Reading · England
Paella Catering in Fords Farm
Something 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 Fords Farm.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Summer garden parties
- Birthday celebrations
Paella catering near Fords Farm
Paella catering for your event in Fords Farm
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, very little goes to waste, and the food is served hot. It is why live paella suits so many kinds of event. Whether it’s weddings, from canapés to evening food and naming days and family parties, we will put together a menu of chicken and chorizo paella, paella Valenciana and vegan paella.
Around Fords Farm, events are frequently in gardens, local halls or nearby venues. If access is tight, we’ll plan around it. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
How we price paella catering
These are the factors that matter most:
- How many courses
- Guest numbers
- Whether you need crockery
- Distance and access to the venue
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Details that help
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The courses you’d like
- The address or venue name
- Diets and allergies you know about
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, use our quote form.
DIY paella versus live catering
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Planning live paella in Fords Farm
Fords Farm is about 2 miles west of Reading, in Reading. Whether your event is in the middle of Fords Farm or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Fords Farm is one of 34 places in Reading where we cook.
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Calcot Park? Public parks usually need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Matthew's, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Anywhere in RG30 and RG31, we can bring paella catering to you. Streets in the area include Low Lane, Mill Lane and Bath Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. If your venue is just outside Fords Farm, we also cover Horncastle (1 mile north), Southcote (1 mile east), Burghfield Bridge (1 mile south), Beansheaf Farm (1 mile west) and Calcot (1 mile west). Further out, we also cater in Caversham (4 miles north-east), Shinfield (4 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south-east), Caversham Heights (3 miles north-east), Whitley Wood (3 miles south-east) and Sonning Common (6 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Battle Hospital (1.7 miles north-east) and Beaumys Castle (4.8 miles south-east). The countryside around Fords Farm includes Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and South Lake.
- Schools near Fords Farm include Prospect School (0.5 miles north-east) and Elvian School (1.1 miles east)
- Pubs nearby include The Cunning Man pub (0.6 miles south)
Organising for someone else?
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
About the dishes
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together.
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, rather than seafood. It is frequently the most popular pan at an event.
Why choose live paella in Fords Farm?
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, so everyone can eat at the same time. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why book with us
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Catering across Reading, including Fords Farm
See How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Questions from Fords Farm
Could we have live paella in Calcot Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Which station should guests use for Fords Farm?
The closest is Reading Green Park station, roughly 1.4 miles away.
Is halal food available?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Which paellas suit our guests?
Two or three is usual: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. See the sample menu.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes, that is what it is made for. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.
Can paella be the only main course?
Paella is a meal in itself. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
Catering for every guest
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Mention any other courses or food
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Tell us how many children are coming
A short rest after cooking helps, and that is when we invite guests up.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter as the rice cooks.
Before you choose a spot
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
Towns and villages near Fords Farm
More for events in Fords Farm
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. Around midsummer it stays light in Fords Farm until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, 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.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Before we arrive
- Give us a contact for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Ask for a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
- 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