imawhinger's Qype reviews
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Station Approach, Reading, Berkshire RG1 1LZ
imawhinger
wrote on 19 November 2008
This Burger King is a short walk from the station so very handy if you want to pop in for a quick bite before you head off for your shopping.
The entrance is a bit of a tight squeeze and upon first inspection doesn’t look that big but there is a much larger room at the back with plenty of tables and chairs.
It is not kept particularly clean and there can be quite a rowdy crowd in there sometimes which I find uncomfortable. It has quite a different atmosphere to the one in Basingstoke which is clean and tidy.
Not somewhere I would want to spend any length of time but ok for a quick easy and inexpensive snack.
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116-117 Broad Street, Reading, Berkshire RG1 2BD
imawhinger
wrote on 19 November 2008
BHS is a large store located in Reading City Centre not far from the Oracle shopping centre. The first image that springs to my mind when thinking of Bhs is slippers, nightgowns and underwear as that seems to be as exciting as it gets most of the year here.
It’s only saving grace is once a year when they bring out the Christmas gift section which is very popular and you can pick up some lovely stocking fillers for the children and grown ups.
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Station Approach, Reading, Berkshire RG1 1LT
imawhinger
wrote on 19 November 2008
This Costa coffee is located in Reading Station. It has a small selection of table and chairs to sit at which are quite unkempt and obviously not cleaned that regularly. It is also very cramped.
The coffee and snacks are reasonable and if you want a quick cup of coffee then it can be quite convenient but is not the place to spend any length of time at.
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Bucklebury House Bucklebury, Reading, Berkshire RG7 6RR
imawhinger
wrote on 19 November 2008
Our local Preschool made a visit to Bucklebury Farm in the summer and we had a lovely day out. There is an outdoor and indoor adventure playground and a cafe which sells food, drinks, snacks and small gifts.
The outdoor playground also has a wooden fort which the children enjoyed running up and down in and a Tree House with slide. They also have little toy tractors dotted round which the children enjoyed playing on.
The indoor play area has huge slides which are great fun for the children and an indoor play area with tunnels etc.
Tractor rides are also available pulled by a lovely shire horse and we were taken to meet the Reindeer whilst our Tractor Driver told the children all about them and helped them to feed the Reindeer.
We then went to meet the farm animals and all the children loved the donkeys who were very friendly. They had typical farm yard animals but it was very nicely laid out and easy to see and stroke the animals.
It may be a good idea to take with you some waterproofs and wellington boots as it can get quite muddy in bad weather especially.
The staff were informative, friendly and approachable and we thoroughly enjoyed our day out.
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36 Broad Street, Reading, Berkshire RG1 2AA
imawhinger
wrote on 19 November 2008
Thorntons is right in the middle of Reading City Centre so very handy. It is a confectioner of fine chocolates and has a range of hand made and box collections on offer. It also has children’s sweets and selections and sells different flavoured icecreams.
If you are looking for a special gift of chocolates I would look here as you are bound to find something suitable and I don’t really think they are overpriced for such a quality item. They do have special offers on quite often so it’s worth keeping an eye out for these and they have lovely novelty items at Christmas and Easter which are good for small gifts or stocking fillers.
Queuing can be a problem as the store is quite small and at busy periods such as Christmas you can have quite a long wait especially as the Shop Assistants also offer gift wrapping, and chocolate engraving services and there are only two shop assistants at this store who have to do everything! Despite this the staff seem very happy are friendly and helpful.
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40 Broad Street, Reading, Berkshire RG1 2AA
imawhinger
wrote on 19 November 2008
The Entertainer is a large toy store in the centre of Reading. It stocks many of the popular ranges of toys, puzzles and games and also has quite a large selection of playmobil toys that you do not find in other toys shops.
The store itself is easy to move round in and all the toys are set out in a tidy manner. I find the staff reasonably helpful although some of the younger staff members are not so helpful and do not even seem to know what they stock in their own shop. I asked if they stocked any knight figures and was told by a young shop assistant that they didn’t. It was only when browsing the store that I found them myself. I get the impression sometimes that they can’t be bothered looking.
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Reading, Berkshire RG8 9NH
imawhinger
wrote on 19 November 2008
The very first time I visited Beale Park was with my son who was 20 months old at the time and my breath was taken away by how absolutely beautiful it was. I have since taken my inlaws who live in Liverpool and they were very impressed with it too.
There is a huge car park and toileting facilities within the park itself.
It is fantastic for children as it is a very safe environment and they can happily wander round with you just keeping a watchful eye on them. The wildlife just wanders around your feet and there feeding station dotted about everywhere (which require a 20p coin) to feed the birds and the huge carp that swim round in the lovely ponds and lakes that are dotted around.
There is plenty of seating, benches, picnic tables for you to relax and just take in the scenery. As for the children there is a Little Tikes Outdoor Play Area, an Indoor Little Tikes Play Area, two sandpits, two good sized paddling pools, a train ride and an older outdoor play area for the older children. There is also a small shop and boat rides available.
On top of all that you can spend hours following the trails to visit the multitude of animals at the park including the ever popular Meercats and there is also a children’s farm with the usual farmyard animals.
The only downpoint is the food. There is a large restraunt which serves hot and cold food but is VERY expensive and we never use this but prefer to take a picnic as there are plenty of places to sit and eat.
I can highly recommend this for all ages but particularly for families as it has so much to offer and well worth the entry price as a full and happy day can be spent here.
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The Oracle Shopping Centre, Reading, Berkshire RG1 2AT
imawhinger
wrote on 19 November 2008
This Debenhams Department store is absolutely huge and maybe that is part of the problem for me as I find it very difficult to find my way round in. It is one of those stores that I tend to browse in but always come away empty handed as it never quite hits the mark with me.
The clothes section again is huge but on closer inspection not that impressive with some of the less expensive items being almost tacky. I almost get the impression that you are paying more simply for the fact that it is Debenhams you are shopping in, unless of course if you are buying the designer labels.
Maybe this is a store for the younger generation those who are still young enough to enjoy pampering themselves with makeup, purfumes and other beauty products.
For me a middle aged mum it’s not the type of store that appeals.
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61-64 Broad Street, Reading, Berkshire RG1 2AJ
imawhinger
wrote on 19 November 2008
Woolworths has to be one of my favourite stores simply because it stocks so much variety and at such competetive prices.
I can spend hours here browsing the magazines, DVDs, toys, electrical goods, clothes and other sections of the store looking for bargains which you can always find. It’s almost like an Alladin’s Cave having hidden treasure tucked away that you have to search out.
In the children’s clothes section I prefer to look for the cheaper items such as fleeces for my son just to hang round in after school. I don’t tend to buy the more expensive clothes items as I find them overpriced for what they are which is usually branded items such as Thomas, Bob the Builder etc and you are simply paying for that name and that’s why the prices are so high.
The staff sometimes look a bit hot and bothered and fed up which gives the impression that it is not a nice place to work for although they are helpful and friendly enough.
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12 Broad Street, Reading, Berkshire RG1 2BH
imawhinger
wrote on 19 November 2008
I prefer this Marks and Spencers to the other one in Basingstoke as it is bigger. I either shop for food or for clothes for my son. Gone have the day’s (mostly) that you would come across the snooty shop assistant who though she was a cut above the other shop assistant’s (and the customers by some of their attitudes at the time) because they worked for M&S. Nowadays the staff are much more friendly and approachable and it has become a store that people from all walks of life feel comfortable shopping in.
The Per Una range attracts the younger generation with it’s trendy styles but there are still plenty of twin set and pearls type clothes for us oldies! The store is very clean and tidy and everything is nicely displayed.
The children’s section if upstairs and there is a lift if you have a pushchair with you which is very useful. They have some lovely quality clothes for children but I wouldn’t say they have a huge selection. They also sell quality school unforms for a good price and often have reduced or 3 for 2 offers and such like.
The food section is where I shop most often and I love the quality of the food on offer and they also sell good quality wine at a very reasonable price.