Reading · England
Paella Party Catering in Dunsden Green
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events turns food into part of your party in Dunsden Green.
- Retirement celebrations
- Celebrations of life
- Milestone birthdays
Planning an event in Dunsden Green?
Dunsden Green: your questions answered
Can you cater a reception after a service at All Saints Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you come out to small places like Dunsden Green?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a picture if you are not sure.
How do you work out quantities?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
How many different paellas?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will help you decide the split.
How much does paella party catering cost in Dunsden Green?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
About our paella party catering in Dunsden Green
Paella is made for relaxed parties: it is served from the pan and shared, so nobody needs a formal seating plan. On the menu are mixed paella, vegetable paella and tapas, and we are regularly asked to cater garden parties and summer barbecues and retirement and leaving parties.
A country party near Dunsden Green is perfect for paella: cooked in the open and served hot. Plan a gazebo in case of rain. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
A closer look at the menu
Vegetable paella
Vegetable paella in its own right.
Churros
All ages love churros.
How it works
Here’s how the day generally runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and it is served hot from the pan when you are ready to eat. Sunset in Dunsden Green is about 8:55pm in late May and 9:25pm in late June. If the party runs past dark, we’ll need light where we cook and serve.
- Send us your date, address and numbers.
- You get a menu and a quote.
- We set up before guests arrive.
- Guests watch the paella cook.
- We serve from the pan and pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Leave space around the cooking area
Ask for a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, use our quote form.
Related guides
Nearby places to Dunsden Green
What else we do in Dunsden Green
Planning a party in Dunsden Green
Dunsden Green is about 1 mile north-east of Caversham, in Reading. Parties in Dunsden Green are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Dunsden Green is one of 34 towns and villages in Reading where we cook.
Nearby historic houses include Greys Court (3.9 miles north) and Mapledurham House (4.2 miles west). If you’re hiring a historic venue for a big birthday, check its rules on outside caterers first. Christenings and naming days frequently start at a local church such as All Saints Church, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards.
Anywhere in RG4, we can cook for your guests. We also cook at parties in Littlestead Green (1 mile west), Play Hatch (1 mile south), Caversham Park Village (1 mile south-west), Emmer Green (1 mile south-west) and Caversham (1 mile south-west). Larger places within reach include Norcot (4 miles south-west), West Reading (4 miles south-west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles south-west), Shinfield (6 miles south), Arborfield Garrison (8 miles south) and Horncastle (5 miles south-west).
A little further out are Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.8 miles south) and Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Museum (2.8 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Sonning Hill and South Lake.
- Nearby schools include Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre (1.7 miles west)
- Pubs nearby include The Flowing Spring pub (0.6 miles south-east)
Occasions we cook for in Dunsden Green
It works for all ages and diets, from children to grandparents.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Retirement celebrations
- Family get-togethers
- Big birthdays
- Wakes and memorial gatherings
Parks such as Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve generally need permission for cooking, so a garden or hired venue is often easier.
What your quote should include
- Whether travel is included
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- How each diet is kept separate
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Where we can cook in Dunsden Green
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space when you get in touch. In general, we need:
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Send a picture of the garden so we can check
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Churros
- Tapas
- Seafood paella
Planning for every diet
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Keep children and pets away from the burners
- Plan seats for most guests
- Collect dietary needs with your invites
- Have bins ready
When service is finished, we pack down quietly, so the party carries on.
Plates, cutlery and waiting staff can be added.
Planners, venues and businesses
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’ll 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 plan ahead.
Live paella or other catering?
A takeaway order is easy but forgettable. Live paella gives guests a show. The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Why us?
- Events in Dunsden Green and across Reading
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- A clear, itemised quote
- 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