Reading · England
Paella Party Catering for Play Hatch events
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events makes the food a highlight of your party in Play Hatch.
- Big family gatherings
- Anniversary celebrations
- Birthday parties
Live paella party catering in Play Hatch
Why live cooking beats a buffet
If you want special but not formal, live paella fits perfectly. The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What you get with us
- Drinks service on request
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Catering across Reading, including Play Hatch
- No hidden extras in your quote
Read Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
Paella party catering for your party in Play Hatch
A paella party takes the cooking off your hands without turning the day into a formal dinner. We set up in the garden or venue and cook as your guests chat. We cook mixed paella, vegetable paella and churros, and we are often booked for wakes and celebrations of life and leaving dos and retirements.
A country party near Play Hatch is perfect for paella: cooked in the open and served hot. Plan a gazebo in case of rain. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
For planners, venues and organisers
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Hosting 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.
Hosting a paella party in Play Hatch
Play Hatch is about 1 mile east of Caversham, in Reading. For a party in Play Hatch, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Play Hatch. We cover all 34 towns and villages across Reading.
Historic houses near Play Hatch include Mapledurham House (4.4 miles west) and Greys Court (4.6 miles north). If you are hiring a historic venue for a big birthday, check its rules on outside caterers first. Parks such as Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve typically need permission for cooking, so a garden or hired venue is often easier.
We cook at parties all over RG4. Whether your party is on Dene Close, Henley Road and Foxhill Lane or a nearby road, we can cook there. For parties just outside Play Hatch, we cover Dunsden Green (1 mile north), Caversham Park Village (1 mile west), Littlestead Green (1 mile north-west), Emmer Green (1 mile west) and Sonning (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Norcot (4 miles west), West Reading (3 miles south-west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles west), Shinfield (5 miles south), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south) and Horncastle (5 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include The Oracle (2.4 miles south-west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.3 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Alder Moors and South Lake.
- Nearby schools include Reading Blue Coat School (1 mile south-east) and Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre (1.8 miles west)
- Local pubs include The Shoulder of Mutton pub (within half a mile south-west)
DIY paella versus live catering
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Planning for every diet
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Have bins ready
- Add a diet question to the invitation
- Arrange a gazebo in case of rain
- Give separate numbers for children
The cooking area stays tidy and safe, with space kept clear around the burners.
Plates, cutlery and waiting staff can be added.
FAQs for Play Hatch
Do you come out to small places like Play Hatch?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
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. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Can you cook in my back garden?
Many gardens work. We need level ground, clearance and access. A picture helps.
What areas do you cover?
We cover London and the South East, Reading included. See all areas.
Will the neighbours notice?
There’s a cooking smell, but much less smoke than a barbecue, and it is a good smell. A friendly note to the neighbours helps.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
How much does paella party catering cost in Play Hatch?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
Who books paella party catering in Play Hatch?
It brings a bit of holiday feeling to a garden party.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Play Hatch and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Family reunions
- Naming days and christenings
- Street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers
- Celebrations of life
After a christening at a church like St Andrew's Church, a paella lunch is an easy way to feed family and friends.
What to look for in a quote
- Whether travel is included
- The wet-weather plan
- The deadline for final numbers
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Where we can cook in Play Hatch
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Play Hatch
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Tapas
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Churros
Step by step
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell usually draws people over. A summer party in Play Hatch stays light until about 9:25pm at midsummer, so a garden party can run well into the evening. By late September sunset is around 7:05pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- It starts with your date, address, numbers and any diets.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up our cooking area and start cooking.
- Guests gather round as it cooks, nibbling tapas if you’ve booked them.
- We serve from the pan and clear our cooking area away when we’re done.
Preparing for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
How to get a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you’re ready, use our quote form.
Read more
What’s in the pans
Vegetable paella
Vegetable paella in its own right, with peppers, beans and artichokes.
Seafood paella
A seafood pan with prawns and mussels, for the fish lovers.
Towns and villages near Play Hatch
Also in Play Hatch
- 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