Reading Roars!

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 think, than Stella or Artois, or whatever the beer’s called these days.

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 (a tremendously dull shop now occupies its place), Bar Med (now an empty shell, reportedly to be divided into two units) and, I believe, The Brewery Tap (someone tell me this isn’t true).

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 St.  The meeting was organised by Councillors Gareth Epps and Warren Swaine (an event on Facebook was set up for this purpose).

The turnout was impressive.  I counted 30-ish attendees.  Others reported 40 to 50 (my counting’s not great).  What also impressed me were the points put across.  I was half-expecting an anti-Tesco rant from someone, but that didn’t materialise.   

Instead, I heard the following comments (only a selection of what was said):

• Tesco won’t expel unruly people like a family-run businesses would.  People who serve on the tills don’t care.
• There is no parking facility.   Cheap booze runs will be encouraged.  There will be more traffic, potentially leading to problems at the Oracle roundabout. 
• There may be a traffic accident.  Scenario: a car stops, driver turns on the hazard lights and pops in for a packet of fags.
• The availability of cheap alcohol, appealing to nearby students, may result in potential disorder.
• It’s scandalous that this is the only mechanism available to beat Tesco.

 Far better accounts than this can be read on the Katesgrove Lib Dems and Reading Chronicle sites. 

Meanwhile, a quick Google News search has revealed similar opposition to proposed Tesco openings around the country:

• Campaigners are fighting supermarket giant Tesco’s bid to expand in Leigh (Echo)
• Worry over Cannon Park Tesco plans (Coventry Telegraph)
• Calls for Tesco store plans to be shelved (Camden News)
• Do we really need a fourth Tesco Express? (Worcester News)
• Middleton in total opposition to Tesco plan (Littlehampton Today)

The fate of the colourful Fun ‘n’ Frolic fancy dress shop, occupying the spot now eyed by Tesco, is unfortunate.  Thanks to the store, I was able to wear a Top Gun navy uniform to a party two years ago (much to the delight and hilarity of other guests).

It’s places like these – and the now-closed Cafe Iguana (now a newsagents) - that make Reading a more interesting town.  Economics prevail, but what does that say about the town – or us?

I’m getting older, there’s no doubt about that (as Sir Alex Ferguson might say). 

Returning from London last night at around 11pm, I was struck by the sheer volume of noise spewed by the bars on Friar Street.  I used to go to some of these bars several years ago and the music was respectably loud then.  Now, the volume is ridiculous. 

It’s becoming less Friar Street, more Faliraki.  Or am I getting too old?

Late-night favourite (though not one of mine) Bodrum Kebab has gone continental, now claiming to offer relatively ungreasy breakfast treats such as danish pastries, croissants, fresh baguettes and cappuccinos. 

I used to think that putting a coffee shop inside a bank was odd, but this is truly bizarre.  Photo to follow.

Fresh from sponsoring Reading FC, Waitrose are now supporting local causes. 

As part of their nationwide corporate social responsibility initiative ‘Community Matters’, Waitrose will award £12k in funding to community projects in the town (a grand a month).

The initiative launched on Monday, with the first 3 causes to share the £1k monthly donation being:

• Labrador Retriever Rescue Southern England
• Reading & District Hospitals Charity, Dingley Children’s Ward
• Reading Alzheimer’s Society

Shoppers will decide how much of the £1k each cause will be getting by dropping a green token into one of three labelled boxes when they leave the store (the more votes received, the greater the share received).

Do you ever feel like going back to the 20th century?  I know I do sometimes (1990s, that is).  Well, now you can, sort of, thanks to mid20c, a newly opened Oxford Rd retro shop.

The store sells furniture, homewares and collectables from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.  I personally like the look of their gadgets (the “De-luxe Fan” looks particularly cheerful). 

I’ve not actually visited the shop yet, but hope to do so when I have a free Saturday (I think I’ll combine it with Workhouse Coffee).  And find out more from a good old fashioned chat with owner Al Baynham, of course.

More desperation in credit crunchy times.  I received the following two text messages from a popular Reading gym I’d recently left (I won’t name it):

<fitness centre> want you back as a member, rejoin before the <date> & receive a ONE month contract & NO joining fee!

then

Re-join <fitness centre> by 8pm today & recieve [sic] NO joining fee, NO set up fee + a one month contract.  T&C’s apply Call NOW!

Er, no.

Local online dating site Datereading.com will be relaunching on 21 July.  New features will include, we’re told:

• Video chat
• SMS messages to members
• Advanced search facilities
• Weekly events
• A Polish language option

Good luck to Faarhad and team (and to all those looking for a relationship, of course)

Fewer First Great Western customers have been complaining about late trains, according to regional station manager Steve Lewis.  Instead, complaints were about how the train operator “were going to improve the comfort on the services”. 

I agree that comfort can be an issue. This morning, for example, I stood inches from other standing passengers as my Reading to Paddington journey lasted 50 minutes (due to the usual signalling problems). 

Also uncomfortable is news that Network Rail bosses are to be awarded enormous bonuses (totally unacceptable, given what we have to put up with) and that weekend engineering works are expected to continue for several more years. 

All in all, still not looking good if you are a customer.