Town Hall
Reading Town Hall enjoys a long and illustrious history. It consists of four buildings built in the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1786 the oldest building - the Victoria Hall - opened as a purpose built town hall designed by Charles Poulton.
A new council chamber and a clock tower designed by Alfred Waterhouse opened in 1876 followed by the Museum, Library and a Concert Hall, designed by the architect Thomas Lanson.Art Gallery and Library Reading room were added and then in 1975 new civic offices were built to serve Reading Borough and the Town Hall ceased its administration function.
Reading Town Hall survived the threat of demolition in the 1970s and was comprehensively refurbished in the late 1980s. It has undergone further changes to meet modern requirements and now hosts a leading conference and banqueting venue, The Concert Hall, Reading Museum and the Berkshire Coroner's Office.
The Concert Hall
Centrally located within The Town Hall complex, The Concert Hall is one of the finest of its type in Britain.
Originally built in 1882 and refurbished in 2000, it also houses the restored Father Willis Organ, boasting superb acoustics.
The Concert Hall hosts a varied programme of classical music, organ recitals, blues, jazz, folk, acoustic pop & rock, stand-up comedy, and lectures to suite all tastes.
View the Reading Arts Autumn 2024 What's On Brochure HERE
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Access Information ♿
The Concert Hall is committed to making the building as accessible and welcoming for all.
Disabled Access
The Concert Hall is located in the Town Hall. There is level access into the building and to the box office, toilets and cafe areas located on the ground floor. The Concert Hall is located on the first floor, there is a lift to the first floor and flat floor access from the lift to the stalls seating. There is no lift access to the balcony seating.
The Concert Hall has designated wheelchair positions located in the stalls. To enhance your safety and comfort we require patrons in wheelchairs to book a designated wheelchair position in advance.
Please inform the Box Office should you require level access or have limited mobility as seats are available for this purpose.
Toilet for people with disabilities. An infa-red sound enhancement system for the hard of hearing is available for use with or without a hearing aid. Please reserve sets at the time of booking (to be collected from the Box Office or Reception prior to the event-a small deposit is required)
Assistance/Guide Dogs
We welcome assistance and guide dogs. If possible, please mention at the time of booking if you would like to keep your dog in the auditorium with you in order to help us suggest the best seats possible to accommodate both your needs during the performance.
Alternatively our Front of House team would be more than happy to look after your assistance dog for the duration of the performance. A bowl of water can be provided.
Access List
The Access List is a way for you to register your needs with us in order to make the booking process and the show experience as smooth as possible. Anyone can join the Access List and the information will be recorded on your customer record to assist with future bookings and to help meet your needs when attending our venues. In addition, you may be eligible for a free Personal Assistant ticket when attending events
For more information on our Access List can be found here
Baby changing facilities are available (children under 18 months will require a £1 Babes in Arms ticket for performances)
