Wokingham · England
Live paella catering in Hurst, Wokingham
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Hurst.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Summer garden parties
- Birthday celebrations
Book paella catering in Hurst
How our paella catering works in Hurst
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. We cook paella Valenciana, chicken and chorizo paella and vegetable paella, and we’re often booked for garden parties and summer barbecues and weddings and evening receptions.
In a rural place like Hurst, the setting does a lot of the work: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. We plan the timings around your day, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Planning live paella in Hurst
Hurst is about 2 miles east of Woodley, in Wokingham. Whether your event is in the middle of Hurst or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Hurst is one of 35 towns and villages in Wokingham where we cook.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Twyford station, about 1.4 miles north. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as St Nicholas Church of England Primary, can book us as a food stall.
We cook at events all over the RG10 postcode area. That could mean an event in a garden on Braybrooke Drive, School Road and Tape Lane. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Whistley Green (1 mile north-west), Twyford (2 miles north), Hungerford (2 miles north-east), Ruscombe (2 miles north) and Woodley (2 miles west). Further out, we also cater in Reading (5 miles west), Wokingham (3 miles south), Earley (4 miles south-west), Crowthorne (6 miles south-east), Lower Earley (3 miles south-west) and Newtown (4 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include Berkshire Library & Museum of Freemasonry (2.7 miles south-west) and Wokingham Hospital (3.2 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Sonning Hill and Lavells Lake.
- Local schools include Waingels College (1.7 miles west)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Green Man pub (within half a mile north-east)
What affects the price in Hurst
These are the factors that matter most:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Distance and access to the venue
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Timings and hours
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
What to tell us
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- The venue or postcode
- Diets and allergies you know about
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Roughly how many adults and children
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Towns and villages near Hurst
Other catering in Hurst
Questions from Hurst
What’s the nearest station to Hurst for guests?
The closest is Twyford station, roughly 1.4 miles away.
Is Hurst close to London?
Roughly 33 miles from the centre of London.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and it’s cooked separately.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
Which paellas do you recommend?
Most events choose two or three: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Our menu lists the options.
Do you cover Hurst?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Hurst and the rest of Wokingham. For a quote, use our quote form.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Space, weather and the venue
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space when you get in touch. In general, we need:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Is live paella right for your event?
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why us?
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Take a look at Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
Occasions we cook for in Hurst
People book live paella because it is food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food is hot and generous.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Anniversary celebrations
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Summer garden parties
- Retirement celebrations
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Loddon Nature Reserve? Public parks normally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
What to look for in a quote
- Travel and parking costs
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- When payment is due
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Put allergy details in writing
- Count adults and children separately
- Let us know about other food at the event
On the day, you shouldn’t have to think about the food. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
How the day works
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. Around midsummer it stays light in Hurst until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Getting ready for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Have a level space ready for the pans
How to get a price
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
What’s in the pans
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together, and it is frequently the first pan to empty.
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea, and is popular with adventurous guests.
- 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