bobby1413 I find it grating that people from Huddersfield and the like criticise Reading for being soulless or not having anything to offer. It's usually people who have spent 20 minutes here at the train station, or the oracle and that's it.
What's so great about Huddersfield?
I think we have a great night life here in terms of options and late night establishments, lots of things going on such as music festivals (I don't mean the main Reading one), Reading fringe which was great this year, food events, the butter market, great restaurants, etc... not to mention The Hexagon having some decent events, plus other smaller theatres such as Propsect Theatre, Rising Sun Arts centre, the prison art project, The abbey ruins, etc... What else do people want?
If local's only complaint is "no bowling and no ice rink" then that's a pretty healthy situation to be in. We're not perfect but Reading is improving with the whole development around Jackson's Corner for a start, plus Station Hill, Royal Elm Park and hopefully in time, the whole area around the back of the Butts Centre.
My issue is ... yea criticise if you want, but back it up with something constructive and don't criticise if you come from somewhere even more sh*tty.
It's so easy on message boards to say "Preston/Derby/Ipswich/whatever... what a dump, some crappy shops and a few pubs" I wouldn't ever do that as having been to some of these places, I've spent a handful of hours there and in no position to criticise.
And that's without even mentioning the Blue Pool at Stanford Dingley.
