West Berkshire · England
Live paella catering in Donnington, West Berkshire
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Donnington.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Community events and fairs
Paella catering in Donnington
About our paella catering in Donnington
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. Typical bookings include festivals, fairs and school events and garden parties and summer barbecues, with vegan paella, vegetable paella and paella Valenciana.
For a rural spot like Donnington, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Tell us about access and the ground. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Location
- Donnington (RG14)
- County
- West Berkshire
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Donnington questions
Do you come out to small places like Donnington?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
What’s the nearest station to Donnington for guests?
The closest is Newbury station, roughly 1.5 miles away.
When do you arrive?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
How much does paella catering cost in Donnington?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
Do you cook inside?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
Will there be enough food?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
About the dishes
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a proper main dish. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, finished with lemon wedges. It’s the pan people photograph.
Catering an event in Donnington
Donnington is about 1 mile north of Newbury, in West Berkshire. For paella catering in Donnington, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Donnington is one of 155 places in West Berkshire where we cook. Our nearest city page is Reading, about 15 miles away.
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Parish Church of St Mary, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Shaw-cum-Donnington C.E. Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
We cover events in every part of the RG14 postcode area. That could mean an event in a garden on The Orchids, The Redcoats and Cannon Close or the roads around them. If your venue is just outside Donnington, we also cover Speenhamland (1 mile south), Shaw (1 mile south-east), Bagnor (1 mile south-west), Speen (1 mile south-west) and Stockcross (2 miles west). Further out, we also cater in Thatcham (3 miles east), Burghfield Common (12 miles east), Hungerford (8 miles west), Calcot (12 miles east), Lambourn (11 miles north-west) and Burghfield Hill (12 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Donnington Castle (within half a mile west) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (1.9 miles south-east). Not far away are Rack Marsh.
- Nearby schools include Trinity School (0.6 miles south-east) and Trinity School (0.6 miles south-east)
- Nearby, you will find The Castle pub (less than half a mile south)
For event organisers in Donnington
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Perfect for your event in Donnington
It needs no kitchen, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in Donnington book us for occasions like:
- Garden get-togethers
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Milestone birthday parties
Parks such as Victoria Park usually need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
Comparing caterers
- The deposit and payment dates
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- A clear list of what’s included
- VAT, if it applies
Is live paella right for your event?
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and generally costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and it’s entertaining too. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Why Donnington hosts choose us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- No hidden extras in your quote
Towns and villages near Donnington
More for events in Donnington
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
How it works
Expect a friendly, organised team. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up the pans and burners, and get on with cooking and serving. Planning an evening event in Donnington? 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.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
How to prepare
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Getting a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just fill in our quote form.
Read more
Diets, allergies and planning
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Confirm allergies by email
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
After service, we pack down our cooking area.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not provide them.
Before you choose a spot
No two venues are the same, so we will ask about yours when you contact us. In general, we need:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
On the menu in Donnington
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- 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