...In thinking Reading (the town) should change it's name?

[TiggyD]

It makes Googling a right pain in the botty. You put something like "BDSM Reading" for whatever reason into the Googlebox and it gives you a load of books you might like to read.

I suggest Tiggy City.

[daisydoodoo]

Its been in the local papers that it is closing this year. I had to go there fro school uniform too.

I live in a confused part of reading, woodley. The postal address is reading but council tax paid to wokingham and schools come under wokingham too.

I was a teen in the 90's and nightlife was better then. Pub crawl around town centre always into the railway tavern usually starting with three guineas as thats where the bus dropped us off. If it was near payday into rg1's or if poorer into the night club over the thorn walk tavern. Was considered a bad night if we'd had to pay for any drinks.

[PandaOnAPushBike]

Is Jackson's really really going or just going like it's been going for at least 30 years?

[MummyPig24]

I didn't know Jacksons was going, that's sad! I used to love it when the assistant would put the money in the chute and it would whizz off somewhere.

[GreenShadow]

Hi, another one who remembers the old Reading of 30-40 years ago!

Was never a great fan of Jacksons myself, but BIL used to work there and my DUncle loves it - ideal for 'Gents of a Certain Age'. He has no idea where he'll shop once it goes.

[ohnoyou]

I'm from Caversham too, and I love it. Was out at the after dark last night 1st time in years we all had a great time. And I was in Jacksons today! it's due to close at the end of the year. In my youth used to drink in Cherries wine bar, the boars head and coopers.

[YouCanCallMeBetty]

Sorry Tanith, Jackson's is going, if it hasn't already

[DanGleebals]

Im Caversham too . Quite like it other than the sodding traffic. Am also partial to the Alto Lounge.

I used to live in the Coley flats when I was growing up.

Is Jackson's still there? I thought it had gone?

[MoominmammasHandbag]

Black bag
After Dark you are taking me back. Last time I was there would be 1993, me 6 months up the duff with DS1 and DH with his top off shaking his hair around to Nirvana. God he was hot.

[Rosa]

God its still there does it have that sort of old shop musty ( but not dirty smell).? The assistants were always very smart men in ties and had tapemeasures draped round them .

[Tanith]

I love Jacksons!! Wonderful old fashioned department store, just like stepping back in time.
The buzzers on the floor, the lino, the haberdashers drawers - all untouched for decades. May they never modernise!

[Rosa]

The Butts in my era had E M Merits downstairs and Iceland upstairs... Can't remember much else apart from a few ethnic shops .

[Rosa]

I remember Smelly Alley with the jeans shop run by an Indian chap down the bottom. Also the body shop. Was the in place when it opened. my uniform came from Jacksons ...eeek the place . Gives me the creeps thinking about it.School shoes from Clarks also on Broad street.

[MummyPig24]

Central is still there, though I've not been swimming there in years. Smelly alley still there with the fishmongers, butchers and grocers.

Butts centre hashad a bit of an overhaul, its not too bad now.

[MurderOfGoths]

I forgot all about Smelly Alley!

[Marlinspike]

Knights! That was in the middle of Broad Street wasn't it? anyone remember when it was the Cadena cafe (I must be going back about 40 years - my DM used to take me there as a child!).

I also remember the Butts centre - grim old place that it was. I always remember being evacuated from there in the 70's due to and IRA bomb threat (although it would have been a blessing to have it razed to the ground methinks!)

Smelly Alley - still there I believe, so named because of the fish shop an greengrocers down there. One of the early Body Shops was also down there - mus have been in the very early days as the labels were all hand-written.

Also the Boars head in Friar street - tudor inn knocked down to build a Premier Inn - scandalous! There were some really interesting vintage (ie 2nd hand) clothes shops near there - can't remember what they were called!

Is the Central swimming pool still there? I have a memory of jumping off the top diving board, although after watching Splash! I think I might have imagined that, as I can't see myself ever doing such a bonkers thing. I have become more wimpy in my old age!

[RustyBear]

Butts Centre is still there, but is now the Broad Street Mall.

[Rosa]

I like another poster recall, Heelas, Knights and Barratts the shoe shop on Broad Street. Is the Butts Centre still there? Also recall going to the Hexagon and seeing Tears for Fears plus other things. Not been back in years. I lived about 9 miles out but Junction 11 from the M4 was always manic.

[AtiaoftheJulii]

I've been in Reading (not in a naice part either, Dontbreak, but like it where I am - my 10 year old can walk to the swimming pool and at least 2 parks in a few minutes) for 12 years (dh was born and bred here, though we met elsewhere), and I thought that article was very funny!

It's not somewhere anyone its likely to aspire to live, but it does have a lot of interesting stuff going on.

And I always just add Berkshire to my googling!

[YouCanCallMeBetty]

Fairimum - it was Washington Shites in my time! Scruples anyone?

[fairimum]

Ooooo I loved the after dark.... Anyone remember Level One?

[BlackBagBorderBinLiner]

After Dark, 1990's?

[MummyPig24]

The Turtle...haven't been there in years. Dp and his friends went there a couple of months ago and he said it wasn't the same. Probably something to do with the fact that he has aged by about 8 years. I think the last time I went there was about 5 years ago when I was 20 and I felt old in comparison to everyone else there!

[YouCanCallMeBetty]

Majestic, it sure is, and serving up a mean chicken jalfrezi.