West Berkshire · England
Paella Catering for Heads Hill events
Planning paella catering in Heads Hill? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Retirement celebrations
- Festivals, fairs and school events
Planning an event in Heads Hill?
Paella catering for your event in Heads Hill
Keep it simple, or go all out: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We will suggest what suits your event. Whether it is office lunches and staff parties and milestone birthday parties, we can cook vegan paella, paella Valenciana and black rice.
In a hamlet or village like Heads Hill, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Location
- Heads Hill (RG19, RG20)
- Area hub
- West Berkshire
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Also near Heads Hill
More for events in Heads Hill
Step by step
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests usually gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. Around midsummer it stays light in Heads Hill until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Before we arrive
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Get a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can use our quote form.
Planning help
Planning for every diet
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Make sure most guests can sit to eat
- Tell us what else is being served
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If plans change, tell us and we will adjust.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside.
Heads Hill: your questions answered
Could we have live paella in New Greenham Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Peter: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so get in touch early.
Is the paella gluten-free?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
What if the weather’s bad?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
How long do you need on site?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
What paella catering costs
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Travel, parking and access
- How many guests are eating
- Your choice of paellas
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The venue or postcode
- Your date and when you want to eat
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote.
Heads Hill: venues, travel and local tips
Heads Hill is about 2 miles south of Thatcham, in West Berkshire. From the centre of Heads Hill to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Heads Hill is one of 155 towns and villages in West Berkshire where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Heads Hill to Reading (about 14 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Thatcham station, about 1.9 miles north-east. Historic houses near Heads Hill include Shaw House (3.3 miles north-west) and Benham Park (4.8 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
This part of West Berkshire takes in RG19 and RG20, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Main Street, Thornford Road and Second Street East, and we can cook for an event on any of them. For events just outside Heads Hill, we cover Bishop's Green (1 mile south-west), Headley (1 mile south-east), Bury's Bank (1 mile north-west), Mill Green (1 mile south-east) and Goose Hill (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Newbury (3 miles north-west), Burghfield Common (9 miles east), Speenhamland (3 miles north-west), Hungerford (11 miles west), Spencers Wood (13 miles east) and Calcot (11 miles north-east).
A little further out are Donnington Castle (4.3 miles north-west) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (2.4 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Thatcham Reed Beds and Ladle Hill.
- Local schools include Kennet School (2.2 miles north-east)
Working with your venue
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Why choose paella catering in Heads Hill?
There is no kitchen needed, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Garden get-togethers
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Peter, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Before you book anyone
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- The venue requirements
- How long the team stays
Why choose live paella in Heads Hill?
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, live paella is easier for vegetarian, vegan and halal guests, thanks to separate pans. Service from the pan keeps queues moving. There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Why Heads Hill hosts choose us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Dishes our guests love
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, not seafood. It is frequently the most popular pan at an event.
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.
- 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