Reading · England
Paella Catering for Sonning events
Looking for paella catering in Sonning? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Summer garden parties
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Staff parties and work lunches
Paella catering near Sonning
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Vans serve one order at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, so everyone can eat at the same time. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why us?
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Events in Sonning and across Reading
- A clear, itemised quote
Take a look at How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Paella catering in Sonning, made fresh on the day
Paella was made for feeding a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That is what we bring to events in Sonning. Popular choices include paella Valenciana, black rice and seafood paella, and we are frequently booked for festivals, fairs and school events and retirement and leaving parties.
Somewhere as small as Sonning, a garden or field is often the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we’ll plan for them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
Catering an event in Sonning
Sonning is about 1 mile north-west of Woodley, in Reading. Wherever your event is in the RG4 area, we will come to your venue or garden. Sonning is one of 34 towns and villages in Reading where we cook.
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like St Andrew's Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Sonning Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
We cater events across the RG4 postcode area and the streets around it. That could mean an event in a garden on High Street, Parkway Drive and Pound Lane or the roads around them. With the B478 and B4446 close by, Sonning is simple for us to get to with everything for your event. Other places close to Sonning for paella catering include Play Hatch (1 mile north-west), Dunsden Green (2 miles north-west), Newtown (2 miles south-west), Caversham Park Village (2 miles north-west) and Littlestead Green (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Caversham (3 miles west), Norcot (5 miles west), West Reading (4 miles west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles west), Shinfield (5 miles south-west) and Arborfield Garrison (6 miles south).
Nearby you will also find Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Museum (2.5 miles south-west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.6 miles south-west). Open spaces near Sonning include Sonning Hill and South Lake.
- Nearby schools include Reading Blue Coat School (under half a mile west) and Waingels College (0.8 miles east)
- Pubs nearby include Bull Inn (under half a mile north-west)
Sonning: your questions answered
We’re having a ceremony at St Andrew's Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you cook in Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Is paella enough as a main?
Paella is a meal in itself. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
What do you need at the venue?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a picture if you are not sure.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
When should we book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so contact us early.
Do you cook inside?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
What paella catering costs
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- How many guests are eating
The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Details that help
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- What the venue already provides
- Which courses you have in mind
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, use our quote form.
Nearby places to Sonning
What else we do in Sonning
Where we can cook in Sonning
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
Events we cater in Sonning
Live paella is food and a show in one. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Summer garden parties
- Company summer parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
Parks such as Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve usually need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
Before you book anyone
- Whether VAT is included
- What the price includes, item by item
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- How bad weather is handled
Planning for every diet
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, and that’s when we invite guests up.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal, or serve your own cake.
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury.
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a proper main dish. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
How it works
The paella is cooked in huge, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. Evenings in Sonning 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.
- 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 it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
How to get a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Read more
DIY paella versus live catering
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
- 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