Latest news with #ReadingFestival
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Conversion of huge former Three offices in Reading into 110 flats underway
The conversion of the huge former Three mobile offices in Reading into more than 100 flats is underway despite delays to the project. Plans were previously approved to convert Great Brighams Mead in Vastern Road into 110 flats, with Three moving out to Green Park in 2022. Now, the developers of the building have won permission to make changes to the exterior of the building to facilitate its conversion. Elsewhere, a takeaway serving biryanis and other Indian food is due to be transformed into a restaurant, and a project to redevelop a long-closed betting shop is moving ahead. You can view each decided application by typing the reference in brackets into Reading Borough Council's planning portal. External changes to convert Three offices into 110 flats approved (PL/25/0052) Approved elevation plans for the external alterations to Great Brighams Mead in Vastern Road, Reading. (Image: Ridge) Changes to the exterior of Great Brighams Mead to facilitate its conversion into flats have been approved. These alterations involve adding four new entrance ramps, new walling, and replacing windows and doors. Extra time given to convert huge offices in Reading into 110 flats Assessing the project, planning officer Matt Burns wrote: "The ramps are modest additions given the scale of the existing building and are not considered to result in a significant adverse impact on the appearance of the building. "The proposed replacement windows and doors and infill brickwork work would match the existing building in terms of use of materials, colour and design and as such are considered to integrate satisfactorily with the appearance of the existing building." Takeaway set to be transformed into restaurant (PL/25/0052) Biryanish in Oxford Road, Reading. (Image: Google Maps) The Biryanish takeaway in Oxford Road is due to be transformed into a diner-style restaurant as internal modifications have been approved. The project involves relocating the kitchen and storage area to the rear of the building, clearing the way for a total of 43 seats for dine-in customers to be formed, while maintaining a takeaway function. Streetview imagery shows Biryanish serving customers during the Reading Festival last year in a temporary outdoor area. The premises was previously a fusion of Pizza King, King's Burger and the Jasmine Takeaway and the Singapore Takeaway before that. Progress made on redevelopment of old betting shop (PL/25/0444) The former Coral betting shop at 233 London Road, East Reading. (Image: Google Maps) Progress is made on a project to redevelop an old betting shop to provide new commercial space and homes. The Coral shop in London Road has been closed for more than five years, with developers winning permission to remodel the shopfront, add extensions to the building, and construct a new building to the rear containing six flats in June last year. Now, some of the planning hurdles involved in the redevelopment have been cleared. While the applicant has won approval of the details of the materials and how the construction will go ahead, they have been told they require permission from the council's network management team for any footpath or road closures.
Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Tickets for popular gigs including Reading Festival listed for eight times face value
Consumer group Which? is calling for a clampdown on online "touts" after discovering tickets being advertised at huge mark-ups and risk that fans will be refused entry Fans risk being ripped-off by concert tickets that are being advertised for up to eight times their face value, an investigation has found. Consumer group Which? found tickets for gigs and popular events on big name resell websites Viagogo and StubHub International at what it called 'eye-watering' price hikes. To make matters worse, guidelines from event organisers mean fans risk being turned away at the door. The findings have prompted Which? to call on the government to ban online 'ticket touts' from charging over-inflated prices. Its researchers found tickets for the Reading Festival - where rapper Travis Scott is among this year's headliners - listed at £596 on Viagogo and £616 on Stubhub International, despite tickets costing £325 still being available through the official ticket agents. Yet Which? says that Reading Festival explicitly lists Viagogo and Stubhub International as unauthorised ticket agents and warns people against buying tickets through them, meaning fans risk being turned away. Tickets for an IDLES gig in Bristol in August this year cost £59.65 at face value, and are still available to buy via the primary ticket seller. However, tickets were listed on Viagogo for as much as £480 - eight times the face value price. Which? found a similar situation when it comes to non-sporting event too. For instance, tickets for Royal Ascot were listed on Viagogo for between £150 and £154, and on Stubhub International for £96. Yet entry to the famous horseracing event in June were still available on the official website for just £34. And tickets for this year's British Grand Prix were listed on Stubhub International for £181, while face value tickets were still available on the Silverstone website for £159. Stubhub International's listing for the Grand Prix included a disclaimer stating tickets may not be valid for entry, but said this was 'unlikely'. However, Silverstone told Which? fans attempting to use a ticket at the gate that had not been purchased directly from an official ticket agent ran the risk of being refused entry. The situation isn't helped by secondary ticket sellers often being listed at or near the top of Google search results, says Which? It revealed what happened to one Which? member, Ally, whose husband bought two tickets to see Pink in concert listed on Viagogo. He paid £400 for the two tickets when the face value was around £40 each. Ally said: 'He didn't realise how inflated they were. We didn't end up going to the concert as I absolutely refused to spend that much money so I put them back on the site to try and get some money back. Resale sites often appear at the top of Google search results and it's not always clear that they aren't the official selling site.' Which? is urging the government, which has pledged to introduce stronger consumer protections for ticket purchases and is currently consulting on changes to ticket resales, to take tough action. It is campaigning for the introduction of a price cap to ensure that tickets can only be re-sold on secondary sites at the original price paid - the ticket's face value plus any fees - which should be shown up front in the ticket price. It also believes resale platforms should be required by law to verify that the seller owns a ticket before it can be listed on their site and should verify key information about a ticket, such as the original price and location within the venue Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, said: 'It's shocking that secondary ticketing sites like Viagogo and StubHub International are allowing sellers to charge more than eight times the face value price for tickets to popular music and sports events. These sites often appear at the top of Google search results, making it hard for fans to decipher which platform is the official ticket seller. 'Tickets also appear on these sites despite warnings from the event organisers that anyone buying from a secondary seller risks being turned away at the door. 'Which? is calling on the government to make the ticketing industry fairer for fans by banning touts selling tickets for inflated prices and making secondary sites responsible for stopping tickets being sold if they won't be valid at the door.' In response, Viagogo said: 'Viagogo is a safe, secure and regulated marketplace that helps connect millions of ticket sellers to fans wanting to see their favourite artists, sports teams and enjoy great live events. As a marketplace, Viagogo doesn't sell tickets or set prices. Sellers set the price and fans ultimately decide the ticket value that meets their budget. 'Fans can easily choose the option which works best for them. This transparency also means sellers must compete against each other on price, in an open market, often leading to affordable options for fans. For example, during Beyoncé's 2023 Renaissance tour in the UK, tickets were available for as low as £24, while tickets for the UK leg of Taylor Swift 's Eras tour were sold for as low as £80. 'Transparency is a priority for us, which is why we reject any suggestion that Viagogo misleads users. What you see in a listing price is what you will pay for the ticket on Viagogo. Viagogo's UK website discloses the face value for every ticket , and includes the disclosure that 'We're the world 's largest secondary marketplace for tickets to live events. Prices are set by sellers and may be below or above face value'. We also include disclosures, as required, to highlight all primary event restrictions which are made clear to the buyer before purchase, even if those restrictions are never enforced. Viagogo takes its obligations under the law seriously and is fully compliant in the UK.' It added: 'We will continue to advocate for access, transparency and open marketplaces for event lovers. We oppose anti-competitive actions taken by event organisers to restrict purchasing and resale options to certain platforms in a transparent attempt to control the market as they ultimately harm fans by limiting their choice, flexibility, and access.' StubHub International said: 'We are committed to bringing the joy of live events to fans through a safe, trusted, and transparent marketplace, which is already highly regulated in the UK. As a marketplace, we do not set ticket prices - sellers list at their preferred price, and buyers decide whether to purchase based on what they believe is worthwhile. 'We ensure complete ticket and price transparency by displaying all relevant information, including restrictions and face value price, from the earliest stage of the purchase journey. In our experience, tickets listed at exceptionally high prices rarely, if ever, sell. 'We also enforce strict measures to protect consumers. Speculative listings are not allowed on our platform - any tickets listed before general sale come from pre-sale purchases, and fans can choose to resell them if they wish.' It concluded: 'We look forward to working with the Government to ensure any policy changes continue to protect fans and provide access to the events they love.'
Scotsman
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Our 13 'wildcard' choices for musicians who could appear at Leeds and Reading 2025
Friends, festival-goers – lend me your ears! The run-up to Leeds and Reading Festival 2025 continues! As the sun shines down on most of the United Kingdom this week (and hay fever once again kicks in), our minds turn to the weather over the August Bank Holiday weekend , the dates for both Leeds and Reading Festival, alongside Creamfields 2025 for the dance music enthusiasts among us. With a fantastic line-up of acts already confirmed, speculation is rife about potential surprise appearances at various festivals this year. Whispers on Reddit and cryptic posts on social media are fuelling the rumour mill, as is typical in the month preceding Glastonbury, the lead in to the many UK summer festivals annually. But who are the 'wildcards' that could make a sneaky appearance at Richfield Avenue or Bramham Park ? We've examined Ticketmaster and a number of concerts taking place around the dates of Leeds and Reading Festival 2025, alongside looking at album release dates which may lead to promotional activity close to the festival to bring you our 13 'wildcard' picks for potential surprise guests at Leeds and Reading Festival 2025. As always, take this as speculative - and with a healthy dose of salt. 1 . The Ting Tings The Ting Tings are dropping their latest album, Home, in June 2025 and despite their last announced UK shows also being in June, the duo's relatively simple setup could make a surprise festival appearance a tempting way to re-engage with fans and promote their new music. Imagine the infectious energy of That's Not My Name and the fresh sounds of "Home" igniting a smaller stage for an unexpected indie-pop party. It's a plausible way for them to make a memorable festival moment. | MARCEL VAN HOORN/AFP/GettyImages Photo Sales 2 . Khruangbin Known for their mesmerizing instrumental grooves that blend funk, soul, and psychedelic rock, Khruangbin have UK dates sandwiching the Leeds and Reading weekend, playing in London on August 15th and Halifax on August 24th. Could they carve out some time to treat festival-goers to a secret set of their unique, worldly sounds? | Provided Photo Sales 3 . Maribou State With UK dates surrounding the Leeds and Reading weekend (August 22nd - 24th, 2025), including a show in Cardiff on June 25th and Margate on August 24th, could electronic music aficionados Maribou State be tempted to drop a surprise set? Their atmospheric soundscapes and captivating live performances would be a perfect addition to a smaller stage, offering a different vibe from the main headliners. | Rory Dewar Photo Sales 4 . Tom Grennan With his album releasing just a week before the festival and his own tour not kicking off until September, Tom Grennan becomes a strong contender for a surprise appearance. He'd be in peak promotional mode and available. His energetic performances and popularity in the UK would make him a fantastic addition to a smaller stage, showcasing his new material alongside fan favourites. This is definitely one to watch! | Michael Boyd Photo Sales
Scotsman
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Our 13 'wildcard' choices for musicians who could appear at Leeds and Reading 2025
Friends, festival-goers – lend me your ears! The run-up to Leeds and Reading Festival 2025 continues! As the sun shines down on most of the United Kingdom this week (and hay fever once again kicks in), our minds turn to the weather over the August Bank Holiday weekend , the dates for both Leeds and Reading Festival, alongside Creamfields 2025 for the dance music enthusiasts among us. With a fantastic line-up of acts already confirmed, speculation is rife about potential surprise appearances at various festivals this year. Whispers on Reddit and cryptic posts on social media are fuelling the rumour mill, as is typical in the month preceding Glastonbury, the lead in to the many UK summer festivals annually. But who are the 'wildcards' that could make a sneaky appearance at Richfield Avenue or Bramham Park ? We've examined Ticketmaster and a number of concerts taking place around the dates of Leeds and Reading Festival 2025, alongside looking at album release dates which may lead to promotional activity close to the festival to bring you our 13 'wildcard' picks for potential surprise guests at Leeds and Reading Festival 2025. As always, take this as speculative - and with a healthy dose of salt. 1 . The Ting Tings The Ting Tings are dropping their latest album, Home, in June 2025 and despite their last announced UK shows also being in June, the duo's relatively simple setup could make a surprise festival appearance a tempting way to re-engage with fans and promote their new music. Imagine the infectious energy of That's Not My Name and the fresh sounds of "Home" igniting a smaller stage for an unexpected indie-pop party. It's a plausible way for them to make a memorable festival moment. | MARCEL VAN HOORN/AFP/GettyImages Photo Sales 2 . Khruangbin Known for their mesmerizing instrumental grooves that blend funk, soul, and psychedelic rock, Khruangbin have UK dates sandwiching the Leeds and Reading weekend, playing in London on August 15th and Halifax on August 24th. Could they carve out some time to treat festival-goers to a secret set of their unique, worldly sounds? | Provided Photo Sales 3 . Maribou State With UK dates surrounding the Leeds and Reading weekend (August 22nd - 24th, 2025), including a show in Cardiff on June 25th and Margate on August 24th, could electronic music aficionados Maribou State be tempted to drop a surprise set? Their atmospheric soundscapes and captivating live performances would be a perfect addition to a smaller stage, offering a different vibe from the main headliners. | Rory Dewar Photo Sales 4 . Tom Grennan With his album releasing just a week before the festival and his own tour not kicking off until September, Tom Grennan becomes a strong contender for a surprise appearance. He'd be in peak promotional mode and available. His energetic performances and popularity in the UK would make him a fantastic addition to a smaller stage, showcasing his new material alongside fan favourites. This is definitely one to watch! | Michael Boyd Photo Sales
Sharjah 24
25-04-2025
- Sharjah 24
Young children turn into sleuths, cyber guardians at SCRF
'Each portal has a unique set of instructions. The aim is for children to see first-hand how weak or predictable passwords can be effortlessly broken by hackers,' explained Ikrim Aljuli, the workshop instructor and a computer engineering expert. 'What surprises us most is that while these children have grown up with tablets, many still struggle with the basic mechanics of using a laptop, mouse, and keyboard. It's a timely reminder that exposure to technology isn't the same as digital literacy.' In an era where children are digital natives, one might assume that today's youngsters are innately adept at navigating the perils of the online world. Yet, as the 16th edition of the Reading Festival reveals, there remains a critical gap in children's understanding of cyber security - a gap that this year's festival is working hard to bridge. When asked about the importance of teaching cyber security at such a young age, instructor Abdullah Rfare noted, 'Most kids have no idea how to protect their accounts. Through sessions like this, they learn to recognise signs of hacking and the importance of creating robust passwords. Instead of using '12345', they're encouraged to create complex passwords - blending letters, numbers, and special characters - which are much harder to crack.' The workshop took an ethical hacking approach, allowing children to adopt the persona of 'white hat' hackers - those who use their skills for good, in contrast to 'black hat' and 'grey hat' hackers. The session illustrated how quickly a simple password can be compromised: 'If your password is only six letters long, it can be cracked in just 11 hours. But a nine-character password? That could take a thousand years to break,' said Ikrim, as the children readied to test their new skills. The 16th edition of the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival is brimming with such workshops, each designed to make learning urgent topics both accessible and exciting for young minds. Running until 4 May at Expo Centre Sharjah, SCRF is free to attend and promises a wealth of experiences for families and educators alike. For more details, visit
