Reading · England
Paella Catering for Sonning Common events
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Sonning Common and across Reading.
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Milestone birthday parties
Planning an event in Sonning Common?
Sonning Common: venues, travel and local tips
Sonning Common is about 3 miles north of Caversham, in Reading. We bring paella catering to gardens, halls and venues around Sonning Common. Sonning Common is one of 34 towns and villages in Reading we cover.
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Sonning Common Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. For guests coming by train, Henley-On-Thames station is about 3.7 miles away.
Wherever your event is in RG4 and RG9, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Local streets include Wood Lane, Green Lane and Woodbury Close; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. If your venue is just outside Sonning Common, we also cover Peppard Hill (1 mile north-west), Rotherfield Peppard (1 mile north), Kidmore End (1 mile south-west), Kingwood Common (1 mile north-west) and Shepherd's Green (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Caversham (3 miles south), Norcot (4 miles south-west), West Reading (4 miles south), Tilehurst Within (5 miles south-west), Shinfield (8 miles south) and Arborfield Garrison (10 miles south). Sonning Common is among the bigger towns we cover in Reading, with lots of choice for events.
A little further out are Frazer Nash Archives (3.8 miles east) and Battle Hospital (4.1 miles south). Open spaces near Sonning Common include Sonning Hill and Warburg Nature Reserve.
- Schools near Sonning Common include Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge (0.5 miles south-west) and The Warwick School (0.5 miles south-west)
- Pubs nearby include Hare & Hounds pub (within half a mile north)
Paella catering in Sonning Common, made fresh on the day
Paella has always been food for a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That is exactly what we bring to your event in Sonning Common. Typical bookings include weddings, from canapés to evening food and office lunches and staff parties, serving vegetable paella, black rice and mixed paella.
A place like Sonning Common frequently has a hall, a club or a pub garden nearby; any can work for paella, with permission and somewhere outside to cook. You’ll know exactly what’s included before booking: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
The menu, dish by dish
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella isn’t an afterthought: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron.
Is live paella right for your event?
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why book with us
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- A quote that spells everything out
- Catering across Reading, including Sonning Common
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
How it works
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we adjust the cooking so it’s still served fresh. Planning an evening event in Sonning Common? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:25pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Getting ready for the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
For event organisers in Sonning Common
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Where we can cook in Sonning Common
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
Menu ideas
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
Should I cook it myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter as the rice cooks.
Also near Sonning Common
What else we do in Sonning Common
FAQs for Sonning Common
Can you cater a reception after a service at The Church of Christ the King?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Which station should guests use for Sonning Common?
The closest is Henley-On-Thames station, roughly 3.7 miles away.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Even if it is short notice, it’s worth asking.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Sonning Common.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
It is ideal. Big pans feed plenty of people, and service from the pan is quick.
Can you do sangria?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Do you do desserts?
We can add a dessert. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
How we price paella catering
These are the factors that matter most:
- Timings and hours
- Whether you need crockery
- Your choice of paellas
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
Details that help
To check availability and price, we need:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- The venue or postcode
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Anything your venue supplies
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Sonning Common? Send us the details and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. Just use our quote form.
- 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