Reading · England
Paella Catering for Whitley events
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Whitley: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Christenings and family gatherings
Book paella catering in Whitley
How our paella catering works in Whitley
Paella is generous food: big pans, bright colours and a crispy base everyone wants a spoonful of. It turns a meal into an occasion. Popular choices include paella Valenciana, mixed paella and vegetable paella, and we’re regularly asked to cater leaving dos and retirements and summer garden parties.
For a place the size of Whitley, your own garden is frequently the best venue: no hire fees, and live paella feeds everyone without anyone stuck in the kitchen. Tell us about access down the lane or drive. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan.
Step by step
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you can enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first as the rice is cooking. Around midsummer it stays light in Whitley until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- 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 rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Plan cover in case of rain
Get a quote
Planning paella catering in Whitley? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Towns and villages near Whitley
What else we do in Whitley
Paella catering around Whitley
Whitley is about 1 mile west of Earley, in Reading. From the centre of Whitley to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Whitley is one of 34 places in Reading where we cook.
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Pearman's Copse? Public parks usually need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. For guests coming by train, Reading Green Park station is about 1.7 miles away.
This part of Reading takes in RG2, RG1 and RG19, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Local streets include Litton Road, Totnes Road and Winton Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. We also cook at events in Whitley Wood (1 mile south), Earley (1 mile east), Green Park (1 mile west), Great Lea Common (1 mile south-west) and Reading (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Caversham (3 miles north), Norcot (4 miles north-west), Tilehurst Within (4 miles north-west), Arborfield Garrison (4 miles south-east), Caversham Heights (4 miles north) and Horncastle (3 miles north-west).
A little further out are Royal Berkshire Hospital (1.6 miles north) and The Oracle (1.8 miles north). Open spaces near Whitley include Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and Sonning Hill.
- Nearby schools include Whitley Park Primary and Nursery School (within half a mile north-west) and Crosfields School (0.7 miles south-east)
- Nearby, you will find World Turned Upside Down pub (under half a mile west)
- Local facilities include University of Reading library (1.1 miles north-east)
How we price paella catering
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Parking and unloading
- The number of people
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Larger events usually cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
What to tell us
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- What the venue already provides
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Catering for every guest
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Put allergy details in writing
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Give us separate numbers for children
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Tapas or canapés make a good start as the rice cooks.
Your questions about paella catering in Whitley
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Agnes?
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.
Can you cook in Pearman's Copse?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
Do you bring everything you need?
All cooking kit comes with us. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Is paella enough as a main?
It is a full meal on its own. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
For planners, venues and organisers
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
If you are organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Dishes our guests love
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it’s often the first pan to empty.
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Perfect for your event in Whitley
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Retirement celebrations
- Community events and fairs
- Big birthdays
- Weddings and evening receptions
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like St Agnes, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Before you book anyone
- Who provides the crockery
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
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. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What you get with us
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
See How we price And What paella catering costs.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. 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 enjoy the party, let us cook.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
- 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