Reading · England
Paella Catering in West Reading
Looking for paella catering in West Reading? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Summer garden parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Paella catering near West Reading
Catering for every guest
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Mention any other courses or food
Paella is best eaten as soon as it is ready, so we serve when guests are ready.
Sangria and bar staff can be added to serve drinks you provide.
How our paella catering works in West Reading
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. Whether it is birthday celebrations and retirement celebrations, we’ll put together a menu of paella Valenciana, seafood paella and chicken and chorizo paella for your guests.
In and around West Reading, gardens and local halls are common choices. If the road in is narrow, tell us so we can plan the van. We serve straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
For event organisers in West Reading
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Dishes our guests love
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a proper main dish. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, not seafood. It’s frequently the most popular pan at an event.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and it is entertaining too. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why us?
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Events in West Reading and across Reading
DIY paella versus live catering
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Where we can cook in West Reading
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Paella catering around West Reading
West Reading is about 1 mile north-west of Reading, in Reading. From the centre of West Reading to the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cater in all 34 towns and villages across Reading, from the larger towns to small villages.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Battle School, can book us as a food stall. For guests coming by train, West Reading has its own station, Reading West station.
For paella catering in RG30, RG1 and RG31, we plan around your venue and your guests. From Lundy Lane, Wilson Road and Wilton Road or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. Being close to the A4, West Reading is simple for us to get to with everything for your event. For events just outside West Reading, we cover Coley Park (1 mile south-east), Reading (1 mile south-east), Caversham Heights (2 miles north), Lower Caversham (2 miles north-east) and Green Park (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Shinfield (4 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (6 miles south-east), Whitley Wood (3 miles south-east), Sonning Common (4 miles north), Caversham Park Village (3 miles north-east) and Sonning (4 miles east). Being one of Reading’s larger places, West Reading has plenty of venues and gardens for events.
Other landmarks nearby include Battle Hospital (less than half a mile north) and Broad Street Mall (0.8 miles east). Open spaces near West Reading include Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and Sonning Hill.
- Schools near West Reading include The WREN School (0.5 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Rose And Thistle Public House (less than half a mile east)
Perfect for your event in West Reading
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Community events and fairs
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mark, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Questions to ask before you book
- Travel and parking costs
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Who provides the crockery
- How late numbers can change
Questions from West Reading
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Mark: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Can you cook in Round Copse?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
Does paella work for big events?
Yes. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
What happens with live paella?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook in front of your guests, and serve when you are ready to eat.
How long does the paella take?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
Which paellas do you recommend?
Most events choose two or three: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. See the sample menu.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Places near West Reading
What else we do in West Reading
Step by step
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. Around midsummer it stays light in West Reading until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, 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.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Before we arrive
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Ask for a quote
Planning paella catering in West Reading? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To contact us, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
- 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