Brunel Arcade, the old new Reading Station

[crablab]

The drawback however is that it just adds to the unloved, decaying and steadily emptying feeling that the Brunel Arcade has really.

One suspects given the attrition of tenants in the Brunel Arcade, Network Rail are keen to move forward with redeveloping the area (as indicated in the Local Plan).

 

[DelW]

There must be far more footfall past the retail kiosks on the transfer bridge than there is through the old Brunel Arcade area and eastern gateline. Even some of those kiosks seem (from unscientific observations) to have been untenanted at times, so it's unlikely there's much demand in the old arcade.

 

[MarkyT]

One suspects given the attrition of tenants in the Brunel Arcade, Network Rail are keen to move forward with redeveloping the area (as indicated in the Local Plan).

Makes sense. A decent-sized building could be placed on top to help pay for new booking hall and Railair facilities. NR could consider whether they still need the short-stay parking under the arcade. I'd say anyone in a car can just as easily go round to the northern entrance for short-term parking. A small pick-up/drop-off area could be retained on the surface in the new development.

 

[reddragon]

The M&S Simply Food in the old arcade has now permanently shut. Not too much of a PITA as the foodhall in the main store on Friar Street isn't too far away. Still a shame, mind. Used to use that quite a bit.

A new, bigger and better Sainsbury's local opened just outside of the station after which trade vapourised.

 

[LittleRedTrain]

I'd say anyone in a car can just as easily go round to the northern entrance for short-term parking. A small pick-up/drop-off area could be retained on the surface in the new development.

Being able to be dropped off underground proved very useful yesterday when the rain was absolutely torrential.

It's a shame that there isn't a proper covered walkway between drop off point and the station entrance on the north side.

 

[MarkyT]

Being able to be dropped off underground proved very useful yesterday when the rain was absolutely torrential.

It's a shame that there isn't a proper covered walkway between drop off point and the station entrance on the north side.

Something that could be remedied at a fairly low cost, I suggest.

 

[Jimini]

A new, bigger and better Sainsbury's local opened just outside of the station after which trade vapourised.

Aye true, that place gets the lion's share of the station footfall. Preferred the M&S offerings though. Like I said upthread, I'll just change up my plans to stop off at the M&S on Friar Street en route to the station

 

[peterson]

A recent local plan document included a line from the council stating that a planning application is expected this year for Brunel Arcade. So it must be fairly well advanced behind the scenes.

 

[Thames99]

The current building would have to be closed during contruction of a new building, so what would happen to the booking office? There are a couple of ticket machines in the entrance to the west of the pub, but no space for much more. I suppose some sort of temporary building would have to be built in the space in front of the station.

 

[fgwrich]

The current building would have to be closed during contruction of a new building, so what would happen to the booking office? There are a couple of ticket machines in the entrance to the west of the pub, but no space for much more. I suppose some sort of temporary building would have to be built in the space in front of the station.

Not just the booking office but there are a number of signing on / off points and Crew mess rooms / BTP office in Brunel Arcade too. However I can say from experience new offices would be welcome, we had all sorts of pluming related issues in our office over the years including sewage leaks and no hot water.

 

[MarkyT]

The current building would have to be closed during contruction of a new building, so what would happen to the booking office? There are a couple of ticket machines in the entrance to the west of the pub, but no space for much more. I suppose some sort of temporary building would have to be built in the space in front of the station.

Perhaps the W.H.Smith unit might be taken over for that while the glazed arcade and other structures are removed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Mar 2026 ==

Not just the booking office but there are a number of signing on / off points and Crew mess rooms / BTP office in Brunel Arcade too. However I can say from experience new offices would be welcome, we had all sorts of pluming related issues in our office over the years including sewage leaks and no hot water.

I suggest crew facilities might be more easily moved over to the north side of the station. Is there any use on the horizon for the old Royal Mail site?

 

[crablab]

Is there any use on the horizon for the old Royal Mail site?

Yes, an approved planning application: https://publicregister.reading.gov.uk/pr/s/planning-application/a0zP2000003LqUGIA0/pl182252

It's not moved forward after several years, so unclear what the current status is.

 

[Jimini]

Update on the deconstruction of the M&S store in the old arcade here (not my photo).

 

[davews]

Gosh, that was quick. No sign of anything on Monday.

 

[MasterPhillips]

Hotel Chocolat on the footbridge has closed, boots is closing tomorrow. Won’t be many shops left at this rate.

 

[irish_rail]

Hotel Chocolat on the footbridge has closed, boots is closing tomorrow. Won’t be many shops left at this rate.

Boots is quite a loss to me frankly. What is behind all these businesses abandoning Reading station? High rentals?

 

[yorksrob]

There must be far more footfall past the retail kiosks on the transfer bridge than there is through the old Brunel Arcade area and eastern gateline. Even some of those kiosks seem (from unscientific observations) to have been untenanted at times, so it's unlikely there's much demand in the old arcade.

Unsurprising - it was quiet even when it had the old footbridge into it.

 

[gswindale]

I used to find M&S quite useful. I work in Apex, and it was quite handy for a spot of lunch - particularly if it was raining, and unlike the main store, offered a meal deal.

Now, options are a little more limited, but the Sainsbury's in the old RBS site just round the corner is OK if the weather is fine.

 

[stuving]

Now, options are a little more limited, but the Sainsbury's in the old RBS site just round the corner is OK if the weather is fine.

Which is Brunel House, of course. Or it was for RBS; Sainsbury's seems to have dropped the name.

 

[Jimini]

Here’s the latest on the old M&S site, taken a short while ago. Completely flattened now.

 

[yorksrob]

I used to find M&S quite useful. I work in Apex, and it was quite handy for a spot of lunch - particularly if it was raining, and unlike the main store, offered a meal deal.

Now, options are a little more limited, but the Sainsbury's in the old RBS site just round the corner is OK if the weather is fine.

M&S are one of those companies that have managed to completely screw up their meal deal recently anyway as most of their sandwiches seem to be missing from it. The snack options aren't up to much either.

 

[crablab]

The short stay car park (underneath the Brunel Arcade) is now closed. I understand only temporarily?

 

[MasterPhillips]

The short stay car park (underneath the Brunel Arcade) is now closed. I understand only temporarily?

Yes it is only temporary. An over-height vehicle drove in to the car park and damaged something that was attached to the roof. I believe it was a duct, part of it fell of.

 

[crablab]

Yes it is only temporary

Shame.

 

[CarltonA]

Shame about the Boots on the bridge closing. Just spotted it cleared out this morning. You could get normally priced sandwiches and pop sometimes without the station - flation.

 

[Thames99]

The underground car park is still closed. After a few days of cars going down towards the entrance and then getting in each others' way trying to turn round, a barrier has been put across the road. A couple of chaps in hi-viz spend their day shooing cars away.

The repair seems to be quite time consuming. Maybe something is on order or being made to make the repair?

 

[Towers]

Shame about the Boots on the bridge closing. Just spotted it cleared out this morning. You could get normally priced sandwiches and pop sometimes without the station - flation.

Hotel Chocolat, too!

Smiths must be rather pleased - although I gather it’s probably all SSP anyway?

 

[davews]

The underground car park is still closed. After a few days of cars going down towards the entrance and then getting in each others' way trying to turn round, a barrier has been put across the road. A couple of chaps in hi-viz spend their day shooing cars away.

The repair seems to be quite time consuming. Maybe something is on order or being made to make the repair?

Yes I saw those men in hi-viz and the barriers which did not look very adequate, almost falling over. I see the area of the old M&S is a huge fenced off area of nothing now, what are they going to put there to replace it?

 

[CarltonA]

Some of the car park users were a bit dim-witted. They would drive on the wrong side of the road passing the coffee shop in the Apex building before turning into the car park. Occasionally there would be a face off with a bus or taxi or even a pedestrian!

 

[crablab]

Must say the arcade looks a whole lot better now that M&S has gone!