Reading · England
Tapas Catering in Play Hatch
Love Paella cooks Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella in Play Hatch and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Tapas starters
- Engagement drinks
- Evening grazing
Planning an event in Play Hatch?
Perfect for your event in Play Hatch
They suit standing receptions where a full meal doesn’t fit.
Whatever you are celebrating in Play Hatch, live paella can be the centrepiece. We frequently cook for:
- Welcome-drink canapés
- Drinks parties and receptions
- Launches and office parties
- Sharing tapas starters
Parks such as Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there.
What your quote should include
- What happens if it rains
- Whether VAT is included
- Allergen information for each dish
- A clear list of what’s included
About our tapas catering in Play Hatch
The best spreads mix hot and cold: Manchego, Serrano ham and olives alongside patatas bravas, croquetas and gambas al ajillo. Popular choices include croquetas, patatas bravas and padrón peppers, and we’re regularly asked to cater sharing tapas starters and drinks reception canapés.
In a rural spot like Play Hatch, tapas can be served in a garden, barn or marquee. Timings are planned around your event, whether that’s speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Places near Play Hatch
Other catering in Play Hatch
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Common questions in Play Hatch
How far is Play Hatch from London?
Roughly 36 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Can you cook in Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, typically the council. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Do you do desserts?
We can add a dessert. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Do you cater in Play Hatch?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Play Hatch and across Reading. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Paella compared with other options
Tapas can be a starter, a reception or the whole meal, so they fit most plans. There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
What you get with us
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Events in Play Hatch and across Reading
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
See Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Planning a tapas spread in Play Hatch
Play Hatch is about 1 mile east of Caversham, in Reading. We bring tapas catering to gardens, halls and venues around Play Hatch. Play Hatch is one of 34 towns and villages in Reading we cover.
After a ceremony at a church such as St Andrew's Church, canapé tapas with the drinks keep guests happy during photos. Nearby historic houses include Mapledurham House (4.4 miles west) and Greys Court (4.6 miles north). For a drinks reception at a historic venue, canapé tapas can work where live cooking isn’t allowed.
We cater events across RG4 and the streets around it. That could mean an event in a garden on Dene Close, Henley Road and Foxhill Lane or the roads around them. Close by, we cover events in 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).
Other landmarks nearby include The Oracle (2.4 miles south-west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.3 miles south-west). Open spaces near Play Hatch include Alder Moors and South Lake.
- Schools near Play Hatch include Reading Blue Coat School (1 mile south-east) and Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre (1.8 miles west)
- Pubs nearby include The Shoulder of Mutton pub (less than half a mile south-west)
About the dishes
Patatas bravas
Always popular and usually vegetarian.
Tortilla española
Tortilla is vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.
How the day works
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. At midsummer, it is light in Play Hatch until about 9:25pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. In late September, sunset is about 7:05pm; winter receptions, dark by 3:55pm, are better indoors.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- You get a selection and a price.
- We set up and finish the hot dishes.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
How to get a price
Send us the date, your venue or RG4 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Related guides
For planners, venues and organisers
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
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.
How we price tapas catering
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Timings and hours
- Waiting and bar staff
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many guests are eating
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What to tell us
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Which courses you have in mind
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Planning tapas catering in Play Hatch? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. Just use our quote form.
Planning the cooking area
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Room on tables for sharing dishes
- The venue’s agreement to outside caterers
- Space to finish hot dishes
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
Menu ideas
- Albóndigas
- Serrano ham
- Gambas al ajillo
- Patatas bravas
- Manchego & membrillo
- Chorizo in red wine
- Tortilla española
- Croquetas
- Olives & bread
- Padrón peppers
- 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