Wokingham · England
Live paella catering in Newtown, Wokingham
Planning paella catering in Newtown? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Anniversary celebrations
- Milestone birthday parties
Book paella catering in Newtown
What happens on the day
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. Around midsummer it stays light in Newtown until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening events are generally served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- 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
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Paella catering for your event in Newtown
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: just paella, or paella with tapas, desserts and drinks. We’ll suggest what suits your event. For office lunches and staff parties and garden get-togethers, we’ll put together a menu of seafood paella, mixed paella and black rice and more.
Around Newtown, events are often in gardens, local halls or nearby venues. If access is tight, we will plan around it. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
Places near Newtown
Also in Newtown
Questions from Newtown
Can you cook in Eldon Square?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
What’s the nearest station to Newtown for guests?
Reading station, about 1.1 miles west of the centre.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, while the rice is cooking.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Can you cook halal paella?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and we’ll cook a separate pan.
What is live paella catering?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook in front of your guests, and serve when you’re ready to eat.
Why choose paella catering in Newtown?
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Newtown, live paella can be the centrepiece. We frequently cook for:
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Community events and fairs
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Naming days and family parties
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like New Town Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
What to look for in a quote
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- The deposit and payment dates
- When final numbers are due
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Catering an event in Newtown
Newtown is about 1 mile east of Reading, in Wokingham. Events in Newtown are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cater in 35 places across Wokingham, from the larger towns to small villages.
Parks such as Eldon Square normally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. For guests coming by train, Reading station is about 1.1 miles away.
We cater events across RG1, RG6 and RG4. Whether your event is on Orts Road, Eldon Road and Amity Road or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Lower Caversham (1 mile north-west), Reading (1 mile west), Earley (2 miles south-east), Caversham (2 miles north-west) and Play Hatch (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Wokingham (5 miles south-east), Crowthorne (9 miles south-east), Winnersh (3 miles south-east), Woosehill (5 miles south-east), Emmbrook (5 miles south-east) and Twyford (4 miles north-east). As one of the bigger places in Wokingham, Newtown has lots of places to hold an event.
A little further out are The Oracle (1.1 miles west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (0.6 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Sonning Hill and Fobney Island Wetland Reserve.
- Schools near Newtown include Bulmershe College (under half a mile west) and Maiden Erlegh School (0.6 miles south-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Fisherman's Cottage pub (within half a mile west)
- Other local spots include University of Reading library (1 mile south)
Dishes our guests love
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, finished with lemon wedges. It is the pan people photograph.
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a paella that stands on its own. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Live paella or other catering?
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, so everyone can eat at the same time. Larger events typically cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why Newtown hosts choose us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Read Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
Planning the cooking area
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
On the menu in Newtown
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
What affects the price in Newtown
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- The length of service
- The paellas you choose
- Guest numbers
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Which courses you have in mind
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The date and time of the event
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will suggest a menu. To start, use our quote form.
Working with your venue
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
- 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