Reading 2022 Any of your 16 year olds going?

[MumofSpud]

DD is off to Reading next week - planning on going on Thursday-- morning (as soon as possible her GCSE results email (to avoid any falling out!)--
She is going in a group and they also have friends going on the Wednesday - these friends will take their tent and put it up for them so they all get a good spot together
Can't see what could possibly go wrong with that plan!
I went to Glastonbury (a million years ago) so am a bit out of touch with current festivals!
I had originally said no to her going but when I saw here on Reading threads that most Ops would let their 16 year old DC go / Reading is full of Year 11s, I changed my mind.
We watched the recent Woodstock 99 documentary but she thought it all looked great fun
She is used to going to gigs / mosh pits - although is horrified that I was moshing in the early 90s!
Any advice? (For either of us - although she won't listen to me!)

No advice but DD 16 is going to Leeds and I'm edgy about it too even though she's just doing 1 day. I also watched Woodstock 99 and wish I hadn't!!!

No advice really! Just try not to fret 🙂

My sixteen year old went to Boardmasters this last weekend and had a blast. I worried a bit but she’s more sensible than I give her credit for.

She wants to do Leeds or Reading next year.

The thing I always say to my daughter when she’s off doing stuff, is ‘call me if you need me - for whatever reason, at whatever time, and I will come get you.’

My 16 yr old is also going for the first time this year. I'm nervous for and thrilled for her in equal measure! I think as Nobird says - knowing they can call you at any time is good.

@MumofSpud - had a laugh at GCSE comments :)

My DD is going too.

Any practical tips on what items she should take with her?

I've sorted out phone charging there.

Told her not to take any valuables.

Anything else?

@pillowwlow - this might help: www.readingfestival.com/news/11-festival-hacks/

I've never been, so can't give any sage personal experience advice.

Yes, DS is going along with half his school. He's been to festivals before so has a bit of experience but I think Reading can be a bit more full on than some. My tips:

• download the app before she goes
• take a bumbag for phone etc
• purple camping area is the best
• don't leave anything in the tent that she's not happy to have nicked. Even when she's in there, make sure valuables aren't by the door
• don't padlock the tent- this just makes people think there's something in there to nick and they'll cut it open
• pack wipes and loo roll- mini packs that can fit in the bumbag are helpful
• the food stalls are good but really expensive and it adds up over 3 days
• worth having a chat about being sensible around drink and drugs etc. Drugs in particular- obviously some kids will at some point want to try them but doing so at a festival is THE WORST place, as dealers have no incentive to sell you anything good (no repeat custom to worry about) and it's a terrible place to be if you have a bad experience. Even if you think your DD would never even consider trying drugs, it's worth making these points. Likewise it's not somewhere you'd want to be horribly drunk.
• going in a group is great. Make a plan where to meet up if separated- phone reception can be a problem (although this is getting better)
• Sun cream! Even if it doesn't seem too sunny, being outside all day is a lot of exposure. Take a mini bottle for the bumbag.
• I'll add more if I think of any...

I've made it sound a bit terrifying but I'm sure she'll have a blast. Staying with her friends and looking out for each other is key x

All 3 of mine went to Reading after GCSE results.
It is a very "young" festival.

You can book lockers with chargers and think there are places to charge phones.

We used to meet in the TGIFriday carpark it is easy to get in and out of.

Agree with @RosiePosie80 . There were A LOT of drugs.

Be prepared to have things nicked-if you leave chairs outside for example.
One rainy year they had to leave their wellies in the vestibule at McDonalds and someone stole my sons boots! He spend the rest of the festival in his socks as his feet were too big to buy locally!

I always picked mine ridiculously early as they don't sleep that well anyway-it took a friend over 3 hours to do the run and we live about 25 mins away!!!

The streets looked like a post apocalyptic zombie film-dead eyed teens with face paint dripping off and bedraggled clothing staggering around.
They will have a ball!!

Done this with 4 kids.

I know every drop off and pick up point in Reading.

She will have a blast - they won’t go in year 12 as they are too cool for the 16 year old and graduate to other festivals!

Mine is going Wed - which means that we drive over at Midnight on Wed night or 7am Thurs am to drive her to school to collect her GCSE results (only way to get them) … and then drop her back. She is also working a long hard early start shift outdoors on the Bank Holiday Monday …. so that will be a baptism of fire for her ….! (and also means another late night pick up for us on the Sunday night.

One of my others went on the Wed - GCSE results by email - but he didn’t wake up until 5pm … so we had an anxious day.

Another one of mine all set off in a coach with 40 others from the school car park after getting results at 9am.

She will have a ball.

My DD is going. I was a bit apprehensive but she went to Truck festival (much smaller scale than Reading) last month with some friends so is feeling a dab hand at it now.

Tips that DD picked up are:

• take lots of carrier bags for rubbish, dirty clothes, etc. Stops the inside of the tent from becoming an absolute tip!


• take photos on your phone during the day of where your tent is from different directions in relation to recognisable landmarks. You can use these if you get lost/can’t find your tent.


• Similarly do the walk from the arenas to your tent during the day otherwise you will definitely struggle to find your tent at night in darkness whilst drunk!


• Save sets that you deffo want to see to your phones calendar in case you can’t access the app whilst there if wifi dodgy.


• Take plenty of snacking type foods with you to try and keep budget for food a bit lower.


• She took a head torch which doubled as a light for the tent.


• Take a pack of cards for something to do when you’re having some down time chilling in your tent. The reception at Truck festival was non existent so they spent hardly any time on their phones.


• Bum-bag/cross body bag absolutely vital. Amazing how much you can fit in them. Put everything important you don’t want nicked in it and carry with you. DD came back with 2 massive bruises on each hip where her bag was bouncing against her when she was dancing/moshing.


• She has various hacks for smuggling alcohol in but not sure you’ll be wanting to pass them to your teens! 😂🫣


• Make friends with your neighbours so hopefully you have people to look out for you. Steer clear pitching your tent near rowdy groups of lads that are likely to be arseholes.

DD was actually pretty good at keeping in touch. She generally called late morning when they woke and then around 6ish before they headed out to the arenas for the evening.

Might be nice to keep this thread going while they are all there!

Some great ideas here!
I get withering looks if I suggest anything so am using 'I have seen ..... on social media' as a buffer!
Definitely to keep this up over the festival next weekend!

Hope this link works for everyone - it is a post from Reading Borough Council, packed full of useful info about parking, drop offs, and travel options for the festival.
nextdoor.co.uk/p/4TnMz4QNnDbL?utm_source=share&extras=MTc1OTIxOTkwMDY3MDE%3D

Dd went at 17. They left early on Sunday night as there was extreme behaviour by drunken, drugged up idiots slashing tents, running round on top of them etc. She, and her mates got a bit scared, so came home. Apart from that they had an absolute blast.

Please tell them to bring home everything they take. The amount of tents, groundsheets, chairs etc left behind for someone else to deal with was absolutely shameful.

Yes I’ve heard it’s a bit of a thing to leave your tent behind. I bought DD a decent pop-up tent for her festival last month with the view of it lasting a fair while and is absolutely not to be left behind!

She is starting to get excited for it now. She is seeing her friend that she is sharing her tent with tonight to start organising themselves. She has also just heard from another friend that her Dad has managed to secure Camping plus for 4 of them so they will have access to the private camping area along with further facilities like 24 hour reception, security and proper toilets. Result!! 😂😂

I live near the site, if anyone has a child in need of an emergency get out, pm me and I will go and rescue them until you arrive. I've done it a couple of times over the years. It can be a bit overwhelming!

@SelfMadeWoman what a lovely thing to offer! Hoping it won’t be needed but is certainly reassuring!

Thank you Selfmsdewoman, very reassuring.

Yes great thanks!
DD is under the impression that I will just be able to drop her at the entrance like I do for everything else she goes to

Thank you so much!

Definitely not dropped near the entrance. I live just outside Reading and been a few times myself and both ds went
post GCSEs. Ds2 is working security there this year. He’s 20 and sees it as a way to go and get paid.
the best place to drop off is tgi car park and then walk down. It is further than it looks as once you go in the entrance it’s a long walk/queue to get the wristbands.
Reading town centre is about a half hour walk from the site but worth it to go out for breakfast/lunch to break the day up. Food is very expensive in the arena.
because we live so close mine always came home even when camping. Either they’d stumble home in the early hours of the morning or they’d come home in the day for showers and to eat.
ds2 says he was out off of drugs at his first festival due to seeing so many people in need of help or being stupid.

dd has just done her gcse but only going for Saturday evening as we were supposed to be away but now only away from the Monday.

@UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter DD is staying in the Camping plus campsite which is right near the red weekend main entrance. It says that Hills Meadow is the drop off/pick up point. Would you say the TGI car park is a better bet?

If you can get a map then check. They do have a boat that runs up and down the river.
if they are walking I would say tgi still. I tried to get the boys closer to the entrance a few times and tgi is the best option. If they cross the road heading to caversham bridge. That’s the easiest way.
dropping at hills meadow will mean getting the boat (not sure if there is a charge) or walking along the river path.

the big if to this is if they have changed the entrance this year. But as far as I can see from driving that way they haven’t. The entrance is still on Richfield avenue.

Just looked at the site map and the entrance is still on Richfield avenue. Don’t attempt
to drive down there it will be mayhem. Nowhere to stop and you’d end up in the industrial estate.
The red walking entrance is nearer the main road (caversham road)

The purple spot is hills meadow roughly and the orange spot is red camping/entrance. Green is the tgi car park so much closer.
asked ds2 and he said definitely tgi and not hills meadow.
Honestly she’ll just have to follow the crowds. All week and weekend it will just be teeming with people.
if needed I can get to dd and stay/get help but I’m sure it won’t be needed. I have a dbs check and work in a school. Happy to send pic of passport etc so you know I’m not some random weirdo. Also as I said ds2 will be working there so can get him to direct to help.

she’ll have a brilliant time. Coke home filthy smelly and tired. Also hungry because they won’t eat properly.

@UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter thanks for all the info, it’s really useful. Yes it definitely looks like TGI Friday is closer then the official drop-off point. On the link that someone provided earlier from Reading council it says that diversion signage will be in place on the roads around the site and that Hills Meadow is the ONLY place for drop-off/pick-up. Will Caversham Road still be accessible?

The roads will be accessible but very crowded.
i used to live in reading and we would go away for the weekend if we weren’t going to the festival as the traffic and noise was so bad. My parents still go away each year and they don’t even live as close anymore. They are up by the university.

I dropped ds1 & 2 off there last year and picked them up. My sister works in caversham and will still be able to get to work from university area.