Reading Roars!

Academics at the University of Reading’s ICMA Centre have identified “clear parallels” between an economic crisis during the time of King Edward I and today’s malaise.
Reading the uni’s press release Don’t panic!  Banks have always failed, I spotted two clear differences.  One of the academics, Dr Adrian R Bell, explained:
However, had Edward I faced today’s [...]

Are you looking for somewhere cheap(er) to eat out in Reading?  I have compiled a list of local restaurants offering current promotions and offers (not entirely credit crunch-related), below.  
I am hoping to grow this list to make the definitive credit crunch lunch guide to Reading.  So, if you are a diner or restaurateur with [...]

The Reading Evening Post has revealed that businesses are having their say on a proposed new five-year Business Improvement District (BID) phase to transform the town centre.
Suggestions have so far included live music in restaurants, coffeeshops closing later in the evening, sitting on ice in the middle of Broad St to win a prize, a charity Moonwalk in Broad St, a [...]

I feel that I can’t continue without further mentioning the economic slowdown.  One reason why I named this blog Reading Roars! three years ago was because of the roaring economy and Reading’s part in it (roaring capital of the Thames Valley).  Well, our economy isn’t roaring any more.  The lion has been muzzled.  Who knows [...]

After a long delay (a whole season, in fact), Roarcast episode 2 is ready (the first featured a conversation with Tutu Melaku).  It really isn’t supposed to be a quarterly podcast.  I’m working on the third, with the aim of putting it live by Christmas mid-October.
In this second episode, I sat down with Jason Browne of [...]

Feeling the squeeze?  You’re not alone.  We are now Europe’s most crowded country (and third worldwide in population density, after Bangladesh and South Korea).
Of course, if you are a user of public transport, you may have suspected this already.  The economy may be faltering, but the passenger numbers certainly aren’t.  If anything, the already heaving [...]

Reading’s new pentahotel - the first opened by German hotel group Penta in the UK - is to undergo a massive refurbishment. 
Formerly the Renaissance Hotel, pentahotel will be given a “fresh and funky” makeover to target corporate customers looking for something less staid.  Joining the management team will be Jo Stevens, who was responsible for [...]

Zerodegrees has gone all Heston Blumenthal-esque again, coming up with two exciting new flavours.
Brown lager and Elderflower (or was it Elderberry?) beer are two of the latest from the microbrewery.  Brown lager really does look brown, occupying that niche between Czech-style black lager (which is a permanent product of theirs) and golden-coloured pilsner. 
Much more interesting, I [...]

The Blagrave Arms has been visibly quiet in recent days.  The pub has closed and is now available to let.  It’s a shame, as the establishment under its new owner got off to a great start.  I hope to have more information about this soon.
Other town centre casualties in recent months include the Cafe Iguana [...]

Rather like Marmite, it seems that people either love or hate Tesco (I happen to love Marmite). 
Last Thursday evening, a number of concerned Katesgrove residents and business owners met at the Global Cafe to discuss a proposal for a 9th Tesco store (on 20 October, allegedly) in Reading, to be located at the corner of London St and Crown [...]