Reading · England
Live paella catering in Play Hatch, Reading
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Play Hatch and Reading, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Naming days and family parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
Planning an event in Play Hatch?
Paella catering in Play Hatch, made fresh on the day
A couple of different pans covers everyone: meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan paellas. Each is cooked separately. We are frequently asked to cater retirement and leaving parties and community events and fairs, serving chicken and chorizo paella, vegan paella and paella Valenciana.
Somewhere like Play Hatch, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
What’s in the pans
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, not seafood. It’s often the most popular pan at an event.
Is live paella right for your event?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why Play Hatch hosts choose us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Fast service from the pan
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Take a look at Our prices page And The cost guide.
For planners, venues and organisers
Organising a club, school or community event in Play Hatch? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Play Hatch questions
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Andrew's Church?
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. Tell us where the reception will be.
Is Play Hatch too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
What areas do you cover?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Does paella work for big events?
It’s ideal. Big pans feed a lot of people, and service from the pan is quick.
How does live paella catering work?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
Will there be enough food?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
Is halal food available?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
What happens on the day
Your timings come first. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is served at its best. Evenings in Play Hatch stay light until about 9:25pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Ask for a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, use our quote form.
Read more
Live paella in Play Hatch: local details
Play Hatch is about 1 mile east of Caversham, in Reading. From the centre of Play Hatch to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Play Hatch is one of 34 towns and villages in Reading where we cook.
Parks such as Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve normally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. Nearby historic houses include Mapledurham House (4.4 miles west) and Greys Court (4.6 miles north). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
Paella catering in RG4 is planned around your venue and your guests. Streets in the area include Dene Close, Henley Road and Foxhill Lane, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Dunsden Green (1 mile north), Caversham Park Village (1 mile west), Littlestead Green (1 mile north-west), Emmer Green (1 mile west) and Sonning (1 mile south-east). Further out, we also cater in Norcot (4 miles west), West Reading (3 miles south-west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles west), Shinfield (5 miles south), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south) and Horncastle (5 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include The Oracle (2.4 miles south-west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.3 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Alder Moors and South Lake.
- Local schools include Reading Blue Coat School (1 mile south-east) and Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre (1.8 miles west)
- Nearby, you will find The Shoulder of Mutton pub (within half a mile south-west)
Planning the cooking area
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
What we offer
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Tell us what else is being served
- Count adults and children separately
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
Paella is best eaten as soon as it is ready, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago, or serve your own cake.
What paella catering costs
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- The paellas you choose
- Whether you need crockery
- Distance and access to the venue
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
What to tell us
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Expected numbers
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can use our quote form.
Why choose paella catering in Play Hatch?
Live paella is made for outdoor events: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Garden get-togethers
- Community events and fairs
- Naming days and family parties
For guests coming by train, Reading station is about 2.2 miles away.
Comparing caterers
- What happens if it rains
- When payment is due
- Whether travel is included
- How long the team stays
Nearby places to Play Hatch
More for events in Play Hatch
- 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