Reading · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Sonning, Reading
Looking for tapas catering in Sonning? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Engagement parties
- Sharing boards for evening guests
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Book tapas catering in Sonning
For event organisers in Sonning
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Tapas catering in Sonning, made fresh on the day
For standing receptions, canapés work best; for seated meals, table tapas. Lots of events do both. On the menu are padrón peppers, Manchego with membrillo and croquetas, and we’re frequently booked for launches and office parties and receptions and drinks parties.
For a country party near Sonning, tapas and sangria set the mood. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
Live paella or other catering?
Sandwich buffets are forgettable. Tapas feel like a treat. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why choose Love Paella in Sonning
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Occasions we cook for in Sonning
They’re ideal when a full meal doesn’t fit.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Birthday drinks
- Receptions and drinks parties
- Tapas with a paella main course
- Engagement celebrations
A picnic in Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve? Check the park’s rules first; a garden or hired venue is frequently easier for catering.
What your quote should include
- What happens if it rains
- The deposit and payment dates
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- A clear list of what’s included
How we price tapas catering
These are the factors that matter most:
- How many courses
- How many guests are eating
- The length of service
- How many staff you need
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Getting an accurate quote
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- What the venue already provides
- The venue or postcode
- The date and rough timings
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Diets, allergies and planning
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Book staff to carry canapés round
- Keep seafood and meat dishes clearly separate
- Collect dietary needs
- Plan more dishes if tapas are the meal
We clear our equipment when service ends.
Sangria and bar staff.
DIY paella versus live catering
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Places near Sonning
More for events in Sonning
Questions from Sonning
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Andrew's Church?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Which station should guests use for Sonning?
The closest is Twyford station, roughly 1.9 miles away.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
Do you do starters?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
Can you cater for children?
Of course. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
How it works
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. A summer drinks reception in Sonning has daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it’s dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- Send us the date, venue and numbers.
- We suggest a selection and a quote.
- We set up and finish hot tapas on site.
- We serve canapés or table tapas.
- We pack down when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Planning help
What’s in the pans
Patatas bravas
Crisp potatoes with a spicy tomato sauce.
Gambas al ajillo
Prawns sizzled in garlic and olive oil with a little chilli.
Receptions and parties in Sonning
Sonning is about 1 mile north-west of Woodley, in Reading. Whether your event is in the middle of Sonning or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Sonning 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. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Twyford station, about 1.9 miles east.
We cater events across the RG4 postcode area and the streets around it. That could mean an event in a garden on High Street, Parkway Drive and Pound Lane. Sonning is on the B478 and B4446, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Other places close to Sonning for tapas catering include Play Hatch (1 mile north-west), Dunsden Green (2 miles north-west), Newtown (2 miles south-west), Caversham Park Village (2 miles north-west) and Littlestead Green (2 miles north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Caversham (3 miles west), Norcot (5 miles west), West Reading (4 miles west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles west), Shinfield (5 miles south-west) and Arborfield Garrison (6 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Museum (2.5 miles south-west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.6 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Sonning Hill and South Lake.
- Local schools include Reading Blue Coat School (under half a mile west) and Waingels College (0.8 miles east)
- Local pubs include Bull Inn (within half a mile north-west)
- 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