Reading · England
BBQ Catering in Sonning
Thinking about a catered barbecue in Sonning? We cook outdoors under cover, with halloumi skewers and a vegan option for non-meat eaters.
- Neighbourhood parties
- Evening wedding food
- Charity fundraisers
BBQ catering in Sonning
BBQ catering in Sonning, cooked on site
Hosting a barbecue typically means shopping, prepping, cooking and clearing. A catered barbecue takes all of that off your hands, so you can spend the time with your guests. For family celebrations and summer parties in the garden, we can cook beef brisket, chicken skewers and pulled pork.
Near Sonning, barbecues often happen in gardens and fields. Tell us about lanes and ground, and we will plan the route. Let us know about allergies and dietary needs in advance, and we will give you the allergen information for every dish.
Occasions we serve in Sonning
Hot food straight off the grill
In Sonning and nearby, we cater for all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Birthdays and milestone parties
- Family celebrations
- Leaving and retirement parties
- Fêtes, fairs and sports days
Thinking of a barbecue in Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve? Many parks ban barbecues, and catering needs the landowner’s permission, typically the council’s.
Before booking anyone
- VAT, if it applies
- How dietary needs are handled
- The full menu and the sides
- Travel and any London charges
What happens on the day
We arrive in good time before service, so the grill is hot by the time you want to eat. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Evening barbecues in Sonning need a little planning: daylight lasts until about 9:25pm at midsummer, but by late September it goes at about 7:05pm. Plan lights for the serving area after that.
- We start with your date, venue and numbers.
- Pick the menu with us.
- We check the space and quote.
- On the day, our chef cooks and our staff serve.
- We pack away and leave the area tidy.
Preparing for the day
- Think about lights for the serving area after dark
- Tell us about narrow gates or side passages
- Think about where the smoke will drift
How to get a price
Planning ahead? Popular dates fill up early, so ask early for summer Saturdays and December. Send us your date for a quote: send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Planning for dietary needs
Allergies and dietary needs are easy to manage if we know in advance. Some ideas:
- Plan separately for anyone who needs halal food
- Request gluten-free rolls
- Check which rolls and sauces contain gluten
- Let us know roughly how many children are coming
We cook as your guests come up, and our staff serve and keep the queue moving.
For a more filling menu, add pulled pork or brisket.
Why a catered barbecue beats doing it yourself
Next to a buffet, barbecue food is hot and cooked to order, and nothing sits out all afternoon. Distance is part of the price: travel is included in your quote. Give us the address so the quote is accurate.
Why Sonning hosts choose us
- A full barbecue menu
- Hot food straight off the grill
- Timed around your day
- An itemised quote
See our prices page and our barbecue menu ideas.
Sonning: your questions answered
Do you come out to small places like Sonning?
No, we come to small places too. Let us know about access and the cooking spot.
Is Sonning close to London?
Roughly 35 miles from the centre of London.
Do you provide china?
We bring plates as standard. If you’d like china, ask and we’ll add it to the quote.
Can we have a barbecue and a hog roast?
Yes. A hog roast gives you a centrepiece and the barbecue adds variety.
Do you come to Sonning?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Sonning and Reading. Send us the address for a quote.
What can we have at a catered barbecue?
Beef burgers, sausages, chicken skewers, BBQ ribs, pulled pork and beef brisket, plus vegetarian and vegan options. Sides include salads, coleslaw and potatoes.
Do you clear up?
We clear the serving area and pack away, leaving the spot as we found it.
Will children like the BBQ?
Yes, generally: burgers and sausages in a roll are easy for small hands. Tell us how many children to expect.
Planners, venues and businesses
Some venues charge a fee if you bring in your own caterer, so check before booking. We will liaise with them on access and set-up.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a fête committee, tell us who our contact on the day will be. We will keep you both updated.
Before you choose a spot
Most gardens, car parks, yards and fields work if a few things are right. Here’s what helps:
- Somewhere the smoke can drift away from open windows
- Flat ground outdoors for the barbecue
- A spot well clear of buildings
Not sure about the cooking spot? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
From the grill
- Chicken skewers
- Jacket potatoes
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Salads
- Coleslaw
- Vegan burger or sausage (Ve)
- New potatoes
- Sausages
- Pulled pork
- Beef burgers
- BBQ ribs
- Beef brisket
Barbecue venues around Sonning
Sonning is about 1 mile north-west of Woodley, in Reading. We’re happy to travel to Sonning for events and the places nearby. We bring barbecues to all 34 towns and villages in Reading, from the larger towns to small villages.
Churches such as St Andrew's Church rarely have room for a barbecue, but a hall or home nearby generally does. For a fundraiser at a school like Sonning Church of England Primary School, the barbecue can cook on a spot agreed with the school.
This part of Reading takes in RG4. We can cater an event on streets such as High Street, Parkway Drive and Pound Lane, as long as there’s somewhere outside to cook. Main roads around Sonning include the B478 and B4446, so getting the barbecue to your event is simple. We also bring barbecues to events in 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). Further out, we also cater in 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).
A little further out are Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Museum (2.5 miles south-west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.6 miles south-west). Within reach you will find Sonning Hill and South Lake.
- Schools near Sonning include Reading Blue Coat School (less than half a mile west) and Waingels College (0.8 miles east)
- Nearby, you’ll find Bull Inn (within half a mile north-west)
Prices and what affects them
There’s no fixed price list, since every event is different. What matters most:
- Access to the cooking area
- The number of people
- The journey to the venue
- The date and time of year
The price depends on numbers, the menu and how long we serve, along with distance and how easy the site is. Every booking is different, which is why each one gets its own quote.
Details that help
To check availability and the cooking area, tell us:
- Allergies we should know about
- Rules from the venue or landowner
- The date and time of the event
- The venue or postcode
It’s easy to get a price: date, place, numbers and serving time. We will reply with a clear price and what’s included. Send us your details through our quote form.
Towns and villages near Sonning
Other occasions in Sonning
About the food
Pulled pork
Pulled pork in a roll with coleslaw is hard to beat, filling and easy to eat.
Beef brisket
Brisket makes a barbecue feel like a proper meal.
- Our chef at the grill, so you don’t have to be
- A full barbecue menu, not just burgers
- Something for everyone, including vegetarians and vegans
- Served when you’re ready, and we tidy the serving area afterwards