Sam Riley

Blackeyed Theatre’s stage adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula will open at Reading Rep Theatre on September 23 before touring to Ipswich, Dublin and Cheltenham. Directed and adapted by Nick Lane, the production is set in 1897 and follows young people led by Professor Van Helsing as they confront an emerging darkness. The revival marks Blackeyed Theatre’s first collaboration with Reading Rep and honors late costume designer Naomi Gibbs, whose work is included in the production.

Stoneham Grove Care Home hosted a classic car show for residents, families and local community members. Vehicles from past decades prompted residents to reminisce about cars they had owned or admired, while home manager Jodie Lunnon thanked the car owners and visitors who contributed to the successful event. The care home regularly organizes community activities for its residents.

Kadijatu Koroma, a former Bluebird Care live-in care assistant from Sierra Leone, has become the company’s first mental health nurse after completing UK registration requirements. Bluebird Care supported her through flexible working, training and encouragement, and her career progression is highlighted in the company’s report on social-care careers. The report calls for stronger promotion of care careers, clearer progression pathways, greater training investment and improved professional recognition amid approximately 18,000 adult social-care vacancies in South East England and projected workforce growth through 2040.

Residents at Friends Place Care Home in Reading celebrated National Bingo Day with an afternoon of musical bingo, an activity combining song recognition, singing, dancing and reminiscences. Care-home manager Alina Gutu said the event was created to build on residents’ enjoyment of regular bingo and music, while resident Mary Parsons described musical bingo as her favourite version after discovering it at Friends Place.

The Reading Welcome Ambassadors, a team of 15 volunteers based at Reading Station, are celebrating five years of helping visitors with directions, maps and local information. Established by Reading’s Economy and Destination Agency in July 2021, the group marked the anniversary with a gathering attended by Mayor Paul Gittings, where volunteers received commemorative badges and a celebratory cake.

Reading resident Andy Avenell, 57, is undertaking a 1,200-mile cycling challenge to raise money for Sue Ryder in memory of his close friend Andy Earnshaw, who died after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. Beginning on June 1, the route connects 20 Halma plc companies across the UK, with each leg starting from Avenell’s home in Reading. He said the challenge transformed his plans to mark retirement into a way to support the charity and commemorate his friend.

David J, co-founder of Bauhaus and Love and Rockets, is scheduled to perform at Reading's Face Bar on December 2, with doors opening at 8 p.m. The announcement highlights his work on Bauhaus's “Bela Lugosi's Dead,” his solo albums and singles, film and theatre scoring, gallery artwork, DJ work, and chart success, including “The Day That David Bowie Died” and the album “Vagabond Songs.”

Arlington Arts Centre has put tickets on sale for a 20th-anniversary season at its Snelsmore Common venue in West Berkshire. The programme, running from September through December, includes tribute and original music acts, folk and a cappella performances, comedy, theatre, ballet, family entertainment and Christmas shows. The centre has also launched a creative writing competition, while tickets are available online, by phone or at the box office, with accessible seating and carer tickets arranged directly with the venue.

The This Girl Can Festival brought women from across Reading to Palmer Park Leisure Centre on July 14 for inclusive movement and wellbeing sessions, including South Asian and Feel Good Dance, Strength & Empowerment, and a Menopause in Motion workshop. Organized by Get Berkshire Active through the Reading Women’s Wellbeing Partnership, the event also collected feedback on barriers and motivations affecting women’s participation in physical activity to inform future wellbeing initiatives.

Large Tesco stores in and around Reading will support families facing hunger during the summer through £2-to-£4 pre-filled food donation bags, free café meals for children and fresh fruit in stores. Donations made from July 20 to August 30 will be distributed by charity partners, while a till round-up fundraising campaign will run from August 3 to 9.

Campus Reading and fit-out specialist Area have partnered to collect food and household essentials for ReadiFood and Reading Pantries in support of people experiencing food insecurity in Reading. The donations will assist Faith Christian Group’s emergency food schemes and longer-term support services. The campaign forms part of Area’s Project Positive programme and Campus Reading’s commitment to community giving.

Students from Leighton Park School earned multiple top placements at the ISA Composing Competition, including first‑place awards for works by Taylor, Alex, and Holly. Several other pupils received second‑place recognition or commendations for their compositions, reflecting the school’s strong support for musical creativity through facilities such as its Yamaha Live Lounge recording studio.

Reading Borough Council plans to lease part of Palmer Park for a 20‑metre telecommunications pole and related equipment for Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited. The proposal, published under section 123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972, is open for public objections until July 31, 2026, which must be submitted in writing to the council. Objections will be reviewed at the next Policy Committee meeting, and further details are available through the council’s website or by contacting the assets management team.

The University of Reading’s Whiteknights campus has earned the Green Flag Award for the sixteenth consecutive year, recognising the ongoing work of grounds staff and volunteers in maintaining its extensive parkland and gardens. The accolade highlights the campus’s high-quality green spaces, including woodlands, meadows, and the Harris Garden.

Bontrans Logistics Limited has applied to operate one goods vehicle and one trailer from the IGO Transport site in Theale, with the request submitted to the Traffic Commissioner. Nearby landowners may file objections within 21 days, with feedback due by July 30.

Hollywood Bowl Reading marked its first anniversary with a celebratory event offering free games to visitors sharing its July 11 or 12 opening dates and featuring a custom cake. The venue reported more than a thousand birthday parties hosted, over 380,000 games played and nearly 5,000 milkshakes served. Centre manager Jack Harvey expressed pride in the team and community support as the location looks ahead to continued growth.

Aldworth Road in Compton will close on July 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for pole‑testing work carried out by Openreach. West Berkshire District Council issued the closure under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and provided a detailed diversion route. Additional closure details are available on one.network, and the work is one of several temporary road restrictions in the area.

A semi-detached three-bedroom home on Berkeley Avenue in Reading is listed for £575,000, described as well-maintained with recent structural upgrades and strong future potential. The property features open-plan living areas, mature gardens, driveway parking, and a garage, and is located near Reading Station and the town centre. Market data shows Reading house prices have declined slightly over the past year, with flats and terraced homes seeing the largest drops, while detached homes remain the most expensive. Average rents have risen modestly, with three-bedroom properties averaging £1,673 per month. The home is marketed toward families seeking space and character in a central location.

Dom Joly will bring a 25th‑anniversary Trigger Happy TV tour to Newbury’s Arlington Arts Centre on May 2, 2027, revisiting characters and sharing behind‑the‑scenes stories from the hidden‑camera show. The tour expanded to 100 UK dates following high demand. Tickets are available in standard, premium, and meet‑and‑greet tiers.

The Jim Jones All Stars, a London-based rock and soul band, will perform at Face Bar in Reading on October 7. Formed during the pandemic by frontman Jim Jones, the group features a full horn section and blends rock ’n’ roll, rhythm and blues and soul influences. Their recently released album, Cat Fight, produced by Chris Robinson, has received strong praise from multiple music publications. Tickets are available through WeGotTickets.

A gardening‑based holiday club called Garden Explorers is offering therapeutic outdoor activities for 11–17‑year‑olds with SEND in West Berkshire, run by the charity Thrive at its Beech Hill garden. Sessions include gardening, nature walks, crafts and cooking, and aim to reduce anxiety and build confidence. The club runs on three dates in July and August with a small booking fee.

A five-bedroom detached Newbury home built in 1911 is listed for £1.1 million, offering multiple reception rooms, a conservatory, extensive gardens and a separate workshop. The house includes period features such as parquet floors and high ceilings, while the south-east-facing garden is designed for privacy. Local housing data shows average detached prices in West Berkshire range from £703,000 to £711,000, with the market remaining steady as buyers take longer to commit. The property falls under Council Tax Band G and is connected to all mains services.