Caversham
There was a time when Caversham was part of Oxfordshire rather than Berkshire. With its close proximity to Reading, the 'Ding of course became its natural home and we're lucky to count it as part of this wonderful town today. If you're new to the Reading area, you...
read more
Crunch Comics: Free Comic Book Day
In case you've missed the hype on social media, this Saturday, 4th May (AKA Star Wars Day) is Free Comic Book Day (FCBD). This is a worldwide event which holds a special place in the comic calendar. The absolutely, wonderfully, stonking-good news is that our very own...
read more
Crumb’s the Word
Welcome to IR's spring “A Day in the Life Of…” series. The first, fabulous entrepreneur that we’ll be spending a day in the life of is Lissy from Crumb’s the Word bakery. You may remember Crumb’s the Word from the IR Christmas gift guide but if not, they operate a...
read moreFood Shopping
IR has put together a map of some of the places in the Reading area that sell a variety of food stuffs, to suit your every culinary fantasy!
read more
Christmas Gift Guide
The excitement has just got too much and IR can't hold it in any more. Today, right here and now is the official launch of the IR Christmas Gift Guide 2018! Some truly fabulous businesses have contributed to the content and you'll find gifts from concrete tealight...
read more
Artisan & Farmers Market
Hands up, who's been to a market recently? OK, so your hand's still up...who's been to a market in Caversham recently? I'm going to hedge a bet that there are few of you who think you have the market scene in Reading nailed but haven't actually been over to...
read more
Bali Pop Up
Exciting news, people of Reading...we have a new pop-up shop! It's called Bali Pop Up and is in St. Martin's Precinct in Caversham. (That's the main shopping area in the middle of Caversham, for those of us who aren't so hot on official names.) Bali Pop Up has...
read more
The Harris Arcade
How familiar are you with central Reading's oldest shopping centre? Do you even know where the Harris Arcade is? A surprising number of people don't. Situated in Friar Street, this is the town centre's grand-daddy of shopping malls, with a much richer history and...
read more
Valentine’s Day
It's February and that means Valentine's Day is nearly upon us! Even if you aren't big into the day itself, we have so many fabulous local businesses on our doorstep, it's worth keeping a few ideas in your back pocket for the next time you want to treat someone, just...
read more
True Food Co-op
Hello again, not long now until that much-needed January pay day! Continuing my theme of helping you do things a little differently in 2018, (if you so desire, it's not mandatory!) today I'm reminding you about a fabulous shop that's tucked away in Emmer Green. True...
read more
h by Maia, Natural Skincare
Happy new year, everyone and welcome to 2018! I hope you all had a splendid festive break with friends and family and are ready to give this year everything you've got. In the spirit of usual new year activity, it's likely that a few of you are looking to make...
read more
Fragrance Workshop at Humos
This is a Guest Post: This week's Independent Reading post comes from guest blogger, Tara Tunstall. She was invited down to Humos, the new aromatherapy fragrance bar in Caversham to try blending her own, signature scent. (You might remember their Joy reed diffuser...
read more
The IR Guide to Christmas
It's that time of year again; the time of over-thinking what to buy people and pondering just how many drinks you can get away with at the work Christmas bash. To make your life just a teeny, tiny bit easier this year, Independent Reading has put together your guide...
read more
epoch3
You know that warm, fuzzy feeling you get inside when you walk around quaint old towns full of unique and wonderful shops selling those gorgeous items that you just need to have in your life? Well, take a walk down the Caversham Road and you can recreate that feeling...
read more
Cuppies ‘n’ Cream
Have you ever sunk your teeth into a cake that was just so perfect you almost didn't want to eat it because then you'd have no more cake to sink your teeth into? Well, let us introduce the fabulous Natalie Dickinson, the genius behind Cuppies 'n' Cream. So...
read more
Blue Tin Produce
Hiding just outside Caversham in the village of Ipsden is Blue Tin Produce, a family-run farm and farm shop, specialising in free-range rare breed meets. Independent Reading originally stumbled upon the farm by spotting a field of piglets that were just too cute to...
read more
Georgina’s Vintage Couture
Independent Reading has been fortunate enough to meet the fabulous Georgina, who is the incredibly friendly and outgoing lady behind Georgina's Vintage Couture in the Harris Arcade. Georgina's Vintage Couture stocks a range of vintage and new vintage clothing for men...
read moreDirectory: Shopping
To help you find lots of Reading's fabulous, independent shops in one place, we have pulled together a list you can download and use to help you shop. There's everything from butchers to vinyl included and you can filter the Excel file to find exactly what you need....
read more