Reading’s main library has now shut its doors for good. It’s getting ready to move to the town’s newly updated Civic Centre.

Reading Central Library, which first opened on Kings Road back in 1985, had its last day open to visitors on Saturday afternoon. Now, it’s starting the big move to the new Civic Centre development over on Bridge Street.

You won’t be able to use the library’s central services until the new place opens up on Thursday, June 18th. This new spot will be inside the redesigned Civic Centre. They expect it to have modern facilities, be much easier for everyone to get around, and offer more spaces for community use.

Reading Borough Council says they had to move. The old building, with its many floors, had just gotten too outdated and it was becoming really hard – and costly – to make it work for people with accessibility needs.

Council officials mention that the new library, which was built just for this, will be completely accessible. It’s also designed to better serve everyone: residents, students, and visitors alike. The plans for this new place include almost 100 spots to work or study, better digital tools, and a new area for community gatherings and events called The Square.

But this closure hasn’t been without its share of arguments. Some local people and groups have spoken out against the move. They’re worried about losing the old Kings Road location, which has been there for so long. They also question if this whole moving period might affect people who use the library all the time. Others have asked for clearer details about how much the redevelopment is costing and what’s going to happen to the old library building.

Even with all the talk against it, council leaders feel this move is a big investment in Reading’s public services for the future. They want the new library to be a central spot for learning, community get-togethers, and events right in the town centre.

Several major events are scheduled for Palmer Park, Reading, in June 2026, including the massive dance festival Stories In The Park on June 6th, the Sausage and Cider Festival on June 5th, Summer In Nashville on June 7 and the community East Reading Festival on June 21st. Tickets for these events are currently on sale

Sausage & Cider Festival Reading 2026 (Friday, June 5, 2026)

What: A fun-filled day with 30+ cider flavors, 20+ sausage varieties, and live music. From small independent vendors to nationally recognised brands, plus an array of flavours to choose from!

They pride ourselves on having the UK’s best tribute acts performing across the day at Sausage and Cider Festival, take a look above for this years first release performers!

Not only do they have the recogniseable Tribute acts but their headline acts are always the real deal so keep an eye out for the headline act announcements soon!

They have a great range of independent vendors around the site with over 20 different types and flavours of sausage available, but if sausage isn’t quite your thing we will have a number of vendors offering other tasty food selections.

Most vendors will have gluten free or vegan options available but this is of course subject to availability.

In 2023 they launched their festival market, with a great range of face painters, market food stalls, phone charging and the festival market shop with hats, jumpers and a whole range of other festival goodies.

When: 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM.
Lineup: Headliner Chris Moyles, Pat Sharp’s Funhouse, and tributes to ABBA, Queen, Oasis, The Killers, and more.
Tickets available here.

Stories in the Park – (Saturday, June 6, 2026)

What: Stories in the Park began as a small day party at a local venue in Reading during the summer, just 500 ravers coming together for the love of music. From those humble beginnings, we’ve built something truly special. Over the last 7 years, that spark has grown into the biggest independent dance festival in the UK, now welcoming over 10,000 ravers every year.

This journey has always been about more than just throwing a festival. It’s about uplifting the Reading community and creating a space where people can connect through the music they love. From day one, we’ve carried that grassroots spirit, and we’ve never forgotten that we are nothing without the ravers who bring the energy, passion, and love that fuel this movement.

Along the way, their stages have been blessed by some of the biggest names in dance music, from Sammy Virji to Sonny Fodera, and the legendary Chase & Status, while always championing the next generation of talent.

Seven years on, their passion still drives everything we do. Stories in the Park is more than a festival, it’s a family, a culture, and a shared story that we write together, year after year.

When: 12:00 PM – 10:30 PM (Last entry 4:00 PM).
Lineup: Featuring Andy C, A.M.C FT PHANTOM, Kings of the Rollers, Basslayerz, Champion B2B Bakey, and more than 50 artists.
Tickets available here.

Summer In Nashville (Sunday, June 7, 2026)

What: The biggest Nashville party to hit the UK is rolling into Reading on Sunday 7th June 2026, as Summer in Nashville brings the sights, sounds and spirit of country music back to the city. The event promises a full-scale country celebration and an unforgettable day of live music and entertainment.

Fans of Luke Combs, Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash can expect an authentic Nashville experience, featuring a mix of the best new and undiscovered acts direct from the USA, alongside high-energy tribute performances celebrating country music’s greatest legends.

Attendees can also look forward to line dancing, mouth-watering American BBQ and street food, and a wide range of interactive entertainment including rodeo bull rides, country fancy dress, axe throwing, tin can alley and much more.

A spectacular live music lineup has already been announced, with tribute acts taking over the main stage, while the industry’s rising country stars perform on a second stage, delivering non-stop entertainment throughout the day.

When: 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM.
Lineup: Tribute bands: Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Shania Twain plus Howdy, The Folly Brothers, Robbie McMinn, DJ Chris Armstrong,Whisky Over Ice,Virginia Dirt and many more.
Tickets available here.

East Reading Festival 2026 (Sunday, June 21, 2026)
What: A community-focused festival with a music stage, poetry, fairground, and food.
When: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
Details: Free, local community event.

All this event will be held at Palmer Park, Wokingham Road, Reading, RG6 1LE.

Liberal Democrat analysis of the latest NHS England data shows that 2025 is projected to see the worst level of 12-hour trolley waits in A&E ever recorded. Locally, a shocking 6,450 patients waited 12 hours in the Royal Berkshire Hospital A&E in 2025.

The Lib Dem plan would end 12-hour waits and hospital ‘corridor care’ within a year.

Making 6,000 extra hospital beds available to end corridor care within a year.
Investing in 1,000 more staffed hospital beds.
Extra investment in social care to reserve 1,600 “safety net” social care places each day, for hospitals to discharge into if they need to.
Extra step-down care – freeing up 1,200 beds a day.
Making more beds available in care homes and hospitals.
The proposal would be funded by cancelling the planned medicine price hike agreed with the Trump administration before Christmas, which is set to cost the NHS over £3bn a year despite minimal benefits for patients.

Commenting, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Reading Borough Council, Councillor Anne Thompson, said:

“For too long, people in Reading have suffered with degrading waits and treatment in hospital corridors. Our NHS staff are working so hard, but have been let down by those in power. It is a national emergency, and it is devastating our NHS – we need a real plan to fix it.

“Liberal Democrats are offering the bold solutions we need to free up our hospitals and end the A&E crisis once and for all. No government should tolerate this disaster, and ministers should be held legally accountable if they continue to fail in their duty to protect patients.”