Reading · England
Tapas & canapé catering in Whitley, Reading
We cook Spanish tapas and canapé catering, on its own or alongside a paella across Whitley and Reading, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Launches and office parties
- Tapas and paella menus
- Birthday and anniversary parties
Tapas catering in Whitley
How we price tapas catering
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- Your choice of paellas
- The number of people
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Getting an accurate quote
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The address or venue name
- Diets and allergies you know about
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Whitley, and we will put together a menu and price.
Tapas catering in Whitley, made fresh on the day
We will recommend a tapas selection for your event, whether tapas are a starter or the whole meal. We’re often asked to cater sharing tapas starters and office parties and launches, with tortilla española, albóndigas and padrón peppers.
Around Whitley, tapas suit garden parties and village-hall celebrations. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
For event organisers in Whitley
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Throwing a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
How the day works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. At midsummer, it’s light in Whitley until about 9:25pm, ideal for tapas in the garden. By late September it is dark around 7:05pm, and in December by about 3:55pm.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and how you want the tapas served.
- You get a suggested selection and a price.
- On the day, we set up and prepare the hot tapas there.
- Canapés go round with the drinks, or table tapas go out to share.
- Afterwards, our equipment is cleared away.
Preparing for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Ask for a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Dishes our guests love
Tortilla española
A vegetarian favourite.
Gambas al ajillo
Garlic prawns.
Planning the cooking area
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Unloading access
- Permission from the venue
- A spot for our serving station
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
What we offer
- Patatas bravas
- Serrano ham
- Albóndigas
- Croquetas
- Tortilla española
- Chorizo in red wine
- Manchego & membrillo
- Padrón peppers
- Gambas al ajillo
- Olives & bread
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Include staff for canapés
- Check diets in advance
- Pair tapas with sangria, cava or sherry
- Make sure dishes are labelled
Table tapas are set down to share at the start of the meal.
Bar staff and sangria.
Places near Whitley
Other catering in Whitley
Whitley questions
Is Whitley close to London?
About 38 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Agnes?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
How many tapas per person?
It depends on whether they’re a starter, canapés or the whole meal. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest quantities.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
Are your tapas vegetarian-friendly?
Plenty are vegetarian, like tortilla and padrón peppers. Each dish is labelled.
DIY paella versus live catering
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Occasions we cook for in Whitley
They cover lots of tastes and diets in one spread.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in Whitley book us for occasions like:
- Engagement parties
- Birthday drinks
- Sharing tapas starters
- Work receptions
Guests travelling by rail: Reading Green Park station is about 1.7 miles away.
Comparing caterers
- When final numbers are due
- Whether travel is included
- Space, access and power needs
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
Drinks receptions around Whitley
Whitley is about 1 mile west of Earley, in Reading. From the centre of Whitley to the outskirts, tapas catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Whitley is one of 34 places in Reading where we cook.
If you’re looking at a historic venue around Whitley, check its catering rules early, as many limit cooking. Parks such as Pearman's Copse have their own rules for catering, so check before planning a party there.
Anywhere in RG2, RG1 and RG19, we can cook for your guests. Streets in the area include Litton Road, Totnes Road and Winton Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Other places close to Whitley for tapas catering include Whitley Wood (1 mile south), Earley (1 mile east), Green Park (1 mile west), Great Lea Common (1 mile south-west) and Reading (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Caversham (3 miles north), Norcot (4 miles north-west), Tilehurst Within (4 miles north-west), Arborfield Garrison (4 miles south-east), Caversham Heights (4 miles north) and Horncastle (3 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Royal Berkshire Hospital (1.6 miles north) and The Oracle (1.8 miles north). Not far away are Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and Sonning Hill.
- Local schools include Whitley Park Primary and Nursery School (less than half a mile north-west) and Crosfields School (0.7 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include World Turned Upside Down pub (within half a mile west)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include University of Reading library (1.1 miles north-east)
- 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