Wokingham · England
Live paella catering in Woodley, Wokingham
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Woodley: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Anniversary celebrations
- Christenings and family gatherings
Live paella catering in Woodley
Paella catering in Woodley, 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 Woodley. On the menu are paella Valenciana, black rice and vegan paella, and we are regularly asked to cater festivals, fairs and school events and staff parties and work lunches.
A town like Woodley gives you plenty of options: a garden, a club, a hall or a hired venue. We will check the cooking spot with you before the day. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
Catering an event in Woodley
Woodley is about 3 miles east of Reading, in Wokingham. From the centre of Woodley to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cook in all 35 towns and villages in Wokingham.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Winnersh Triangle station, about 1.2 miles south. Thinking of a picnic-style party in Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve? Public parks generally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
We cook at events all over the RG5, RG6 and RG10 postcode area. Your event could be at a home on Church Road, Jasmine Square and London Road. You’ll find Woodley on the A4 and A3290, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. If your venue is just outside Woodley, we also cover Charvil (2 miles north), Whistley Green (2 miles east), Winnersh (2 miles south), Hurst (2 miles east) and Twyford (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Reading (3 miles west), Wokingham (4 miles south-east), Crowthorne (7 miles south-east), Woosehill (3 miles south-east), Emmbrook (3 miles south-east) and Coley Park (4 miles west). Being one of Wokingham’s larger places, Woodley has plenty of venues and gardens for events.
Other landmarks nearby include Berkshire Library & Museum of Freemasonry (2.1 miles south) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.7 miles west). Not far away are South Lake and Alder Moors.
- Local schools include Waingels College (0.8 miles north) and The Bulmershe School (0.9 miles west)
- Local pubs include The Bull And Chequers pub (under half a mile north)
For planners, venues and organisers
Throwing a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Woodley? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
DIY paella versus live catering
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
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.
The process
Expect a friendly, organised team. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. Evenings in Woodley stay light until about 9:25pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
How to prepare
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, send us your details through our quote form.
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Places near Woodley
More for events in Woodley
Planning for every diet
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Ask for labels on each pan
A short rest after cooking helps, which is when we usually call guests over.
Sangria and bar staff can be added for your own drinks.
Space, weather and the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Popular choices
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
Who books paella catering in Woodley?
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
Whatever you are celebrating in Woodley, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Milestone birthday parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Retirement celebrations
- Staff parties and work lunches
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Rivermead Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
What to look for in a quote
- VAT, if it applies
- What happens if it rains
- Allergen information for each dish
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
Live paella or other catering?
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why choose Love Paella in Woodley
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Take a look at How we price And The cost guide.
Common questions in Woodley
Can you cater a reception after a service at United Reformed Church?
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.
How far is Woodley from London?
Roughly 35 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
What does paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
What areas do you cover?
We cater across London and the South East, Wokingham included. Find your area.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
What equipment do you bring?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You provide a suitable spot and access.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
When should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
What paella catering costs
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Guest numbers
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many staff you need
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, fill in 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