GENERAL INFORMATION
2012 Tickets
Tickets are now on sale. What are you waiting for?!
There is a maxiumum of 4 tickets per person/card/address for online sales and phones and 2 per person/card/address for walk in agents.
Ticket Instalment Plans are also available where you can pay smaller lump sums towards the final total. Click here to read more.
The following agents are our official websites, so please use them!
Online
SeeTickets, HMVtickets.com, Ticketmaster, NME.com, Ticketline, Gigantic, Stargreen, Ticketqueen, lastminute.com, National Express - coach & ticket packages, VoyagenBus.com (France only)
On the phone
0871 231 0821
Calls cost 10p per min plus network extras
In selected HMV stores
Leeds, Reading, Birmingham High Street, Birmingham Bull Ring, Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool, London Oxford Circus, London Trocadero, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Portsmouth, Southampton, fopp Manchester
In person
- The Hexagon, Reading [will also accept face value for cash]
- Selected HMV stores : Leeds Headrow, Reading Oracle, Birmingham High Street, Birmingham Bull Ring, Bristol Broadmead, Cardiff, Liverpool One, London Oxford Circus, London Trocadero, Newcastle, Nottingham Victoria Centre, Oxford, Portsmouth Commercial Road and Southampton
For our disabled customers, the 2 for 1 scheme will open on May 1st 2012. Applications cannot be submitted before this date. To be eligible for the scheme, you will need to buy your own ticket in advance. You will need your booking reference number in order to apply for a free ticket for a carer or PA.
Further information including all conditions of the scheme will be on the website from 1st March and the application form for the 2 for 1 scheme will be available from May 1st 2012.
Click below to read Festival Republic's Festivals & Events T&Cs:
- Ticket Terms and Conditions
- Conditions of sale
Age restrictions & I.D.
Please note that we do not admit unaccompanied under 16s. Under 16's must be accompanied by a ticket holder over 18 years old. Under 13 (12 and under) are admitted free, but MUST be accompanied by a ticket holding adult over the age of 18.
Please note that there is no separate children's area at this event and that there is NO Family Camping at the event either. White campsite has historically been our quiet campsite and so those who wish for somewhere away from the main hub may wish to cross the footbridge over the Thames and camp there.
Forms of ID we accept:
- A Portman Proof of Age Card
- Citizen Card
- Validate UK Card
- ProofGB
- Young Scot
- Full or Provisional photo card driving licence issued by the Driver and - Vehicle Licensing Authority
- Passport (with photo)
So you don't have to keep getting asked to prove your age, or to keep showing your ID, you are able to purchase an Over 18 wristband to wear for the weekend.
The Over 18 wristband tent will be open:
Wednesday 12pm-10pm
Thursday 10am–10pm
Friday 10am-10pm
Saturday 10am–10pm
Sunday 10am–9pm
New for 2012
In addition to the changes made last year, the following changes will be made:
- We’re installing more female urinals at the Lima Gate block in the Arena. Pick up some urinelles from Oxfam stewards.
- We’re improving the arena screens so more people can see them
- We’re improving the patrol staff in the arena and making them more visible
- We having more real ale on sale at some bars
- We are moving the R1NME stage forward for better sightlines, adding more pit staff and improving the lighting in there.
- We’re changing the way the queuing system works at both Silent Arenas. Look for signage and enjoy our late night entertainment!
- We are increasing the size of the orange camp silent arena tent.Animals
No animals are allowed onsite at all, with the exception of registered guide dogs.Cameras
Cameras are normally permitted for personal use. Cameras with telephoto lenses will not be allowed through the Arena entrance. Professional cameras and video/audio equipment are strictly prohibited. Live video/audio recordings made without the permission of the artiste/promoter are prohibited.Driving home
You are likely to get a lot less sleep on site than you would at home and so please ensure you have a good exit strategy with a sober and well rested driver by the time you come to leave the car parks. Do not let anyone drive that shouldn’t be as they are too tired, not yet sober etc. It is too risky. Coffee alone won’t do it. Please plan ahead and get home safely.Gate Managers
We have gate managers again this year at the wristband exchange tents and gates into the site. They are Festival Republic staff and they are there to ensure the gates operate at they should do. They are also there to answer any ticket and wristband enquiries that you may have. They will have day glo pink tabards on and so they should be quite visible.How to complain on site
There will be a complaints book in both the welfare tent in Yellow campsite and at both information tents (at road G4 and in the Arena) that you can write down any on site grievances that you have. This book will be given to us twice daily as routine, and any serious incidents that need immediate response will be reported to us on receipt of the complaint.
If you want to make a complaint about any event staff please come prepared with information that will help us identify them. We will need the following:
1. Tabard number (please also try and let us know the colour of the tabard)
2. Location of incident, please try and be specific, for example “by Fire tower Y2, by the Radio One tent” etc
3. Time of incident or what band was on at the time
4. Description of the staff member
5. Your concise and straight account of incident
6. And if possible a witness statement
Without these details we are unable to look into any incident as there is insufficient information.
Local residents
We are in a very urban area and the event can only continue with local support and so please do respect our neighbours and keep off site clean and quiet for them.Lost Property
When you report a lost item to Lost Property onsite, you will be issued with a festival lost property reference number.
Alternatively, if you have arrived home and found you are missing something, please email lostproperty@wavesltd.org with as much detail as possible with your details and we will get back to you as soon as we can, or write to the address below:
Waves, Reading 2011
PO Box 150,
Droitwich Spa,
WORCS
WR9 0WX
No aerosols
In addition to the gas and cylinder policy, for safety reasons we will also not be permitting aerosols over 250ml in size onto site. This is for the same reasons as above and please also help us with this and keep the campsites a safer place.No gas canisters or cylinders
Introduced in 2009, the safety of festival-goers is very important to us and banning gas canisters and cylinders worked very well, and we will continue it for 2012.
We suggest that if you want to cook outside your tent that you bring disposable BBQ’s only. They are also available at the local supermarkets. Anyone seen with canisters or cylinders will be ejected from site. Please help up with this, plan ahead and have a great camping experience.
The caravan and campervan ticket holders in white campervan field only will be permitted to bring in gas containers up to the limit of 3kg.
NOT ALLOWED:
GAS CANISTERS (any size)
NITROUS OXIDE
PETROL BURNER
ANY FORM OF AEROSOL OVER 250ml
ALLOWED:
SOLID FUEL STOVES
DISPOSABLE BARBEQUES
FIRELIGHTERS / FIRELIGHTER STOVES
METHYLATED / “TRANGIA” SPIRIT STOVES
We recommend the Green Heat base camp cookers and fuels. You can buy these from camping shops or online.
Opening Times
Campsite and Car Park Opening Times
Wednesday 22nd August 6pm for weekend ticket holders that have a pre-booked early bird ticket.
Thursday 23rd August 8am for weekend ticket holders
Day ticket holders can only enter on the day their ticket states - the arena will open from 11am.
Arena Opening Times
Friday 24th August - Arena opens 11am
Saturday 25th August - Arena opens 11am
Sunday 26th August - Arena opens 11am
Any changes to the running order are passed on to the Information Tents and will be published in locations onsite, e.g. the campsite zone managers' caravans.
Rivermead Centre - café, pool, showers
If you do want to get away from it all, the Rivermead Centre’s café, pool and showers are open to festival-goers from 8am - 3pm on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday for a small charge. There are no club nights there this year but their café does a fantastic fry up and is somewhere nice to sit in and get off the beaten track. The pool is also a great way to keep fit whilst on site.
Access to the centre is free and is via the Red wristband tent or O’Malley Alley and then in off Richfield Ave entrance.Site Map
The map below is the 2011 version. As soon as we have a 2012 version, we will upload this up for you to download before the event.Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in any of the public tents and this includes the big top tents in the arena – i.e. Radio One stage and others. Please take care to remember this when wandering around the arena.Confiscation Policy and Festival Terms & Conditions
Click below to read Festival Republic's Festivals & Events T&Cs:
- Ticket Terms and Conditions
- Conditions of sale
Do not bring drugs to the Reading Festival. You may be ejected from the event and may be handed over to the police.
Conditions of Entry
There will be NO RECEIPTS issued for any confiscated items. SO PLEASE DON’T BRING IT IF YOU DON’T WANT TO LOSE IT!
The following items may not be brought into the site through the campsite gates:
o Aerosols over 250ml
o Air horns
o Alcohol in the possession of under 18 year olds
o All gas canisters of any size (including nitrous oxide)
o Any goods for unauthorised trading
o Any goods with unauthorised Reading/Leeds Festival logos
o Any items which may reasonably be considered for use as a weapon
o Audio recorders
o Chinese lanterns
o Excessive amounts of alcohol
o Excessive amounts of cigarettes
o Excessive amounts of food
o Fireworks
o Flares
o Generators
o Glass bottles, jars, containers
o Illegal substances
o Legal highs
o Megaphones
o Portable laser equipment and pens
o Sound systems
o Unauthorised professional film or video equipment
o Unofficial tabards and reflective jackets
o Firewood and Alcohol after 6pm on Sunday evening only
All items will be confiscated.
You may be body searched at the entrances and upon exit from the festival site. This is in line with crime reduction strategies with Thames Valley Police.
Persons suspected of carrying items that may be used in an offensive or dangerous manner, or carrying out illegal activities onsite may also be searched.
As stated above, excessive amounts of food, cigarettes and alcohol will be refused entry to the site. Please only bring enough for personal consumption.
No animals are allowed onsite at all, with the exception of registered guide dogs.
In addition to the items not allowed into the campsite, there are additional items which will not be allowed through the Arena entrance.
Please see below:
o Cans
o Disposable BBQs and permitted cooking stoves (see below)
o Drinks bottles **
You can either take these items back to your tent or use the left luggage facility, depending on their monetary value. If you refuse to do either, these items will be confiscated.
** Sealed plastic water/soft drinks bottles 500ml and under and food for personal consumption may be brought into the arena.
Cameras are normally permitted for personal use. Cameras with telephoto lenses will not be allowed through the Arena entrance.
Professional cameras and video/audio equipment are strictly prohibited. Live video/audio recordings made without the permission of the artiste/promoter are prohibited.
You will be allowed to bring the following into the campsites:
o Aerosols less than 250ml
o Alcohol (not contained in glass bottles) in the possession of over 18yr olds
o Cans
o Disposable BBQs
o Firelighter stoves
o Fitted gas canisters/cylinders in campervans
o Flags
o Green Heat base camp cooker
o Methylated spirit stoves
o Solid fuel stoves
What you can and can't bring
Click below to read Festival Republic's Festivals & Events T&Cs:
- Ticket Terms and Conditions
- Conditions of sale
Do not bring drugs to the Reading Festival. You may be ejected from the event and may be handed over to the police.
Conditions of entry
There will be NO RECEIPTS issued for any confiscated items. SO PLEASE DON’T BRING IT IF YOU DON’T WANT TO LOSE IT!
The following items may not be brought into the site through the campsite gates:
o Aerosols over 250ml
o Air horns
o Alcohol in the possession of U18yr olds
o All gas canisters of any size (including nitrous oxide)
o Any goods for unauthorised trading
o Any goods with unauthorised Reading/Leeds Festival logos
o Any items which may reasonably be considered for use as a weapon
o Audio recorders
o Chinese lanterns
o Excessive amounts of alcohol
o Excessive amounts of cigarettes
o Excessive amounts of food
o Fireworks
o Flares
o Generators
o Glass bottles, jars, containers
o Illegal substances
o Legal highs
o Megaphones
o Portable laser equipment and pens
o Unauthorised professional film or video equipment
o Unofficial tabards and reflective jackets
o Firewood and Alcohol after 6pm on Sunday evening only
All items will be confiscated.
You may be body searched at the entrances.
Persons suspected of carrying items that may be used in an offensive or dangerous manner, or carrying out illegal activities onsite may be searched.
Excessive amounts of food, cigarettes and alcohol will be refused entry to the site. Please only bring enough for personal consumption.
No animals are allowed onsite at all, with the exception of registered guide dogs.
In addition to the items not allowed into the campsite, the following items will not be allowed into the arena through the arena entrance:
o Cans
o Disposable BBQs and permitted cooking stoves (see below)
o Drinks bottles *(other than sealed plastic water/soft drinks bottles under 500ml)
All items will be confiscated and not returned.
*Sealed plastic water bottles 500ml and under and food for personal consumption may be brought into the arena.
Cameras are normally permitted for personal use. Cameras with telephoto lenses will not be allowed through the arena entrance. Professional cameras and video/audio equipment are strictly prohibited. Live video/audio recordings made without the permission of the artiste/promoter are prohibited.
You will be allowed to bring the following into the campsites:
o Aerosols less than 250ml
o Alcohol (not contained in glass bottles) in the possession of over 18yr olds
o Cans
o Disposable BBQs
o Firelighter stoves
o Fitted gas canisters/cylinders in campervans
o Flags
o Green Heat base camp cooker
o Methylated spirit stoves
o Solid fuel stoves
Young children
We would suggest that this event is not suitable for young children. There are no facilities on site for them, nor any family camping area. Large crowds can be disorientating for adults, let alone for small children.