Reading · England
Live paella catering in Cane End, Reading
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Cane End. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Garden get-togethers
- Retirement celebrations
Paella catering for Cane End events
Common questions in Cane End
Which station should guests use for Cane End?
The closest is Tilehurst station, roughly 2.8 miles away.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St John the Baptist: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We will talk it through before the day.
Which paellas do you recommend?
Most events choose two or three: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. See the sample menu.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
What seafood can we have?
We’ll talk through seafood options when we plan your menu, including premium options if you want them.
Is the paella gluten-free?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Can you bring crockery?
If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
About our paella catering in Cane End
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field in and around Cane End. We cook mixed paella, black rice and vegetable paella, and typical bookings are for anniversary celebrations and christenings and family gatherings.
In a small place like Cane End, events are generally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we’ll plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
The menu, dish by dish
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, and a popular all-rounder.
Nearby places to Cane End
Other catering in Cane End
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and the food sits out. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
What you get with us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
Read Our pricing And The cost guide.
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
What we offer
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Planning live paella in Cane End
Cane End is about 3 miles north-west of Caversham, in Reading. Events in Cane End are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cover all 34 towns and villages across Reading.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St John the Baptist, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Tilehurst station, about 2.8 miles south.
Paella catering in RG4 is planned around your venue. From Horsepond Road, Park Lane and Reading Road or a nearby road, we can cook there. If your venue is just outside Cane End, we also cover Gallowstree Common (1 mile north-east), Hook End (1 mile north-west), Whitchurch Hill (2 miles west), Checkendon (3 miles north) and Woodcote (3 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Caversham (3 miles south-east), Norcot (4 miles south), West Reading (4 miles south), Tilehurst Within (4 miles south), Shinfield (8 miles south-east) and Arborfield Garrison (10 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Royal Berkshire Regiment Museum (3.7 miles south) and Battle Hospital (3.8 miles south). Not far away are Hartslock.
- Schools near Cane End include Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge (1.3 miles east) and The Warwick School (1.3 miles east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Fox pub (under half a mile south-west)
Catering for every guest
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Count adults and children separately
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we serve when guests are ready.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
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. 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.
Step by step
Here’s how the day usually runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it’s served hot from the pan at the agreed time. Planning an evening event in Cane End? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:25pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Before we arrive
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Tell us when you want to eat
Getting a price
Planning paella catering in Cane End? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To contact us, use our quote form.
Read more
Occasions we cook for in Cane End
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Milestone birthday parties
- Naming days and family parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Staff parties and work lunches
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Kidmore End Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
What to look for in a quote
- A clear list of what’s included
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- The deposit and payment dates
What paella catering costs
These are the factors that matter most:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Parking and unloading
- How many staff you need
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What to tell us
To check availability and price, we need:
- What the venue already provides
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Where the event is
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
- 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