Reading Announce Shopping Event for Older and Disabled People

Reading shops will extend a welcome to older and disabled people during a Christmas shopping evening in the town centre on Monday 2nd December.

The festive shopping event, organised by Reading Borough Council in partnership with The Oracle and the British Red Cross, aims to make shopping an easy and enjoyable experience for older and disabled residents.

Every year the Council invites town centre retailers to put on special offers, discounts, give-aways, refreshments and entertainment throughout the evening. Stores taking part this year include; Boots Opticians, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Thorntons, BHS, Clas Ohlson, Reading FC, the West Cornwall Pasty Company and many more.

This year’s special shopping evening will take place from 6pm-8pm. As well as activities organised in the stores, shoppers will be treated to a welcome reception at the Oracle’s Shopmobility Suite and performances by the Theatretrain stage school and the Barberettes, an a cappella singing group.

There will also be a chance to meet the ‘Christmas Belles’ wandering Broad Street on the night!

Wheelchairs will be available for people to use on the night, which have been kindly donated by the Reading branch of the Red Cross and The Oracle. Volunteers from the Red Cross will be around during the Christmas shopping evening to help.

The Council has once again agreed that on this day the entry restrictions to St Mary’s Butts, West Street and Friar Street – which usually end at 7pm – will end instead at 6pm specifically to allow blue badge holders to take full advantage of the special evening.

For further information on the Special Shopping evening, please call 0118 937 2771 or visit www.reading.gov.uk/whatson.