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Reading Enews – July 2008 Jacobs of Reading nominated for national awardThe country’s leading group of industry experts has nominated Jacobs of Reading as Independent Jeweller of the Year in the UK. The award, to be presented at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on 17 July, is one of the industry's most prestigious and is voted for by industry-wide specialists under the guidance of a respected trade journal – the Retail Jeweller magazine. Jacobs of Reading, established in 1948, has been short listed as one of the top seven independent jewellers across the country. The award is judged under a number of categories including service to customers, outstanding ranges, staff training, marketing and innovative ideas for the jewellery industry. PlanningAn application for advertising consent has been lodged on behalf of YO! Sushi, which is now trading at House of Fraser in The Oracle. An application has been lodged on behalf of Café Rouge to change the use of St Mary’s Church House from office to restaurant, erect a single storey rear extension, internal alterations, external decoration and an outdoor seating area. An application has been lodged to erect 6 x 1 bedroom flats with associated car parking and cycle store at Regent Court in Great Knollys Street. Inward investmentSEGRO has indicated that Holiday Inn will invest in Winnersh Triangle with a new 174-bed, Holiday Inn prototype hotel (in association with Intercontinental Hotels Group), which is due to open in 2010. 5,500 sq ft of office space on the seventh floor of Reading Bridge House has been let to Hot Diamonds Group. Founded in 1986, Hot Diamonds Group comprises a number of jewellery brands, including 'Historic Originals'. The company designs, manufactures, markets and distributes award-winning jewellery to retailers around the world, with clients such as John Lewis in the UK. The new tenant has signed a new 10-year lease at a rent of £24.50 per sq ft. Retail Independents The Walk has secured another 'boutique' retailer in the form of the 'Amanda Vaccaro Boutique', which will be selling women’s wear and accessories from Lulu Guinness, Joseph, Anya Hindmarsh and Allegra Hicks to name but a few. The Walk is now home to a number of independent, specialist retailers and operators including Pudding Lingerie, Cherubs Florist, Mix champagne and cocktail bar, Seven Oaks Hi-fi, Leonadis specialist chocolates, Jaeger, as well as four extremely popular restaurants on the first floor - Dolce Vita, Mari e Monte (formerly Topo gigio), Bengal Reef and Art of Old Siam. Another independent has returned to the town, albeit experimentally at this stage: Cara of London, who used to be in Cross Street, has returned as Aria at 17 Queen Victoria Street selling a range of shoe wear and clothing. Rare Footage has taken a premise at 14 Chain Street on a similar basis. Broad Street Mall Game City (games and computers) has opened for trade in 48 BSM. Blue Inc (menswear) is fitting out in 64 BSM and due to open during the first week of July. Betster (bookmakers) at 27 Oxford Rd has opened for trade at 27 Oxford Road. Premier (convenience store) has opened at 11 St Mary’s Butts. Refurbishment of the public toilets has commenced: a £50,000 project of approximately 12 weeks duration, the project will incorporate ‘no touch’ technology (infra red taps and flushing systems). The gents and baby changing facilities are affected during July with alternative facilities provided on the 1st floor. The Oracle Morgan will re-brand to Paper Sun and move to the vacated G4 unit on the upper mall near Debenhams. Geox – a shoe retailer – will take the old Morgan unit on the lower mall. Bar Med has now closed and its vacated unit is being split in two for new tenants to be announced soon. The Oracle will be having a beach again this year, due to open during the last week in July. Meltdown!
– An Outdoor Spectacular Dhoom Dhamaka Now firmly established in the local calendar, Reading’s sixth annual celebration of Asian arts and culture - Dhoom Dhamaka - takes place over an extended period in the town from 28 June – 20 July. This collaborative event offers opportunities to experience or discover the variety and wealth of Asian arts and culture as presented in the UK today. It brings together a spectacular array of traditional and contemporary music, dance, visual arts and craft to celebrate the excitement and diversity of Reading’s culture, and promote dialogue between the communities. This year sees an increased range of free town centre events including a music and dance event at The Oracle performance space on Saturday, 12 July; an Asian fusion concert at The Forbury Bandstand on Sunday, 20 July, and musical interventions by wandering musicians on Wednesday, 2 July. More information on Meltdown! and Dhoom Dhamaka can be found at www.readingarts.com Chatham Place public art The first of a number of artworks for Chatham Place, by artist Marion Coutts, will be launched in July. Commissioned by Muse Developments working in partnership with Reading Borough Council's Artists in the City programme, the work consists of two illuminated steel and glass columns incorporating a digital collage of imagery and ephemera sourced from the Museum of Reading. More information can be found at www.artistsinthecity.org.uk Forbury Band Concert SeasonSundays in June, July & August, 3-4.30pm at the Forbury Gardens 6 July Pangbourne
and District Silver Band Free entry. Call 0118 939 0373 for more information or visit www.reading.gov.uk Shakespeare in the RuinsProgress Theatre, in partnership with Reading Borough Council, presents The Taming of the Shrew from Monday 14 July until Saturday 26 July at 7.45pm at the Abbey Ruins. Box office: 0118 960 6060 / www.abbeyruins.com/boxoffice Nelson Mandela’s Birthday PicnicSaturday 19 July, 12 noon - 4pm at the Forbury Gardens. An afternoon of music, dance and drama to mark the 90th birthday of Nelson Mandela. There will also be a range of information stands. Free entry. Call 0118 939 0771 for more information or visit www.reading.gov.uk Date for your diary...In Town Without My Car On Tuesday 16 September come along to Broad Street and find out all you need to know about sustainable travel. This one day event marks the launch of the European Mobility Week, which will see many events happening locally in the build up to Monday 22 September, when we hope to see people leaving their cars behind and walking, cycling, taking the train or bus into work. For more information, or to get involved, please call 0118 939 0159 or email thalia.carr@reading.gov.uk Tim Smith This newsletter
is for general information only. Whilst it is
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