Matt Drake

Reading’s Hexagon theatre will stage an Aladdin pantomime from December 5 to January 3. The cast includes Samantha Dorrance, JG Daniels-White, Adam Pettigrew, Heléna Ferreira, Justin Fletcher and Paul Morse, with Dorrance returning as Sparkelania, Daniels-White as Aladdin and Ferreira as Princess Celestial. Produced by Imagine Theatre with a digital set, comedy and music, the production is supported by Reading Borough Council and tickets start at £27.

Flight Club Reading has introduced family-friendly Social Darts sessions for children aged 12 and over accompanied by adults. Available Sunday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the sessions feature camera-tracked scoring, large screens and seven games, including the new Limbo challenge. They take place in a dedicated area of the venue and can be booked through the Flight Club website.

The newly refurbished Dundas Arms in Kintbury will host a five-day outdoor cinema series from September 9 to 13, 2026. Films include Pretty Woman, The Devil Wears Prada, Dirty Dancing, Zootropolis 2 and Mrs Doubtfire. Tickets cost £5 and include a complimentary drink, while guests can also book dinner before screenings and are advised to bring warm clothing or blankets.

The Corn Exchange (Newbury) Trust will host Deblozay, a free immersive outdoor parade by French company Rara Woulib, in Newbury on September 5. Beginning at Victoria Park’s boating lake at 8pm, the 90-minute Haitian-inspired performance will travel through the town centre with 15 professional performers, more than 50 local participants, live music, choir singing and interactive installations. The production is being adapted to Newbury’s history and landscape and is funded by Greenham Trust and Arts Council England.

The Regatta for the Disabled will return to Phyllis Court Club in Henley on September 12, offering free accessible river trips, adaptive activities, entertainment, and refreshments for people of all ages with disabilities. Activities include bellboating, circus skills, workshops, drumming, farm animals, and a duck-finding competition. The event received a £1,000 donation from the Regattas Freemasons Lodge in Henley to support its mission of making boating accessible to everyone.

A three-bedroom mid-terraced house on Sherwood Street in Reading is being marketed for offers over £250,000. The freehold property requires modernisation and includes a lounge/diner, kitchen, bathroom, utility area, three bedrooms, gas central heating, double glazing and a rear garden, with no onward chain. It is described as suitable for a first-time buyer or investor. Reading’s average house price was reported at £351,000 in May 2026, down 2.4% year on year, while average private rent reached £1,573 per month in June 2026.

Newbury Market hosted its first Pet Day, attracting pet owners and animal lovers with their companions. Dogs Trust and Cats Protection offered advice on animal welfare and responsible ownership, while free professional pet photography sessions gave attendees keepsakes. Deputy mayor Sarah Slack praised the event for bringing the community together and supporting local market traders.

A refurbished late-18th-century detached period home on Duffield Road in Woodley is being marketed for £2.15 million. Set on more than an acre, the property has five bedrooms, a one-bedroom self-contained annexe, a solar-heated outdoor swimming pool with pool house, a gym, landscaped gardens and parking for multiple vehicles. The listing highlights a blend of period features and modern amenities, with access to local schools, amenities and rail links to London via Reading and Twyford.

West Berkshire golfers recorded several notable successes. Greg Collins won the men’s Saturday Stableford at West Berkshire Golf Club with 42 points, while Georgie Seaman claimed her third Hannah Cup title with 48 points despite injury and limited clubs. West Berks 1 beat Kirtlington Red 6-1 in the Central Sevens Golf League, and the men’s team defeated Sonning 4½-1½, with Paul Keep scoring a hole-in-one.

The Watermill Theatre has added performances of the world-premiere stage adaptation of Reverend Richard Coles’ bestselling mystery novel Murder Before Evensong after strong demand. The production, running in Newbury from September 25 to November 14, stars Ian Hallard as Canon Daniel Clement and features a full cast and creative team led by artistic director Paul Hart. Set in the fictional village of Champton in 1988, the story follows a murder investigation that exposes long-hidden secrets. Coles will also take part in a fundraising event at the theatre on October 16.

Stonor Park near Henley-on-Thames will host the Great Antique and Vintage Car Boot Fair on Sunday, August 9, featuring more than 150 sellers. Visitors can browse antiques and vintage goods, explore the gardens and historic house, and use the Tumblestone Hollow adventure playground. Early-bird, general admission, combined attraction and seller tickets are available, with advance booking encouraged.

Folk singer Beans On Toast, whose real name is Jay McAllister, will perform at Basingstoke’s Proteus Creation Space on November 18 during his In Your Neck Of The Woods UK winter tour. The tour will feature songs and stories about life, family, friendship and the wider world, combining humour with more emotional material, with additional dates scheduled across the UK.

Construction at Shinfield Park in Wokingham has reached a major milestone with the completion of the first commercial unit’s structural steel frame. The event was attended by Councillor Mark Ashwell, Wrenbridge, MCS and other project representatives. Demolition, retaining-wall installation and ground levelling have also progressed, with the five-unit, approximately 20,000-square-metre business park scheduled for completion in spring 2027.

Thousands of people attended the two-day Reading Mela at Palmer Park in East Reading, featuring South Asian music, dance, food, shopping, funfair rides and family activities. The free annual festival was described as a celebration of South Asian heritage and an opportunity for people from all backgrounds to come together, reflecting the multicultural character of the local community.

A five-bedroom detached house on Eastern Avenue in Reading’s University area is listed for £725,000. The property has four reception rooms, five bathrooms, a garden, off-road parking and no onward chain, with access to schools, transport links and Reading town centre. The article also reports that Reading’s typical house price is about £405,000, rents have risen 6–12% year-on-year to roughly £1,580 per month, and local agents expect a modest decline in prices through 2025–26 rather than a major crash. Larger homes in school catchment areas remain in demand while rental-property shortages continue to push up rents.

Newbury Racecourse is offering free entry to its July 23 Summer Evening Series Raceday for fans who bought tickets to the cancelled Heritage Live concerts at Englefield Estate. Eligible customers can claim the same number of tickets as in their original booking by completing a form on the racecourse website. The event will include evening horse racing, live music from The Ibiza Beach Club, festival-style food and a DJ-led afterparty.

Cala Homes Chiltern has opened a sustainable playground at its Knights Grove housing development in Newbury. The playground, designed by KOMPAN, uses recycled ocean plastics, textile waste, food-packaging waste and robinia wood, and includes climbing, swinging and sliding equipment intended to support children’s physical, cognitive and social development. A wellbeing bench and additional green space were also installed, with benches supplied by Oxford-based RAW Workshop. Cala Homes said the project supports its broader environmental commitments, including making all new homes zero-carbon ready by 2030 and expanding low-carbon construction, waste reduction and urban wildlife initiatives.

A seven-bedroom detached house on Oakside Way in Shinfield is being marketed for £1.65 million. The freehold property sits on a gated 0.74-acre plot and offers approximately 5,000 square feet of accommodation, four reception rooms, four bathrooms, two double garages, air conditioning, landscaped gardens and potential for an annexe. Its location provides access to Reading and Earley stations, schools, shops, parks and leisure facilities.

Waingels School in Woodley will host the Waingels Woodley Run Fest on September 27, featuring chip‑timed races for adults and children. Organized with Barnes Fitness and the school’s PTA, the event aims to encourage community participation and raise funds for a second‑hand school minibus.

A memorial charity golf event in Reading aims to raise over £5,000 for the Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice, bringing its cumulative total to nearly £30,000. Organised by Mark Sturgess in honour of his late brother James, the event has reached full player capacity and will feature additional fundraising activities. Sonning Common Garage serves as the event’s first headline sponsor.

Greyfriars Church in Reading was reaccredited as a Church of Sanctuary for its continued support of refugees and asylum seekers, highlighted through initiatives such as a drop‑in service and conversational kitchen. The church’s partnership with the Reading Winter Night Shelter extends help to homeless individuals, including those leaving asylum accommodation. Speakers at the service, including Revd Rachel Bedford and Diocese of Oxford adviser Hannah Ling, emphasised community, shared humanity and the positive impact of the church’s work.

Free sports sessions will be offered across Reading on July 18 and 19 as part of a Commonwealth Games–inspired Open Weekend hosted at Better Leisure Centres. The programme, run by leisure provider Better in partnership with Team England, includes gym tasters, family swims and various sport sessions, all available to members and non‑members, though some require booking. GLL, operating under the Better brand, runs the centres on behalf of the local council and aims to encourage wider community participation in physical activity.