Reading · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Gallowstree Common, Reading
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Gallowstree Common and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Engagement celebrations
- Tapas and paella menus
- Drinks parties and receptions
Book tapas catering in Gallowstree Common
About our tapas catering in Gallowstree Common
For standing receptions, canapés work best; for seated meals, table tapas. Lots of events do both. We are frequently asked to cater welcome-drink canapés and evening grazing, with gambas al ajillo, Serrano ham and padrón peppers.
Near Gallowstree Common, tapas suit gardens, barns and marquees. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it’s ready.
Why choose live paella in Gallowstree Common?
Tapas are flexible, which makes them easy to plan around. There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Why us?
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- We cover Gallowstree Common and the whole of Reading
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
What affects the price in Gallowstree Common
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Timings and hours
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Travel, parking and access
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What to tell us
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- The courses you’d like
- Where the event is
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- What the venue already provides
Planning tapas catering in Gallowstree Common? Send us the details and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. To get in touch, use our quote form.
Nearby places to Gallowstree Common
More for events in Gallowstree Common
Planning a tapas spread in Gallowstree Common
Gallowstree Common is about 3 miles north-west of Caversham, in Reading. Events in Gallowstree Common are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cook in all 34 towns and villages in Reading.
After a ceremony at a church such as Church of St John the Baptist, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Guests travelling by rail: the nearest station is Tilehurst station, about 3.3 miles south.
This part of Reading takes in RG4, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Local streets include Reades Lane, Hearns Lane and Horsepond Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Cane End (1 mile south-west), Hook End (2 miles north-west), Stoke Row (2 miles north), Checkendon (3 miles north-west) and Woodcote (3 miles west). Further out, we also cater in Caversham (3 miles south-east), Norcot (4 miles south), West Reading (4 miles south), Tilehurst Within (4 miles south), Shinfield (8 miles south) and Arborfield Garrison (10 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Battle Hospital (4.1 miles south). Open spaces near Gallowstree Common include Hartslock.
- Local schools include The Warwick School (0.6 miles south-east) and Kidmore End Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles south-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Reformation pub (within half a mile west)
Who books tapas catering in Gallowstree Common?
They’re easy to eat with a drink in hand.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Engagement drinks
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Evening sharing boards
- Launches and office parties
Historic houses near Gallowstree Common include Mapledurham House (2.6 miles south-west) and Greys Court (2.8 miles north-east). Where a historic venue does not allow live cooking, canapé tapas may still be possible; ask the venue.
What to look for in a quote
- How long the team stays
- The wet-weather plan
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- If the price includes VAT
DIY paella versus live catering
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
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 be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
FAQs for Gallowstree Common
Is Gallowstree Common close to London?
Roughly 39 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St John the Baptist?
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 generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you come to Gallowstree Common?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, and Gallowstree Common is within our area. To check your date, fill in our quote form.
Are there vegetarian tapas?
Yes. Tortilla, patatas bravas, padrón peppers and Manchego are vegetarian classics.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
Can we add drinks?
Sangria and bar staff can be added.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Can you bring crockery?
If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Space to finish hot dishes
- Parking near the venue
- Table space for sharing dishes at seated meals
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
What we offer
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Chorizo in red wine
- Gambas al ajillo
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Patatas bravas
- Tortilla española
The process
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell normally draws people over. At midsummer, it is light in Gallowstree Common until about 9:25pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:10pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- First, we check availability.
- You choose canapés, table tapas or both.
- We arrive and set up our station.
- Hot and cold tapas are served.
- We clear away at the end.
How to prepare
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Ask for a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
About the dishes
Manchego & membrillo
Easy and classic.
Patatas bravas
Fried potatoes with spicy sauce.
Organising for someone else?
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
If you are organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
- 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