Loddon Primary School
Located in Earley, Reading (https://maps.app.goo.gl/3DX23t3YG4dVUtgFA). The quickest bus from Reading town centre takes around 25 minutes, or you can get the train to Earley (5 min journey time from Reading with trains every half an hour) and walk just over half a mile from there. There is a car park with an automatic vehicle barrier and pedestrian gate that should both be open for a period around the start and finish of the rehearsal. This is a new rehearsal venue for us in May/June 2025, so there may be other logistics we learn about. Keep an eye on this page!
St. Joseph’s College
There is just north west of Reading town centre. There are plenty of buses from Reading town centre that take 15-20 mins. There is usually plenty of parking (fork right after entering, saving the spaces on the left fork near the entrance for those with bigger instruments), though sometimes there are multiple events at the school. We usually rehearse in the main hall, which is accessed via the main entrance, which must never be left/propped open without someone being there to control access. This means that anyone not turning up before the start of the rehearsal will need to ring someone for access – we usually leave a note with a phone number on the door.
If we’re using the theatre, this is down at the far end of the big (fork right) car park, near the exit to the main car park. This room is smaller than the main hall, so please be considerate with where you leave cases and personal effects. Please also be careful to watch for cars leaving the bottom part of the car park when leaving the building!
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.
- All Saints Church, Wokingham – the closest parking is Easthampstead Road East (RG40 2EG). Wokingham railway station is approximately 10-12 minutes’ walk away.
- St Joseph’s College, Upper Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5JT. Parking: car park at the school, or surrounding roads.