arborfield Cross, made fresh on the day
There is something generous about paella: big pans, bright colours and a crispy base everyone wants a spoonful of. It turns a meal into an occasion. Typical bookings include family celebrations and christenings and fairs, fêtes and festivals, serving black rice, vegan paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
In a small place like Arborfield Cross, events are typically in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
What affects the price in Arborfield Cross
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Parking and unloading
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Guest numbers
- Starters, canapés and desserts
The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Getting an accurate quote
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The courses you’d like
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Diets and allergies you know about
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Dietary needs and planning tips
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Mention any other courses or food
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal.
Arborfield Cross questions
What’s the nearest station to Arborfield Cross for guests?
Winnersh station, about 2.7 miles north-east of the centre.
Is Arborfield Cross too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
What seafood can we have?
We will suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
Do you cover Arborfield Cross?
We do. We cook at events in Arborfield Cross and across Reading. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
How soon do we need to book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
Can you feed a lot of people?
Yes, that’s what it is made for. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Catering an event in Arborfield Cross
Arborfield Cross is about 3 miles south-west of Wokingham, in Reading. For paella catering in Arborfield Cross, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cover 34 places in Reading.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Winnersh station, about 2.7 miles north-east. If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like The Coombes Church of England Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
For paella catering in RG2, we plan around your venue and your guests. Your event could be at a home on Eversley Road, Chamberlain Gardens and Melrose Gardens. Close by, we cover events in Farley Hill (2 miles south), Swallowfield (3 miles south-west), Spencers Wood (3 miles west), Riseley (3 miles south-west) and Bramshill (4 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Caversham (6 miles north-west), Norcot (7 miles north-west), West Reading (6 miles north-west), Tilehurst Within (7 miles north-west), Caversham Heights (7 miles north-west) and Horncastle (6 miles north-west).
Nearby you will also find Beaumys Castle (3.5 miles south-west) and Berkshire Library & Museum of Freemasonry (2 miles north). Green spaces nearby include South Lake and The Marshes Local Nature Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Bohunt School Wokingham (1.3 miles south)
- Local pubs include Swan Inn (under half a mile north)
What happens on the day
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. In Arborfield Cross, the sun sets at about 9:25pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Preparing for the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Getting a price
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
Related guides
Planning the cooking area
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Arborfield Cross
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
About the dishes
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans, and it is a crowd-pleaser.
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together.
Towns and villages near Arborfield Cross
What else we do in Arborfield Cross
Planners, venues and businesses
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
If you are organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Why choose live paella in Arborfield Cross?
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and normally costs more per head. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Why book with us
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Events in Arborfield Cross and across Reading
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Take a look at How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Perfect for your event in Arborfield Cross
Live paella is food and a show in one. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food is hot and generous.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Arborfield Cross, people book us for occasions like:
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Garden get-togethers
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Bartholomew, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Comparing caterers
- Staff numbers and hours
- Who provides the crockery
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Space, access and power needs
- 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