# The Oracle, Reading > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Oracle,_Reading > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Oracle,_Reading.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Oracle%2C_Reading > Source revision: 1354631735 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For the 17th-century workhouse in Reading, Berkshire of the same name, see [Oracle (workhouse)](/source/Oracle_(workhouse)). **The Oracle** is a large indoor shopping and leisure mall on the banks of the [River Kennet](/source/River_Kennet) in [Reading](/source/Reading,_Berkshire), [Berkshire](/source/Berkshire), England. Partly on the site of a 17th-century [workhouse of the same name](/source/Oracle_(workhouse)), it was developed and is owned by [Hammerson](/source/Hammerson).[1][2] ## History The Oracle takes its name from the 17th century [Oracle workhouse](/source/Oracle_(workhouse)), which occupied part of the site and was built by funds from [John Kendrick](/source/John_Kendrick_(cloth_merchant)). In 1997, the property developer Hammerson acquired a 22-acre (8.9-hectare) site of largely derelict land immediately to the south of the town centre. Most of this site was previously occupied by [Simonds Brewery](/source/Simonds_Brewery,_Reading) (latterly owned by the [Courage](/source/Courage_(brewery)) brewing company) and by the [Reading Buses](/source/Reading_Buses) depot (formerly the Reading Corporation tram depot). The brewery had earlier relocated to a new site adjoining the [M4 motorway](/source/M4_motorway), whilst the bus depot was relocated to a location just west of the town centre as one of the first phases of the redevelopment. Hammerson's strategy was to create a combination of big-name retailers at the new centre, including a number of international retail banners fairly new to Britain. The merchandise mix had a strong emphasis on fashion and is slightly higher-end than the average for Reading's main street shops. Peter Cole, the development director for Hammerson said "We were looking to bring in a retail mix that would enhance what was already there – we wanted to get the right caliber retailers to suit the slightly higher-end shopping demographic of the area."[3] The main shopping malls comprising phase I of The Oracle were opened in September 1999, followed in November by the Riverside restaurants, pubs and cinema that made up phase II. Once phase I was complete, the way was open to relocate the Debenhams department store from its previous location on Broad Street into the centre. This in turn allowed for the redevelopment of the old Debenhams site as phase III of The Oracle, linked to phase I by a bridge over Minster Street. Phase III provided The Oracle with a direct link to [Broad Street](/source/Broad_Street,_Reading), and was opened in May 2000 by [The Princess Royal](/source/Anne,_Princess_Royal).[4] ## Stores and facilities The centre contains 90 shops, including [department stores](/source/Department_store) from [Next plc](/source/Next_plc) (136,000 square feet (12,600 m2)) and [House of Fraser](/source/House_of_Fraser) (150,000 square feet (14,000 m2)) chains. A third and larger department store, [John Lewis & Partners](/source/John_Lewis_%26_Partners) (formerly [Heelas](/source/Heelas_of_Reading)) is adjacent to the Minster Street entrance but not part of the centre itself. There are also 22 restaurants, cafés and bars along the riverside of the [Kennet](/source/River_Kennet), and an 11-screen [Vue](/source/Vue_(cinema)) cinema. The Oracle increases Reading's retail footage by one third, and it has attracted some retailers who would otherwise not have located in Reading. The Oracle Riverside area, with its restaurants and bars, spans [Brewery Gut](/source/Brewery_Gut), a particularly narrow stretch of the River Kennet. The layout allows space for outdoor tables, and there is granite stadium-style seating. Two bridges have been installed spanning the Kennet—Cooks Bridge, a straight footbridge which links The Riverside Car Park to [House of Fraser](/source/House_of_Fraser), and Delphi Bridge, an ellipse bridge providing access from the Vue cinema to [Debenhams](/source/Debenhams). The [Free Form Arts Trust](/source/Free_Form_Arts_Trust) were appointed as the arts agency, with responsibility for the appointment and contractual arrangements with artists. Specially commissioned artworks include the Crystal Beacon, a reflective translucent prism by Welsh artist [John Gingell](/source/John_Gingell_(artist)) that tops off the multistorey car park. The overall centre design concept was created by [Haskoll & Co](/source/Haskoll_%26_Co)., London. They were called in to design a "retail for leisure" concept, linking the site to a heritage trail around the town. The Oracle also provides two large car parks providing 2,300 spaces.[citation needed] ## Awards In 2002 Reading was named eighth best town centre in the country.[5] In 2007 the Oracle centre was ranked 16th in a league table of best performing retail centres in the UK compiled by economic analyst [Experian](/source/Experian). In a separate poll carried out by Verdict, Reading was placed 10th in the table of UK shopping destinations.[6] - 2000 [BCSC](/source/British_Council_of_Shopping_Centres) award for best new centre - 2001 [ICSC](/source/International_Council_of_Shopping_Centers) award for best International Shopping Centre[7] - Secure Car Park award 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 - [Loo of the Year Awards](/source/Loo_of_the_Year_Awards) 2001 and 2002[8] - 2003 BCSC Best Advertising Campaign - 2007 BCSC 'Established Centre' Gold Award[9] - ROSPA Gold Award 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 - Investors in People Award The Oracle was also ranked 16th in the UK by Experian in 2007 for top-performing retail centre. ## References in popular culture YouTuber and amateur pianist Joe Jenkins recorded a video titled 'Playing [MEGALOVANIA](/source/Megalovania) in a mall until someone asks me to stop'.[10] He lasted just under 2 hours until a security guard approached him and told him to stop. ## References 1. ["The Oracle, Reading"](https://www.hammerson.com/property/shopping-centres/the-oracle/). Hammerson. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190624141016/https://www.hammerson.com/property/shopping-centres/the-oracle/) 24 June 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 June 2019. 1. ["Owner of The Oracle in Reading buys out partner for £104.5m"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyzd3l3ddlo). *BBC News*. 2025-11-25. Retrieved 2026-05-17. 1. ["The Oracle helps define the future of shopping in Reading"](https://archive.today/20071023171906/http://icsc.org/srch/sct/current/sct0300/09.php). [ICSC](/source/International_Council_of_Shopping_Centers). Archived from [the original](http://icsc.org/srch/sct/current/sct0300/09.php) on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2008. 1. ["The Oracle – Useful Facts"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071208214745/http://www.theoracle.com/Website/ContentInstance.aspx?ParentSectionId=f6a520a3-ce0e-45b3-94c5-1c1131e2edd4&CurrentSectionId=26f9fc37-d212-4dfc-a9a1-e699c5ee4bd4&ContentInstanceID=e5401d15-8044-4def-93ca-a76730be54ac). Oracle Shopping Centre Limited. Archived from [the original](http://www.theoracle.com/Website/ContentInstance.aspx?ParentSectionId=f6a520a3-ce0e-45b3-94c5-1c1131e2edd4&CurrentSectionId=26f9fc37-d212-4dfc-a9a1-e699c5ee4bd4&ContentInstanceID=e5401d15-8044-4def-93ca-a76730be54ac) on 8 December 2007. Retrieved 12 February 2008. 1. ["Reading eighth top shopping hot spot"](http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/4/4331/reading_eighth_top_shopping_hot_spot). *[Reading Evening Post](/source/Reading_Evening_Post)*. 7 August 2002. Retrieved 3 February 2008. [dead link] 1. ["Battle to stay top of shops"](https://archive.today/20070423130407/http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/2015/2015699/battle_to_stay_top_of_shops). *[Reading Evening Post](/source/Reading_Evening_Post)*. 28 September 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/2015/2015699/battle_to_stay_top_of_shops) on 23 April 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2008. 1. ["European Awards Presented in Italy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071021131548/http://icsc.org/srch/sct/current/sct0501/page24.php). [ICSC](/source/International_Council_of_Shopping_Centers). Archived from [the original](http://icsc.org/srch/sct/current/sct0501/page24.php) on 21 October 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2008. 1. ["Loo of the Year Awards: Previous Winners"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080223143239/http://loo.co.uk/winners/2007/previous.php4). loo.co.uk. Archived from [the original](http://www.loo.co.uk/winners/2007/previous.php4) on 23 February 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2008. 1. ["Shopping centre wins gold award"](http://www.getreading.co.uk/business/2019/2019382/shopping_centre_wins_gold_award). *[Reading Evening Post](/source/Reading_Evening_Post)*. 20 December 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2008. [dead link] 1. ["Playing MEGALOVANIA in a mall until someone asks me to stop"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5bW9kOoMc0). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. 18 October 2019. [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/c5bW9kOoMc0) 2021-12-13 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 18 October 2019. ## External links - [Official website](http://www.theoracle.com/) - [Mall Guide](https://web.archive.org/web/20071208214848/http://www.theoracle.com/Website/Oracle_Mall_Guide.pdf) - [The Oracle Centre](https://web.archive.org/web/20080112091236/http://www.hammerson.com/pages/8/Portfolio+search.stm?property=4) at hammerson.com - [Assessing the Impact of Major In-Town Shopping Centres](http://centaur.reading.ac.uk/20871/) - [Public Art Strategy](https://web.archive.org/web/20040420220420/http://www.freeform.org.uk/PDF/Oracle_pai_screen.pdf) – Free Form --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Oracle, Reading](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Oracle%2C_Reading) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Oracle%2C_Reading?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.