Reading Roars!

I was fond of the Jazz Club in Reading. It was different and, well, classier than most other clubs in town. The floor was shiny, the bar was well-stocked and the live entertainment was pretty good. I remember standing in the middle of the floor, with lights swirling all around me (like being a goldfish, I imagined, with thermoluminescent plankton whizzing around the bowl). It also felt safe, with no (and excuse my snobbery) chavs or (and excuse my use of language) pissheads.

How times have changed.

Now I hear of a late-night shooting at The Arches Club, the venue which has replaced the Jazz Club, of a 25 year old male. He was shot by a handgun five times, taking four hits in the chest, after up to 10 men stormed past bouncers into the club. At the time of writing, the victim is in a critical condition.

Unfortunately, these incidents happen. It was described by the club as “isolated”, yet I recall other killings in the town - at Matrix (see comments) and Mango clubs (I was at Mango when it happened, and was later questioned by police. It wasn’t me, I should add).

Let’s hope that when the gunners next return to Reading, it will be Arsene Wenger’s men instead.