Council staff are gearing up for a busy weekend at Reading Festival as the countdown to the biggest event in the town begins.
The festival in Richfield Avenue is always held on the August Bank Holiday Weekend, with the main event from Friday, August 28 to Sunday, August 30.
Reading Borough Council has substantial involvement in managing the impacts of the festival.
The event is allowed to run as it possesses a licence from Reading Borough Council, whose officers from various departments monitor the circumstances to ensure that it is compliant.
A council video produced at the festival in 2024 gives residents ‘a glimpse’ of what officers do on-site over the weekend.
This work involved 71 alcohol and cigarette test purchases and 68 taxi test purchases, as private hire drivers are not allowed to take customers on the spot.
Officers also inspect fire extinguishers and the towers for safety, and ensure weights and measures rules for drunks are complied with.
Work is also conducted by environmental health officers who conducted 41 food safety inspections in 2024, and are responsible for noise monitoring,
Noise complaints can be made using the council’s 24-hour hotline during the festival by calling 020 8080 1518 or emailing ReadingFestivalHotline@reading.gov.uk.
Councillors also attend the festival, both for their own enjoyment and monitoring.
For example, councillor Glenn Dennis (Labour, Kentwood) reported seeing dealers openly advertise cocaine and Class A drugs while he was there in 2024.
Each year, the festival organisers report to the council’s housing, neighbourhoods and leisure committee, giving a debrief of the event and councillors the opportunity to ask questions.
