Reading · England
Live paella catering in Gallowstree Common, Reading
Paella 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 Gallowstree Common.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Birthday celebrations
- Weddings and evening receptions
Paella catering near Gallowstree Common
Paella catering in Gallowstree Common, cooked live
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. Typical bookings include festivals, fairs and school events and christenings and family gatherings, serving vegan paella, paella Valenciana and seafood paella.
In a small place like Gallowstree Common, events are usually in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
What happens on the day
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Evenings in Gallowstree Common stay light until about 9:25pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:10pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
How to prepare
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Leave space around the cooking area
Getting a price
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Nearby places to Gallowstree Common
More for events in Gallowstree Common
Working with your venue
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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 at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Events we cater in Gallowstree Common
Live paella is made for outdoor events: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
In Gallowstree Common and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Garden get-togethers
- Community events and fairs
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
What to look for in a quote
- When payment is due
- VAT, if it applies
- Whether travel is included
- When final numbers are due
Gallowstree Common: venues, travel and local tips
Gallowstree Common is about 3 miles north-west of Caversham, in Reading. For paella catering in Gallowstree Common, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Gallowstree Common. We cater in 34 places in Reading, from the larger towns to small villages.
For guests coming by train, Tilehurst station is about 3.3 miles away. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St John the Baptist, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
We cover events in every part of RG4. We can cater an event on streets such as Reades Lane, Hearns Lane and Horsepond Road or the roads around them. Nearby, we also cater events in Cane End (1 mile south-west), Hook End (2 miles north-west), Stoke Row (2 miles north), Checkendon (3 miles north-west) and Woodcote (3 miles west). Larger places within reach include Caversham (3 miles south-east), Norcot (4 miles south), West Reading (4 miles south), Tilehurst Within (4 miles south), Shinfield (8 miles south) and Arborfield Garrison (10 miles south-east).
A little further out are Battle Hospital (4.1 miles south). Open spaces near Gallowstree Common include Hartslock.
- Local schools include The Warwick School (0.6 miles south-east) and Kidmore End Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include The Reformation pub (under half a mile west)
Common questions in Gallowstree Common
Is Gallowstree Common close to London?
Roughly 39 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Which station should guests use for Gallowstree Common?
Tilehurst station, about 3.3 miles south of the centre.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
How soon do we need to book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it’s short notice, it’s worth asking.
Is paella enough as a main?
It can be. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
Where we can cook in Gallowstree Common
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
On the menu in Gallowstree Common
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
Planning for every diet
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
After service, we pack down our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
What’s in the pans
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.
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Paella compared with other options
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Gallowstree Common
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Catering across Reading, including Gallowstree Common
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Take a look at Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
- 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