Reading Abbey Ruins

Reading Abbey Ruins is a large, beautifully conserved, ruined abbey in the centre of Reading. Founded by Henry I in 1121 and celebrated in RABBLE Theatre’s award-winning production of Henry I in 2016, in its heyday the abbey was one of Europe’s largest royal monasteries.

How to get there

Reading Abbey Ruins, is in the centre of Reading. The entrance and exit to the performance is via the Box Office off Chestnut Walk ONLY. Access to the venue is NOT available via Forbury Gardens. Our Stewards and Front of House team will be on hand to help direct you.

You may have to queue for admission to the venue and then the auditorium. Social distancing signage and designated queueing routes will be in place. You will be asked for the name the tickets were booked under and please be prepared to show your printed or electronic admission ticket at the Box Office if requested.

Travelling

Be sure to set aside more than enough time for your journey to the venue; if possible, walk or cycle at least part of the way. Check your route if travelling by public transport as this may have recently changed and please follow the government’s current Coronavirus safer travel guidance for passengers.

Walk/Cycle: theatre entrance and exit is off Chestnut Walk. Bikes can be brought into and secured within the venue.
Bus: Plan your journey with Reading Buses
Rail: Reading train station is a 10 min / 0.5 mile walk away, according to Google.
Car: There is no parking at all at the venue. The nearest blue-badge parking is available on The Forbury.

Opening times: Box Office and Doors

Reading Abbey Ruins will be closed to the general public before each performance.
The venue will open to theatre ticket holders 45mins before the performance starts:

Your ticket

Tickets must be purchased in advance.

What should I bring?

Please keep your belongings to an absolute minimum and with you at all times. The Abbey Ruins does not have any cloakroom facilities and we will not be able to look after any bags or luggage while you attend the performance.

Cashless

Please note that we are a cashless venue so all payments for programmes, refreshments and merchandise must be paid using a debit or credit card only.

Pre-show and interval refreshments

The RABBLE Bar will be open before the show and during the interval; offering a selection of cold soft drinks, snacks and some wonderful organic wines and beers. Drinks can be taken into the auditorium.

There are no stairs between the performance space and the bar. However, the ground is slightly uneven and there is a slope. It is accessible by wheelchair, but if you have any concerns, would like us to help you access the bar or bring a drink to you, then please get in in touch via our Contact Form or phone the Box Office on 07930 834 970 once you’ve booked your ticket.

Please do not bring your own food and drinks to the theatre, supporting the RABBLE Bar is another way you can directly support our theatre company. Transactions will be cashless and paperless, and there will be a one way system in place to help maintain social distancing while you are waiting at the bar.

Seating

Seating is unallocated. In exceptional circumstances you may be asked to change seats to accommodate an unforseen request for accessible seating. Please respect the instructions that our staff and volunteers give you regarding seating allocation.

Toilets

The Abbey Ruins have no permanent toilet facilities. RABBLE Theatre will provide portable toilets for audiences to use, including accessible facilities.

Face Coverings

We will be following the current Government guidelines regarding mask-wearing at the time of the performance. Even when it is not mandatory, you will be very welcome to wear your mask should you wish to.

What happens if I fall ill and can’t use my ticket?

If someone in your party is unwell we will ensure that you have maximum flexibility by allowing tickets to be exchanged up to 24 hours prior to the performance subject to availability – so if someone in your party feels ill, there’s no need to worry simply contact the Box Office straight away to give us the best opportunity to find you an alternative option.

Please do not attend the venue if you

believe you may be infected with COVID-19;
have experienced symptoms in the last 14 days;
have been in close proximity to anyone who has experienced symptoms in the last 14 days;
have arrived in England in the last 14 days and are not covered by the exemption rules relating to self-isolation; or
have been instructed to self-isolate.

Any individual who considers themselves to be clinically extremely vulnerable or who is in the same household or support bubble as someone who considers themselves to be clinically extremely vulnerable is advised not to attend.

Covid Safe Measures

We continue to follow government and industry COVID-19 guidelines, have Risk Assessments in place and a process to maintain cleanliness. We will take all reasonable measures to ensure your safety at the venue. These include:

Hand sanitiser will be provided for at the entrance, bar and toilets.
Toilets will be cleaned regularly.
Handrails throughout the theatre will be cleaned before and after every performance.
Staff and volunteers will be provided with necessary levels of protective clothing for their task.
All equipment and work surfaces will be regularly cleaned.

Pre-theatre Offers exclusive to RABBLE audiences

We’ve partnered with a number of local restaurants, cafes and bars to offer special deals for RABBLE audiences to complement your Theatre visit. To see current offers, CLICK HERE.

Special Notes

Please note that Reading Abbey ruins is an outdoor venue so come prepared for the weather.
In the event of heavy rain the show may be relocated; in light to medium rain, the show is expected to continue.

A decision will be made at least 2 hrs before the performance is due to start and alternative venue information will be shared via email and social media.

We do allow umbrellas but ask that they are not used in the auditorium as they may block the view for other audience members.

Photography & Video

Photography and video recording is not permitted in any of our venues, and please can we remind you to turn all phones and mobile devices off (not just silent) for the duration of all performances.

Accessibility

The Abbey ruins is accessible for wheelchair users and those with mobility issues via a sloping footpath from Chestnut Walk. If you require access for a wheelchair or mobility scooter please do contact us so that we can reserve a designated wheelchair space for you and seats for your party.

Disabled Toilets

There are no stairs between the performance space and the loos. However, the ground is slightly uneven and there is a slope. It is accessible by wheelchair, but if you have any concerns, would like us to help you access the bar or bring a drink to you, then please get in touch via our Contact Form or phone the box office on 07930 834 970 once you’ve booked your ticket.