A wise place to come and shop (The Oracle, Reading)

Member Name: Mildew82

Product:	The Oracle, Reading
Date:	03/10/09 (237 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to get to, with a great array of shops and eateries

Disadvantages: Some of the eateries are a little overpriced and it can get overcrowded

The Oracle is a large shopping centre located in Reading which houses a great array of shops, restaurants, bars and even a cinema - if you can't find what you're looking for at The Oracle you're simply not looking hard enough!


Opening Times
____________

Monday to Friday 9.30am - 8pm
Saturday 9am-7pm
Sunday 11am-5pm


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Location and Parking
_________________

The Oracle is easily reachable by car, bus or train.

By car you can access The Oracle from Junction 10, 11 or 12 of the M4 (I find J11 the easiest). From Junction 11 it takes just under 10 minutes to get to the Oracle (assuming no traffic) - you take the A33 passing the Madejski Stadium on your left, follow signs to Reading Town Centre and continue straight for about 2 miles before turning right at some traffic lights directing to The Oracle car parks.

There are two car parks - Holybrook (623 spaces) and Riverside (1679 spaces).

Prices:

Up to 1hr (not applicable in Holy Brook Car Park) -------- £1.30
Up to 2hrs -------------------------------------------------- --- £2.40
Up to 3hrs -------------------------------------------------- --- £3.60
Up to 4hrs -------------------------------------------------- --- £5.00
Up to 5hrs -------------------------------------------------- --- £7.00
Up to 6hrs -------------------------------------------------- --- £9.00
Up to 7hrs -------------------------------------------------- --- £12.00
Up to 8hrs -------------------------------------------------- ----£15.00
Over 8hrs -------------------------------------------------- ---- £20.00

Entry after 6pm: up to 1hr ----------------------------------- £1.00
Entry after 6pm: over 1hr ------------------------------------ £2.00

24 hrs -------------------------------------------------- -------- £20.00

Lost Ticket / Penalty Fees ------------------------------------ £20.00


By bus you can take advantage of two park and ride schemes - see http://www.parkandride.net/reading/reading_framese t.html/ for details.

If you already live in Reading then you can check http://www.reading-buses.co.uk/ for a proper timetable. There is also a late night bus service available called NightTrack which operates from between midnight to 3.30am.

By train coming into Reading Station The Oracle is just a mere 5 minutes walk away. Exit the station through the main exit and cross the pedestrian crossing right outside, turn left and follow the road straight until you hit Broad Street, opposite John Lewis. Turn left and The Oracle is on the right hand side opposite Marks & Spencer.


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The Layout
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The Oracle is divided into three main sections:

1. The Riverside
2. The Lower Mall
3. The Upper Mall


The Riverside, as the name suggests, is situated in a very pleasant area surrounding a river - the River Kennet to be precise. It is here that the majority of the eateries are located as well as the Vue cinema.

The main shops are located in the lower and upper mall.


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The Eateries
~~~~~~~~~


Wagamama
==========

Serves pan-Asian style rice and noodles dishes.

Opening Times:
Monday to Saturday 12pm - 11pm
Sundays 12.30pm - 10pm

0118 951 1599


Strada
======

Serves Italian style food ranging from pasta, pizza, salad and meat and fish dishes.

Opening Times:
Monday to Saturday 12pm - 11pm
Sundays 12pm - 10.30pm

0118 939 4861


Giraffe
======

An extremely diverse eatery - you can get food (and music) from all around the world including the East, Australia, Europe, America in the form of brunches or main meals and exquisite desserts, plus they have a great drinks menu including hand roasted coffee, smoothies, cocktails, beers and wines.

0118 959 0101


Las Iguanas
=========

If you're looking for Latin food this is the place to come - from South American to Mexican cuisines the range is fantastic and you can also try their specialised spirit Cachaça distilled from their own sugar plantation in Brazil.

0118 956 6200


Pizza Hut
=======

Kind of speaks for itself - your typical range of pizzas, pastas and salads.

0118 959 6644


Nandos
======

You want chicken? Then come to Nandos with its Afro-Portuguese theme and secret ingredient of PERI-PERI.

0118 950 2199


Old Orleans
=========

Old Orleans offers authentic Southern Style food and drink, particularly from Louisiana including Southern Fried Chicken and American cocktails such as hurricane.

0118 951 2678


Ivory Lounge
==========

A bar that offers a menu of tapas, wines and cocktails with a high class decor - a perfect place to just chill out.

0118 956 6832


Tootsies
======

A great place to get burgers, grills and salads.

Opening Times:
Monday to Saturday 11am - 11pm
Sundays 11am - 10pm

0118 958 6338


Krispy Kreme
===========
Doughnuts, doughnuts, get your doughnuts here! Plus you can get some great lattes, cappuccinos and espressos too.

01189 594 983


The Mission Mexican Grill
=====================

If you're in the mood for Mexican this is the perfect place to choose from a simple range of food from burritos and tacos to salads, grilled chicken and steaks.

0118 951 1999


McDonalds
=========

Yuck! But if you want fast food you can get it here!

0118 950 2657


Caffe Nero
=========

Italian coffee bar with just about any coffee you can imagine plus a food menu including handmade sandwiches, pastas, soups, pizza, salads, biscotti, pastries and cakes.

Opening Times:
Monday to Friday 8am - 7pm
Saturday 8am - 8pm
Sunday 9am - 6pm

0118 950 0588


Ha Ha Bar and Grill
==============

Restaurant and bar focussing on grilled foods with an unusual open plan kitchen so you can see your food cooking.

0118 958 2822


The Slug and Lettuce
================

A simple bar that serves a range of food and drink.

Opening Times:
Monday to Wednesday 11am - 11pm
Thursday to Saturday 11am - 12am
Sunday 12pm - 10.30pm

0118 957 1839


Bella Italia
========

A Cafe, bar and restaurant, Bella Italia has a lovely menu from traditional Italian and Mediterranean meals for those romantic candlelight dinners or lighter meals with pizza, pasta and grills.

0118 956 6963


Pizza Express
===========

Becoming a bit of a household name, Pizza Express offers up tasty pizzas and salads with great al fresco riverside seating so you can enjoy the view as you eat.

0118 9574 411


There are also some eateries inside the lower and upper malls.

YO Sushi
=======

Located inside House of Fraser in the lower mall this is a nifty little place to get great Japanaese food - you can choose from 90 core dishes or you can pick and choose from a conveyor belt of scrumptious goodies.

01189 557 600


Style Cafe
========

Located in the lower mall, Debenhams' own self-service cafe where you can choose from light meals and snacks to full meals.


Douwe Egberts Coffee
==================

Located in the upper mall in Debenhams is a chilled coffee bar just in case you need to break up a heavy shopping experience - sometimes people take the saying 'Shop till you drop" a little too far!
08445 616161



The Vue Cinema
~~~~~~~~~~~

With 10 screens and auditoriums ranging from 80 - 350 seats and Dolby digital surround sound you are guaranteed a quality cinema experience at the Vue Cinema, Reading. Ignoring the hideously overpriced refreshments that we as patrons are subjected to at any cinema in the world, this cinema is always clean and the toilets are kept to a high standard.

Check out times at www.myvue.com or telephone 08712 240240.


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The Shops
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The Oracle has an extremely extensive range of shops ranging from household brands to lesser known eccentric shops. Here is a quick overview of the outstanding choice you get in each category of shopping:

Fashion
~~~~~~

Ladies
=====

Bank
Debenhams
Dorothy Perkins
Fat Face
French Connection
H&M
House of Fraser
Karen Millen
La Senza
Mamas & Papas
Mango
New Look
Oasis
Topshop
Wallis
Zara


Gentlemen
========

Bank
Ben Sherman
Burton
Crew Clothing Co.
Debenhams
Fat Face
H&M
House of Frasier
Suits You


Audio Visual
~~~~~~~~

Carphone Warehouse
Currys
Game
HMV
Orange
RosettaStone
Sky
Vodafone


Books and Music
~~~~~~~~~~~

Debenhams
HMV
Waterstones


Confectionary (my favourite)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hotel Chocolat
Krispy Kreme
Millie's Cookies
Thorntons
Whittard of Chelsea


Footwear
~~~~~~~

Bay
Brother2Brother
Debenhams
Faith
Geox Respira
House of Fraser
Jones Bootmaker
Oasis
Office
Shoon
Sole


Gifts
~~~~

Ashley Blooms
Build-A-Bear workshop
Clinton Cards
Crabtree & Evelyn
Debenhams
Disney
House of Fraser
The Lemongrove gallery
L'Occitane En Provence
Mamas & Papas
Menkind
Thorntons
Waterstones


Health and Beauty
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Boots
Crabtree & Evelyn
Dr&Herbs
Lush
Supercuts
The Body Shop
The Fragrance Shop
The Perfume Shop

Jewellery
~~~~~~~

Azendi
Beaverbrooks
Coast
Ernest Jones
Goldsmiths
H.Samuel
Magnolia
Pravins
Swarovski

Sports and Outdoor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Debenhams
Fat Face
Sports Direct.com
Timberland


Opticians
~~~~~~

David Clulow Opticians
Vision Express | optical lab


Other Services
~~~~~~~~~~

Baby Warming Facility

Car Valet

Cash machines

Child Safe Scheme - a designated area to take lost children. There are orange stickers dotted around with the helpline to call if you become separated from your child (0870 062 27 43) plus at the information desk you can get free wristbands to put your mobile number on so you are easily contactable.

Citizens Advice Bureau

Lifts

Lockers

Lost and Stolen Credit Card Cancellation service

Lost Property

Newscentre

Postal Service - Royal Mail

Push Chair Hire

Shopmobility - scooters, wheelchairs and powerchairs are available for
use.

Shoppers Assistant - available for the elderly or those with mobility
problems.

Speaking Your Language - Staff are available to help with any translations foreign people may require.

Taxi Booking Facility

Telephones

Toilets - located in the Riverside Rotunda which include baby changing facilities and baby feeding rooms. These toilets have won the Loo of the Year award 4 times so far in 2001,2002,2007,2008.


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Entertainment
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Aside from just the eating, drinking and shopping available at The Oracle, there are entertainment events hosted throughout the year from competitions to retailer events and even The Oracle hosting their own events.

To give you a taste of just some of the things that go on, here are the remaining events left for 2009 which are echoed in similar style year to year.

Monday 12th October - John Barrowman will be in Waterstones in the lower mall from 1pm onwards to meet and greet his fans at a book signing for his new book "I Am What I Am" - wow!

Monday 17th October - Debenhams are hosting their own Wedding Fair to aid in your wedding plans where you can meet cake makers, hair stylists, florists, ring designers, caterers and just about any other company you could ever need to make all the intricate little details for your wedding become real. There are also prize draws to wins some great prizes.

Saturday 21st November - Christmas Spectacular with fireworks galore - it kicks off from 6pm but there is entertainment beforehand.

3rd December - 27th December - independent market traders are invited to set up on The Riverside for the Christmas Fayre to spread the festive joy.


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My Experiences
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I'm not a keen shopper but I absolutely love the atmosphere at The Oracle so if I get forced into going shopping out of desperation I will always endeavour to go to The Oracle. With such a great range of shops I don't think I can recall ever having an unsuccessful shopping trip, and with an unbelievable range of great foods available from simple bar food, to more complex delicacies from around the world you can't help but enjoy your time at The Oracle and turn a boring shopping trip into something much more enjoyable.

It feels as if the whole centre is designed to be as friendly and as helpful as possible with lots of facilities to aid parents and the less mobile, top quality toilets, a spacious and ultra-modern layout for the upper and lower malls with easy lift and elevator access and a lovely Riverside section which has great views to luxuriate in whilst enjoying your meals.

And if the remote possibility that you can't find what you're looking for in The Oracle materialises you are right next door to the high street which has even more shops to choose from such as John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Primark, Monsoon, Miss Selfridge, River Island.

The only negatives I have so far found with The Oracle are that at peak times it can get very busy with a lot of people milling about everywhere and shops and eateries can get overcrowded (all though during this recessive period it has not been quite so noticeable) and similarly with traffic in the surrounding area it can become quite heavy and you may be stuck queuing for quite a while on occasions. I would recommend trying to get there early to both beat the traffic and give yourself a great chance of getting a good parking space if you are travelling by car. The only other negative is that prices are a little on the expensive side for the majority of the eateries.

Summary: The Oracle is not just place to shop - it also a great place to relax and dine on some delicious foo