Reading · England
Paella Catering for Dunsden Green events
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Dunsden Green. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Retirement celebrations
- Summer garden parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
Paella catering for Dunsden Green events
Paella catering in Dunsden Green, made fresh on the day
Paella has always been food for a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That’s what we bring to events in Dunsden Green. For milestone birthday parties and weddings, from canapés to evening food, we can cook mixed paella, paella Valenciana and chicken and chorizo paella for your guests.
In a rural place like Dunsden Green, the setting does plenty of the work: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Let us know about access and ground conditions. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
What happens on the day
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. Planning an evening event in Dunsden Green? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:25pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Preparing for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
How to get a price
Send us the date, your venue or RG4 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, use our quote form.
Read more
What’s in the pans
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
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.
Your questions about paella catering in Dunsden Green
Can you cater a reception after a service at All Saints Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
What’s the nearest station to Dunsden Green for guests?
The closest is Reading station, roughly 2.6 miles away.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Is the paella gluten-free?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Very much so. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.
Will there be enough food?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Planning live paella in Dunsden Green
Dunsden Green is about 1 mile north-east of Caversham, in Reading. From the centre of Dunsden Green to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Dunsden Green is one of 34 places in Reading we cover.
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like All Saints Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Parks such as Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve normally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
We cater events across RG4 and the streets around it. Nearby, we also cater events in Littlestead Green (1 mile west), Play Hatch (1 mile south), Caversham Park Village (1 mile south-west), Emmer Green (1 mile south-west) and Caversham (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Norcot (4 miles south-west), West Reading (4 miles south-west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles south-west), Shinfield (6 miles south), Arborfield Garrison (8 miles south) and Horncastle (5 miles south-west).
Nearby you’ll also find Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.8 miles south) and Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Museum (2.8 miles south). The countryside around Dunsden Green includes Sonning Hill and South Lake.
- Schools near Dunsden Green include Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre (1.7 miles west)
- Local pubs include The Flowing Spring pub (0.6 miles south-east)
Places near Dunsden Green
More for events in Dunsden Green
Should I cook it myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Planners, venues and businesses
Hosting a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Planning for every diet
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Tell us what else is being served
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If plans change, tell us and we will adjust.
Sangria and bar staff can be added to serve drinks you provide.
What we need at the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
Popular choices
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
Why choose live paella in Dunsden Green?
Vans serve one order at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Why book with us
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Occasions we cook for in Dunsden Green
It is ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, with guests mingling as it cooks and then sit down to share.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Dunsden Green and Reading:
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Anniversary celebrations
- Birthday celebrations
- Naming days and family parties
For guests coming by train, Reading station is about 2.6 miles away.
Questions to ask before booking
- Payment terms and deposit
- The wet-weather plan
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- VAT, if it applies
- 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