Maiden Erlegh School in Reading
The most important thing about this venue is that it is not the original Maiden Erlegh School, in Earley. This school is on Crescent Road, Reading. APO members should use the rear car park for parking. This is entered at the top of Hamilton Road, there are then steps down into the school, with the entrance to the hall through the double doors at the side of the building. Anybody needing to drop off heavy items can drop them off by using the car park at the front of the school and then moving their car round to the back.
There are numerous bus services from the town centre, the most frequent of which is the number 17. Alight at Palmer Park Avenue stop.
Waingels College
The address is Waingels Road, Woodley. There is plenty of car parking on site. The best bus to get from Reading station is the number 14 orange service (13 orange also goes nearby but takes slightly longer), which takes about 20 minutes to the Lunds Farm Road bus top, with a 10-minute walk to the college from there. If you’re getting a train and can find a lift, you may be better off going to Twyford station, as this is only about 10 minutes’ drive from Waingels College and avoids the busy Reading traffic. Twyford is only about 5 minutes on the train from Reading.
John Madejski Academy
The address is 125 Hartland Rd, Reading RG2 8AF. There is parking for around 50 cars (or ample street parking in the vicinity). Reading Buses run regular services from the town centre to JMA (lowest frequency is every 20 minutes on a Sunday), with a journey time of 20 minutes – but bear in mind the bus stop drops you by another entrance and you’ll need to walk round the edge of the school to the Hartland Road entrance. We also encourage members to share lifts and let the section coordinators know if they need a lift, as we can put them in touch with lift givers!
Reading Blue Coat School
Some rehearsals are held at Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning, Holme Park, Sonning Lane, Sonning on Thames, RG4 6SU (http://www.rbcs.org.uk/location/).
The rehearsal venue is Way Hall which is signposted once you arrive at the school and go past the reception area. It is well signposted.
The school is equidistant between Reading and Twyford stations (3 miles from each) and there are buses from both stations (with more options and frequency from Reading) to Sonning Lane or the A4 / Shepherds Hill roundabout which is a 10 minute walk to the school. There is parking available at the school for anyone driving; we would encourage lift sharing where possible and will help facilitate that through the Facebook group.
APO concert venues are:
- The Great Hall, University of Reading, Crown Place, off London Road, Reading. Parking: available on site in front of Hall, or overflow parking. Street parking free on concert evenings on Sidmouth St, Kendrick Road.
- St Joseph’s College, Upper Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5JT. Parking: car park at the school, or surrounding roads.