Click here to read the full information pages

The late night entertainment has been a very welcome addition to the event over the past couple of years and it is something we are keen to continue with to give you more to do in the after hours.  

The ever popular Silent Disco will run again til 3am on nights that the arena is open  And its location is yet to be anounced at this point in time.  

The Action Aid tent is back again for 2008 in the campsite and it opens at 3pm on Thursday 21st and runs til 3am each night. The Cinema tent and the Alternative tent in the arena are open until 4am and 3am respectively on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.  The funfair will also be back in the campsites.

The left luggage facility is open 24 hours from noon on Thursday to noon on Monday and is located at Reaper Bridge outside the Arena Entrance. This is also the point where any Lost Property found during the festival is sent.  

This year we have teamed up with Lockerhouse to make sure you can keep your belongings safe at Reading Festival. You get to keep a souvenir branded padlock after the event too! Book now, and be sure to keep your stuff safe all weekend. The lockers also have mobile phone charging facilities, which require 12v Car adapters/chargers.

IMPORTANT! - PLEASE NOTE: the locker sizes are 25cm wide x 15.5cm deep x 10cm high - so they are the right size for small valuables (mobiles, wallets, cameras). The Locker is used at Hirers own Risk

These are only available to Weekend Camping ticket holders.
Click here to buy lockers.

The address for queries for lost property post event will be available from the Left Luggage Tent onsite and will be posted on the website after the event.

In an Emergency please contact the nearest member of security or steward for help.

There is an onsite fire fighting team who are fully equipped to deal with any fires. There are fire observation towers located around the campsites and car parks. There are fire extinguishers located throughout the site and many of the stewards and security staff have been trained in fire safety in addition to the onsite fire fighting team.

Your campsite zone manager and the team of CAT people will also be easily available to help.

There are medics onsite who are fully equipped to deal with all situations.

The main medical centre is based at Piccadilly Circus. There is also a first aid point in the green campsite by Henry’s Gate and in white campsite. The medics also have roving patrols and provide an Accident and Emergency facility with full resuscitation, GP facilities and surgeries and psychiatric treatment.

There is an onsite Police Station in Piccadilly Circus staffed by Thames Valley Police throughout the event.

There will be a slight change to the on site police station set up this year and should you need to contact Thames Valley Police to report a non emergency crime whilst attending the Reading Festival please call 0845 8 505 505.  This is the police number for reporting non-emergencies and for giving information to Thames Valley Police on this number.

If it is an emergency always call 999.  It is an emergency if a crime is being committed, there is a risk of injury or a risk of serious damage to property.

The CATs are volunteers based in the festival campsites. The CATs have been working hard since 2003 - helping campers to get the most out of their festival.

The CAT volunteers are there to help you 24 hours a day. If you're having trouble putting up your tent, need directions, are concerned about a group or an individuals behaviour, need a UV pen to mark your belongings, would like to complain about a build-up of litter, or let us know about facilities which require attention – please contact a CAT volunteer – they'll do their best to help!

You can contact the CAT volunteers via the campsite offices – these are located centrally within each campsite zone, if you can't find a campsite office - head towards your nearest fire tower - they'll be able to provide directions.

There are also Helpful Arena Teams (HATs) to answer any questions, please use them!

If you're interested in volunteering to be a CAT/HAT please visit: www.DCSiteServices.com/CATs/

Or email CATs@DCSiteServices.com

To go straight to the application please visit: https://dcss.paamapplication.co.uk/

In 2006, we stepped over the Thames to North of the river for the first time and created our Quiet Campsite. weekend ticket holders can also camp here, but if you are bringing a car, you must have previously purchased a white car pass to park here. There are a couple of food traders and a bar based here open 23 hours a day.

Some of you will have experienced problems with the free shuttle boat service again last year that bought people to and from white to the main site. and so this year we have completely revamped the service, adding more landing stage and boats and improved it a great deal.  We will post peak times to avoid queueing in advance on the website so that you can plan your day in advance and aim to beat the queues.

The campsite offices are based in caravans in each zone. They are open 24 hours and they are the bases for the Zone Managers, the CAT teams and DC campsite staff and they are also where the gas canister/aerosol exchange points are located. Please talk to the team in your campsite and get to know them.

Use them for getting any information you may need. They will also be patrolling and watching out for anything untoward in the campsites so please help them.

Forget battling with pegs and poles and hunting for friends, book a ready pitched and fully equipped tent and let someone else do all that work for you.  A bit of extra festival luxury without burning a hole in your pocket. 

From only £52.50* per head for the whole weekend you have access to:
- Entrance to the Tangerine Fields
- Exclusive use of hot showers and toilets...just for our customers
Our staff will be on hand over the weekend to help you with any problems

(*based on 2 persons sharing, does not include festival ticket.)

Choose from 2, 4 and 6 man tents and the sleeping essentials.  We're the most eco-option going.  Everything gets cleaned and re-used, except sleeping bags which are passed onto various local and national charities.

In the Tangerine Field, we'll also have tipis and podpads if you’re looking for something a bit different for the weekend.  Visit www.tangerinefields.co.uk for more information and bookings for tipis and www.podpads.com

Tangerine Fields is only available in white campsite.

Please note: Booking a VIP camping package does not include the weekend ticket - You must have already booked these.

myhab is here!

These 2 person myhabs are the exciting new eco-friendly way to stay at festivals. 

YOU BOOK. WE SET UP. YOU USE. WE TAKE DOWN. WE RECYCLE.

The award winning design uses recyclable plastic and reinforced waterproof cardboard to create a sturdy, spacious, comfy, and importantly green alternative to a tent.

Why is it better than a tent?

- We set up and take it down, so all you have to do is turn up and have a good time!
- myhabs are situated within ‘myvillage’, an exclusive area for you and other myhabers.
- The area comes complete with well maintained toilets and showers and on-hand staff
- Built in locker to keep your valuables safe
- Very spacious, comfy double bed
- myhabs are raised off the ground
- You can personalise the myhab by creating your own festival character online

Intrigued? Check out more at:   www.myhab.com

This year we have teamed up with Lockerhouse to make sure you can keep your belongings safe at Reading Festival. You get to keep a souvenir branded padlock after the event too! Book now, and be sure to keep your stuff safe all weekend. The lockers also have mobile phone charging facilities, which require 12v Car adapters/chargers.

IMPORTANT! - PLEASE NOTE: the locker sizes are 25cm wide x 15.5cm deep x 10cm high - so they are the right size for small valuables (mobiles, wallets, cameras). The Locker is used at Hirers own Risk

These are only available to Weekend Camping ticket holders.

We have written new terms and conditions for anyone planning to bring a campervan or caravan to the event to sleep in and please see the campervan section for those. It basically means that you can only bring proper sleeping vehicles to the event to sleep in. No white vans or any other vehicle that simply has a mattress in will do!

All campervans and caravans will be going into the white campsite again this year, not red.

PDF Click here for the Terms & Conditions

Book online here

GIVE ME SHELTER: Your TENT could change lives...

Every year thousands of tents get dumped or trashed. But these tents could change lives in desperate situations worldwide. Together with the charity Global Hand, we're making this happen. At this year's Leeds festival, take your tent, sleeping bags and wellies to one of the collection points before you leave. And make sure you get your mates to do the same.

Your festival kit could help:
•  Give shelter for families caught up in disasters such as earthquakes, famine and conflict
•  Give children from impoverished backgrounds the chance to have fun at a summer camp
•  Give emergency staff shelter and storage space for vital medical and educational materials 

Don't dump it. Don't destroy it. Donate it

IMPORTANT: NEWS ABOUT YOUR TENT!
We need you to take down your tents and hand them in. It is simply impossible for us to take down so many tents. We will, however, check all tents handed in. If they are good quality, they will be distributed to people in need, locally and in many places on the planet.

Tents left standing will go to landfill and damage our environment:
So, don’t leave your tent. Pack it. Hand it in. Change lives!

The CATs are volunteers based in the festival campsites. The CATs have been working hard since 2003 - helping campers to get the most out of their festival.

The CAT volunteers are there to help you 24 hours a day. If you're having trouble putting up your tent, need directions, are concerned about a group or an individuals behaviour, need a UV pen to mark your belongings, would like to complain about a build-up of litter, or let us know about facilities which require attention – please contact a CAT volunteer – they'll do their best to help!

You can contact the CAT volunteers via the campsite offices – these are located centrally within each campsite zone, if you can't find a campsite office - head towards your nearest fire tower - they'll be able to provide directions.

The Helpful Arena Temas (HATs) are also around to answer your questions, please use them!

If you're interested in volunteering to be a CAT/HAT please visit: www.DCSiteServices.com/CATs/

Or email CATs@DCSiteServices.com

To go straight to the application please visit: https://dcss.paamapplication.co.uk/

If you go by authorised coach you will be dropped off and picked up at the Rivermead Centre, by Red Gate.

See Tickets are selling a combined event/coach package ticket that will also get you straight to the site in the red campsite.  Buy tickets here

National Express is making travel simpler by providing dedicated services directly to the gates of Reading and Leeds Festival sites. The fun begins from the moment you get on a coach with like minded festival goers. Someone else can do all the driving so all you need to do is sit back, relax and soak up the atmosphere. And just so you know you're doing your bit for the environment, your journey generates less than 10% of CO2 of those who travel by car.
 
Services for both festivals are available from all major towns and cities and much more. Simply click on the National Express logo to book your travel.
or call the booking line on 08717 81 81 81 (£1 booking fee applies)

National Express offer award winning coaches with wheel chair access.
Disabled customers should call 08717 818 179 to make arrangement for their journey.

For those with hearing difficulties the National Express Minicom line is
0121 455 0086.

Car sharing will help save you money by splitting the petrol costs, reducing the amount of congestion on the roads leading into the festival, and getting you onsite quicker. Of course by car sharing you’ll also be kinder to the environment by reducing fossil fuel use and CO2 emissions. If you have to come by car to the festival because the bus or train just won’t work for you, please try and fill up all the seats in your car.

So Double Up & Cut Down …  if you’ve got to drive, offer a lift to fill up your free seats.

Below are two schemes you can join. Have a look through them and see which one suits you. 

  

SAFETY FIRST

Please read this practical safety guide on liftsharing put together by A Greener Festival: www.agreenerfestival.com/Lift_Sharing.pdf 

•           Please note that all arrangements which you make are private arrangements between you and other sharers. The Festival does not arrange lift sharing or have any liability to or for lift sharers.
•           Make sure you know the identity of the person or persons you are sharing with.
•           Having a home telephone number is sensible precaution and make sure you leave details of the lift share, the driver and passenger's number(s) and home address if possible with friends and/or family.
•           Take your mobile phone with you.
•           If you are at all uncomfortable with any arrangements, or the condition of the vehicle being used, then make other plans.
•           If a vehicle is not taxed it is possible the driver has no driving license, no insurance and no MOT.
•           Safety first: trust your instincts and use common sense.

All festival car park passes must be booked in advance and passes are strictly limited.  Car parking will be in nearby fields and a park and boat service will run between the Green and White car parks and the festival site.

There is NO orange car park this year and so the only two public car parks are the White and Green car parks.

Only cars arriving at the car parks with an official car-parking pass will be allowed to park in the official festival car parks.  
We are assigning ticket holders the best car park for your journey and are thereby working to cut traffic going through Reading town centre, Caversham, and down Richfield Avenue to the event itself.

See Tickets and Ticketmaster are set up so that people buying tickets from them will do the following:

- any vehicles coming from the West/M40, North West/Birmingham etc should go to white car park
- any vehicles coming from the East/North East/London/M1/M25 etc should go to Green car park
- All campervans and caravans will go to white (not red anymore)
- all day ticket holders will go to Green car park
You will be sent your car pass nearer the time and the directions will be printed on it for you.  Follow the colour-coded signs to your car park.

To book your car park pass go to Book Tickets section of website.

This has now moved from outside orange gate and it is now at Kings Meadow/green car park.  Follow the AA road signs to the pick up/drop off point.  Once at Kings Meadow you should follow the signs to the boats and get the free shuttle boat service to the site. 

Orange Gate
There will be no public first entry at orange gate and so you must first be wristbanded at another gate before you will be allowed entry at orange gate.

There will be a £10 charge for bringing your campervan to the festival Campervan passes will be strictly limited and the access to the site with a campervan will be via White Gate this year again.

Campervans will NOT be permitted access into Red Gate, by the Rivermead Centre. The exact directions to White Gate will be on the back of the campervan/caravan pass that we will send you nearer the event and on the AA road signs. Please note that we have revised the terms and conditions for access into the campervans field. 

PDF Click here for the T&Cs 

There are Reading Bus shuttle buses that run from the train station to the site.  

Reading Shuttle Buses
READING - CAVERSHAM ROAD   98 Service

Wednesday 20th August 2008

From Reading Station 1400 1420 1440 1500 1520 1600 1610 1620 1630 1640 1650 1700 1710 1720 1730 1740 1750 1800

Caversham Road 1420 1440 1500 1520 1600 1620 1630 1640 1650 1700 1710 1720 1730 1740 1750 1800 1810 1820

Reading Station 1440 1500 1520 1540 1600 1620 1640 1650 1700 1710 1720 1730 1740 1750 1800 1800 1820 1830 1840

Thursday 21st & Friday 22nd August 2008

Reading Station                           0700  0710   and every  1800
Caversham Road                        0720  0730    10 mins    1820
Reading Station                           0740  0750     until          1840

Monday 25th August 2008

Reading Station                            0700  0710   and every  1420 1430 1440 1450 1500
Caversham Road,                         0720  0730    10 mins    1440 1450 1500 1510 1520
Reading Station                            0740  0750     until          1500

Please see their website for further information  - www.Reading-buses.co.uk

You can walk to site from Reading station which is approximately a 15 minute walk from the site, but if you prefer you will be able to get a shuttle bus as Reading Bus shuttle buses will take you from the station to the site and back.  Please see their website www.reading-buses.co.uk for further information and their timetable.

See also information on the Plus Bus scheme whereby you can buy your bus ticket at the same time that you buy your train ticket - http://www.plusbus.info/

Train times, prices and availability are available from the following sources –

1.       National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or www.nationalrail.co.uk .  We suggest that you use National Rail to ask about any planned engineering works too.

2.       First Great Western on 08457 000 125 or www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

3.       South Eastern Railway on www.southeasternrailway.co.uk.

4.       Cross Country Trains on www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk

5.       Virgin Trains on www.virgin.co.uk or 08457 222 333.

For more local information, you could also get a timetable from your local railway station. Network Rail also have a helpline number 08457 11 41 41

For those coming from the South East, Reading Station is 35 minutes by train from Paddington or 80 minutes by train from Waterloo.

Tilehurst Stn is approx 25 mins walk from the site. Thames Trains run from Tilehurst to Oxford, Slough and Paddington with stops or connections to many other destinations. For bookings call Thames Trains on 08457 300 700 www.thamestrains.co.uk

Anyone wanting to bring their private coach to the Festival must apply via email to coaches@readingfestival.com .

Please note all persons must have valid standard tickets.

It is free to bring a coach to Reading Festival. You will be sent further routing and gate information nearer the event via email.

Private Coaches will park in a public car park and should arrive at gate - TBC

DEADLINE FOR EMAIL APPLICATIONS: July 1st 2008

GREEN SHUTTLE BOATS (TO AND FROM GREEN CAR PARK AND TESCOS’ AT KINGS MEADOW)
This year we have again increased the amount of boats  on the Green shuttle boats service.  This service runs from Kings Meadow car park (Green car park) and goes straight to and from site and takes about 5 mins on the river. It's free and the service starts when the campsites open and runs through until campsites close on Monday lunchtime. On Wed for Early Birds ticket holders only the service runs til midnight.
On Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun it runs from 8am til 1am. 
On Monday it runs til after lunch.Last year we had two boats on at peak times and this year we will be adding a third to give an even better service.

WHITE SHUTTLE BOATS (TO AND FROM WHITE CAR PARK AND CAMPSITE)
In 2007 we know that some of you still experienced problems getting between the white car park/campsite and the main site.  We are currently working on a much improved system, as we know it caused problems last year, and so please watch this space as there will be more information to follow as we confirm it.  Rest assured that whatever we will do it will be very, very easy to get to and from White this year. We are planning to add more landing stages as well as more boats.

Walking or riding your bike to the festival will obviously put out the least amount of CO2 emissions, but that’s not practical for everyone. If you’re looking for motorised transport, travelling by coach to the festival is by far the lowest impact way to travel if you are looking to reduce your carbon footprint in association with attending the festival. Train is the next best option in terms of CO2 emissions.

If you travel alone to the festival by car, you are emitting approximately TEN TIMES the amount of CO2 than if you travelled to the festival by bus and three and a half times as much as if you travelled by train.

Coming to the festival by coach or train will not only reduce total CO2 emissions, it will also help to reduce congestion in the carparks and on the surrounding roads.

If you have to come by car because the bus and train just won’t work for you, please try and fill up all the seats in your car. As an example, if you are driving an average sized petrol car, having four people in it will bring your impact down to just a bit more than travelling to the festival by train, and just under twice as impactful as travelling by coach. So it really does make a difference if fill up all the seats.

_____________

Figures for these calculations were taken From DEFRA July 2007 Report: Passenger Transport Emissions Factors. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/envrp/pdf/passenger-transport.pdf 

Car Travel (average sized petrol car)
- 335 gram C02 per mile (1 passenger)
- 167.5 grams CO2 per passenger mile (2 passengers)
- 83.75 grams CO2 per passenger mile (4 passengers)

Train Travel (National Rail diesel trains – average passenger numbers per annum)
- 96.32 grams per passenger mile

Coach Travel (Annual average figures of coach types and carriageways)
- 32.88 grams CO2 per passenger mile

Food for personal consumption only may be brought into the arena. There are plenty of outlets on site selling food & drink. No glass is permitted anywhere in the campsites or arena. Only sealed plastic bottles of water under 500ml size will be permitted into the arena.

The following items may not be brought into the arena: Cans, Alcohol, opened plastic bottles, Illegal Substances, Portable Laser Equipment and Pens, Unauthorised Professional Film or Video Equipment, Audio Recorders, Fireworks and Flares. All Items will be confiscated. Water points on site are drinking water safe.

There are several bars onsite. They are all cash only. Bar staff will ask for proof of age ID whenever the customer appears to be under 18. Proof of the attainment of 18 years of age will be required before you are able to buy alcohol.

If there is any doubt as to the age of the customer they will be refused service. The onus is on the individual to demonstrate unequivocally that they are 18 years old or over and if the individual cannot do so they will not be served. Proof of the attainment of 18 years of age will be required before you are able to buy alcohol. This must be evidenced by a Portman Proof of Age Card, Citizen Card, valid UK Card or by a full or provisional photo card driving licence issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority or by a passport.

A new Aldi store in the Vastern Court Retail Park in Reading (close to the Festival Area) will open on 24 July 2008.

Caversham Road, Vastern Court, RG1 8AL

On Richfield Avenue go left towards Caversham Road, at the roundabout turn right. The store is about 400 yards down the road at the big roundabout

Festivals are full of young, fun loving and like-minded people but beware they are also an easy patch for career criminals and opportunists who know how festival goers tick, and the Reading Festival is sadly no exception and so please read through the advice below and plan ahead for the event.
Festival Republic, the Reading Festival organisers, and Thames Valley Police (TVP) have teamed up together to provide information to both festival goers and parents alike that may help those who will be attending the Reading  Festival this year.

There will be a slight change to the on site police station set up this year and should you need to contact Thames Valley Police to report a non emergency crime whilst attending the Reading Festival please call 0845 8 505 505.  This is the police number for reporting non-emergencies and for giving information to Thames Valley Police on this number.

If it is an emergency always call 999.  It is an emergency if a crime is being committed, there is a risk of injury or a risk of serious damage to property. 

For 2008 TVP Crime Reduction Advisor John McNicholas has set up a specially created e-mail address that festival-goers and parents can use in advance of the show, as well as during, to seek receive further advice from police officers who will actually be attending the event.
Emails to readingfestival@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk will go directly to the TVP team who will be policing the festival.

TVP have for many years had, as part of their large on and off site operation, a fully functioning on site police station, which is based at Piccadilly Circus, and this will again operate during the event for anyone wishing to use it.

As with each year, we are all keen to ensure that the festival goers do what they can to prevent themselves from becoming a victim of crime and we have compiled the following festival savvy tips – some tips probably wouldn’t work anywhere else but at a festival!

1. VALUABLES
Quite simply – please DON’T BRING THEM!  Don’t be flash.  Ipods, MP3 players etc - you don’t need them here – there is enough going on for you to be entertained without them.
If you have to bring them please use the left luggage facility or new lockers rather then store them in your tent.
Campsite Assistance Teams (CATs) in the campsites have UV pens that you can use to write your postcode or name onto any valuables for easy identification.
Split your cash and cards into two hoards so that if one lot goes – you have back up
Don’t carry anything valuable in your programme pouch or on a lanyard – unless it is kept hidden under a shirt or jumper.
Don’t carry anything in back pockets – the event is busier than Oxford Street, especially at the stages, and chances are you have had a drink and so you will be less aware than usual and pick pockets love it.  Pockets with zips are better.
Don’t leave anything valuable in your car – maybe go and check on your car twice during the show?  Shuttle boats are free for off site car parks and the trip on the river is very nice.    Leave your glove compartment empty and also open.

2. CAMPSITES
If you have any concerns about your safety in the campsites camp somewhere well lit, go near a fire tower or by your zone managers caravan.
Introduce yourself to campsite staff, show them where your tent is, stick a funny flag on it so it’s easy for them to see, and ask them to keep an eye out.  They will.
Introduce yourself to your neighbours and set up a neighbourhood watch system, it may sound naff but experience shows that the best and friendliest campsites are the ones with people in that make the effort to do so.  More friends to party with too.
Report anything or anyone suspicious to campsite staff – you can do this anonymously if you wish and that is what the staff are there for.
Don’t put a padlock on your tent as this will invite thieves.
Don’t bury your valuables by your tent as someone is bound to be watching.

3. PERSONAL SAFETY
Make sure your mobile is charged up on a daily basis - in the early afternoon - so that it is ok for the night when it’s dark, the stages get busy and you are more likely to lose each other.  Traders sell battery operated phone charges if you need them.  Ask at the information tent (on road G4) for exact locations of these traders.  Plan ahead.  Festival time is slow and it can take a long time to get from A to B.
Keep your phone well hidden – how annoying would it be to lose all your contacts?
Stay in groups and be tolerant of friends slowing you down.
At night stay on the main roads in the campsites – don’t go exploring darker, quieter areas –you can do that in the day
Arrange an easy meeting point with your mates before you get to the event and also three times a day (eg.  2pm, 6pm and 1am) that you will be there if you get split up.  No one likes to be left to have fun on their own for long.
If you do become a victim of crime – DO NO RESIST – give them what they want and make sure you get a good look at them or their clothes, so that when you report them we have a good head start.  Also, make a note of exactly where you are if you can – look out for loos, fire towers, unusual tents, what colour the bunting is and what the road name is etc
The welfare tent is there for you on road G4, as is the onsite police station at Piccadilly Circus.  These facilities are there to help you if you need it.
If you have an incident with a security guard, steward or any other member of our staff that you want to tell us about – please make a note of their tabard number, or the name on their pass.  Without this information we can do very little as identifying them without this number or name is very difficult.
Please don’t be alarmed by our advice – just be warned that it does happen to some people and we don’t want it to be you.  Plan ahead.
Oh, and have the most memorable festival of your life for all the right reasons!

Further Crime Reduction advice can be found at the Thames Valley Police website at http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/reduction/index.htm

"Car Keys, Cash Credit Cards, Mobile Phones, Wallets, Purses and other valuable items should be kept with you at all times. Do not leave them in unattended vehicles or tents.

Large Gatherings of people such as this can provide easy pickings for thieves. If you present them with easy opportunities they will take them. If you are reporting the theft of a mobile phone you will be required to first contact your network provider and have the handset blocked. This will ensure that its use will be blocked across all UK networks even if the SIM card is changed, and will render it useless to the thief. A list of contact numbers for UK network providers is available at the Information and Welfare Tent."

Thames Valley Police have an onsite police station based at Piccadilly Circus should you need to report a crime. There will be a slight change to the on site police station set up this year and should you need to contact Thames Valley Police to report a non emergency crime whilst attending the Reading Festival please call 0845 8 505 505.  This is the police number for reporting non-emergencies and for giving information to Thames Valley Police on this number.

If it is an emergency always call 999.  It is an emergency if a crime is being committed, there is a risk of injury or a risk of serious damage to property. 


Please use the lockers and left luggage point near Reaper Bridge to store your belongings.

The dealing in or use of illegal drugs is not condoned by Festival Republic. It is illegal to take, to buy or to sell drugs. Drug enforcement laws are as applicable on site as anywhere else in the country. If you deal in drugs, it is likely that you will be arrested via security and handed over to Thames Valley Police.

There are covert police and security onsite who will take action as appropriate.

Neither anti-social nor illegal behaviour will be tolerated and participants will leave themselves liable for eviction from the site. Experimenting with drugs can lead to adverse reactions.

Drugs can kill. The crowds and the sheer size of the festival can be very frightening and disorientating and taking drugs could spoil your enjoyment of the event. If you do take drugs and you become ill, depressed or frightened please ask a steward to direct you to one of the many facilities on site which can help and support you, like our welfare tent on road G4.

You may be body searched at the entrance. Persons suspected of carrying items which may be used in an offensive or dangerous manner, or carrying out illegal activities within the arena or other parts of the site may be searched.

No fires are allowed in the main arena at all and we are likely to be prosecuted for any seen and so please help the event by just having your campfires in the campsites where they belong.

Bonfires are not permitted anywhere.
Anyone seen creating a bonfire or a fire in the arena will be subject to being evicted from the site on the spot.

Campfires ie. a small fire that is below knee-height, less than one-pace wide and made of clean fuel, will be allowed in the campsite, provided they are looked after responsibly and should not be in a position that is a danger to any structure or person and not blocking any roads. They will be monitored and will be put out if they exceed these limits.

We have a firewood trader onsite so that you can buy clean wood for your small campfires.

Burning tents, metal poles, wellies, sleeping bags etc is not only dangerous, but produces toxic fumes. Please do not burn them when we can put them to good use in the future by donating them to Globalhand charity.

Anyone evicted for anti-social behaviour such as deliberately starting large bonfires, throwing missiles at staff or throwing gas canisters or aerosols on fires will receive a lifetime ban to all festivals that Festival Republic and Live Nation promote including Glastonbury and Download.

Their details will also be passed on to Thames Valley Police.

Click here if you would like to join the growing numbers supporting the Love Not Riots campaign

There is an on site hospital that is based by Lima Gate and just off Piccadilly Circus that is open to the public from 9am Thursday, 24 hours a day, until 12 noon on Bank Holiday Monday.  You can go here for any medical issues that you may have and if they cannot treat you here they may, if appropriate, arrange a transfer for you to the local hospital.

Please do use this on site hospital though, rather than go direct to the local hospital (Royal Berkshire), as on site they have a huge range of services and staff including - A&E doctors, ITU nurses, paramedics, psychiatry including specialists in drug misuse, dispensary with qualified pharmacists, physiotherapy, podiatry and emergency dentistry etc

They are also equipped to provide resuscitation, minor casualty, general practice/first aid and assessment/observation facilities with transfer to definitive care as required.

There are two first aid points in the campsites – one in green campsite by Henry’s Gate and the other one in white campsite.

The arena has a roving patrol of paramedics and first aiders and you can also go to the main hospital from the arena by accessing it through their gate next to Lima Gate.

Ever had someone's boot in your face while trying to watch your favourite band? Not much fun is it?

Please don't crowd surf at this year's festival Not only could you hurt yourself but you may injure someone else and ruin their weekend too.You will be ejected from the festival if you're found to be persistently crowd surfing.

Between us we have made massive progress in capturing any unwanted gas canisters and aerosols from the campsites during and after the show and last year we have had about 3,000 handed in by you, which is fantastic.  When the canisters are handed in to the campsite zone managers caravan they in return then give back a raffle ticket which also means that every day some very lucky people win tickets to Reading and Glastonbury 2008 as a result of winning the raffle.  Winners names are announced from the main stage each night. 

The canisters don’t need to be empty, they can be any sort of canister or aerosol,  and you can hand them in at any time 24 hours a day  to the campsite zone managers caravan whilst the campsites are open – including Bank Holiday Monday morning to enter the Monday raffle draw.  

Whilst packing up to leave  have a quick scout around you and see if there are any lying around that others have left and take them to the caravan and enter the draw that way! 

This is a scheme that we are very keen to develop as every canister handed in means that there is one less for idiots to throw on fires for dangerous effect.  In 2005 an innocent victim suffered serious and permanent disfigurement when a gas canister was thrown on a fire near him and this is something that we have to stop.  

We have upped our zero tolerance campaign on this type of behaviour this year and anyone seen to have, or even thought to have, thrown a canister or can on a fire will be evicted from the festival immediately.  We have added a second ejection tent in the brown campsites in order to eject people behaving inappropriately from the campsites for this reason.  We are also adding further CCTV cameras and staff with headcams who will be evidence gathering. 

You can also help us further by reporting any concerns that you have about the campsites and other campers by talking to the zone manager in your campsite.  They will watch over anyone that has been reported to them and you will not be identified at any point without your consent.

Let’s make 2008 the best year yet in terms of safe campsites and please also see the Love Not Riots button on this website for further information. 

Gas canister and aerosol exchanges points will be set up in the campsites at your zone managers caravan. When you hand them in, you have a chance to win the mother of all Festival competitions!

If you must bring gas to the festival please follow the guidelines below:
•  Before coming to the festival have your equipment serviced.
•  Never light a gas cooker inside your tent.
•  Always store any spare canisters out of doors.
•  "EMPTY" canisters and aerosols may not be completely empty. When you've removed it from your stove store it upright outside your tent for a while to allow any gas that may be in it to evaporate before bringing it to the gas canister exchange at your campsite zone managers caravan where it will be disposed of safely. A system will be in place to swap empty gas canisters and aerosols for a voucher for a competition to win free tickets to many of next years festivals.
•  Never change gas cylinders inside your tent.
•  Never hold gas cylinders upside down when changing.
•  Never use a naked flame to search for a leak.
•  NEVER put a camping gas cylinder on a fire or try to heat it artificially. This can prove fatal. Anyone seen doing so, or even thought to have done so, will be evicted from site.
•  Check the colour of the flame: If the flame is burning blue it's fine. If it's burning with an orange or yellow flame or is creating sooty stains on your stove you may have a problem with your stove, don't use it.
•  Never attempt to refill a gas canister.
If you smell gas or think you have a leak turnoff if possible. Evacuate the area and get help from a steward or on site fire team.
Remember the zone managers and on-site fire team are there to answer your questions.

You must get everyone out of the tent, evacuate the area as quickly as possible and get help from the nearest steward or security who will call the onsite Fire Team.

In the campsites you can go to the nearest Fire Tower (situated in the campsites and easily visible). In the unlikely event that you cannot find a member of security or steward nearby then please dial 999.

You may discover a fire in its very early stages and think that you can deal with it yourself. The first thing that you should remember is that fire spreads very quickly. Even a small contained fire can quickly spread, producing smoke and fumes which can kill in seconds.

If you are in any doubt do not tackle the fire, no matter how small. You can put yourself at risk by fighting the fire. If in doubt, get out, get the onsite Fire Team out, stay out.

Many people put out small fires quite safely. However, some people die or are injured by tackling fires which are beyond their capabilities. Here is a simple fire code to help you decide whether to put out or get out - 

•  Only tackle a fire in its very early stages.
•  Always put your own and other peoples safety first. Make sure you can escape if you need to and never let a fire block your exit.
•  Fire extinguishers are only for fighting a fire in its very early stages. Never tackle a fire if it is starting to spread or has spread to other items nearby.
•  Around 70% of fire deaths are caused by people being overcome by smoke and fumes.

Entry ticket
Money and cash card – keep these in a hidden and safe wallet or euro style money belt bag.
Sleeping Bag, pillow, blanket etc
Tent
Clothing for appropriate weather – check the long term weather forecast the day before you pack and to see if you need wellies, rain/sun hats, waterproofs etc
Travel ticket home
Camera (for personal use)
Mobile phone and battery charger
Sun cream
Tin opener & bottle opener
Tissues and loo roll
Toiletries and towel
Anti bacterial hand wash
Torch
Wet wipes
Dry clean socks
Strong shoes
Insect repellant
Plasters
Any medications that you need

Only bring what you can afford to lose. There is no way you can make a tent secure.

We would encourage you not to bring anything that would cause unnecessary rubbish. Clean up after yourself and have brilliant weekend.

Remember when packing that glass is not allowed onsite.

Look after yourself.  Don’t overdo it, and most importantly, look out for others.

There is no meeting point at Reading and so pick a location and three different times a day in advance so that if anyone gets lost they know where to go and when to meet up again.

The site is a farm year with livestock round and so make sure you use the water points around the site to wash your hands regularly, especially before you eat.
Reading Festival takes place on uneven farmland with stone tracks and metal trakways. Take care, especially at night. Strong shoes for walking are a good idea – as is a torch after dark.
Please do not climb on any trees onsite. It is dangerous and may damage the tree. 

Please don’t dig holes, drop cigarette buts or bottle tops as the site is normally home to horses and cattle.

Illegal drugs are no more legal onsite than off.
Give any passing security or emergency vehicles plenty of space to pass and don’t ride on vehicles.
Prolonged exposure to high volume noise can cause severe hearing damage.
Serious sunstroke, sunburn or cancer can be caused by the sun on unprotected skin.
Bar staff will ask for proof of age whenever a customer appears to be under 18 – so if you think there is a chance you may be asked, best bring some photo ID. It is down to you to prove that you are over 18.
Antisocial and illegal behaviour will not be tolerated: Eviction, possibly by the police, without return will be the outcome.

Fireworks are not allowed onsite.

Following the Fireworks Act 2003, it is an offence to set off fireworks after 11pm at night.

Tickets should always be bought from a reliable source, below are some options for you.

Online: www.seetickets.com/readingandleeds 

By phone: Call the Festival Republic hotline 0871 231 0821
[Information line - cannot take bookings: 020 7009 3001 Mon- Fri 10-6]

We cannot be held responsible for any purchases made through unauthorised sources.

SEETickets.com         Lastminute.com    Ticketline
Ticketmaster            Gigantic                   Ticketqueen
Voyagenbus.com       Reading Arts & Venues Box Office – The Hexagon

Ticketmaster: 0844 847 2366

HMV
Bath, Basingstoke, Bracknell, Bristol, Broadmead, Guildford, High Wycombe, Kingston, Newbury, Oxford, Portsmouth, Reading Friar St, Reading Oracle, Slough, Southampton, Staines, Swindon, Winchester, Windsor, Woking

See our information on Touts here

No unaccompanied under 16's.  Any 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.

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 hub may wish to get the boat across the Thames and camp there.

Beware of unauthorised ticket agencies including eBay, buying from them can be a lot of trouble - You are likely to pay over the odds for a ticket that will have never existed or might never materialise.

Most notable of these sites are:
SOS Ticketmaster (not to be confused withTicketmaster who are the real agent)
readingfestivaltickets.co.uk
leedsfestival.net
Westminster Events, Get Me Tickets , Splendid Tickets, Herts Box Office
Click For Tickets, London Ticket Shop, anyworldwideevent.com
ticketssoldout.co.uk, TicketSolutions, Tickettout.com, TicketsUK
Double 8 Tickets, London Ticket Shop, Ebay, Gumtree, Viagogo, Seatwave, Stubhub,BritishConcerts.com, GetMeTickets,Tickettout.com, No1soldoutevents.com, Sold Out Events, Tickets UK, Click for Tickets , Herts Box Office, XclusiveTicket.com, Summer Festival Tickets.com, Corporate Box Office, Ticket 4-you, Euro team,Everysell.com, Anyticket.com, Getmein.com,showtime, Tickco.com, London Ticket Express, SummerFestivalTickets.com

Additional Unauthorised Sites:
Anyone advertised on Readingfestival.org - this is not an authorised site.

More tout info from Office of Fair Trading - please read
                               ~ . ~

We are currently looking into companies selling 'touted' tickets and we are doing what we can to stop fraudulent activity.

FURTHER INFORMATION & CONTACTS: 
If you feel a victim of these companies we suggest a number of actions:

1.Call the police; if your money has been taken and no product delivered, this is theft.
2.Report the company to the Trading Standards
3.Contact the BBC's watchdog programme
4.Contact the websites' Internet Service Providers as they have obligations to ensure they are not publishing fraudulent and illegal activity.

HELPFUL LINKS:
Trading Standards website customer accounts of GetMeTickets 
Easynets Acceptable use policy, Service provider of GetMeTickets 
BBC Watchdog

Full Festival Republic PDF information on Unauthroised Ticket Agents

Booking Fees apply to all standard tickets.

To read the Disabled Access Festival Guide 2008 (PDF)click here

To download the application form (PDF)  click here

Disabled customers will be provided with one free ticket for their helper, where required.

Forget battling with pegs and poles and hunting for friends, book a ready pitched and fully equipped tent and let someone else do all that work for you.  A bit of extra festival luxury without burning a hole in your pocket. 

From only £52.50* per head for the whole weekend you have access to:
- Entrance to the Tangerine Fields
- Exclusive use of hot showers and toilets...just for our customers
Our staff will be on hand over the weekend to help you with any problems

(*based on 2 persons sharing, does not include festival ticket.)

Choose from 2, 4 and 6 man tents and the sleeping essentials.  We're the most eco-option going.  Everything gets cleaned and re-used, except sleeping bags which are passed onto various local and national charities.

In the Tangerine Field, we'll also have tipis if you’re looking for something a bit different for the weekend.  Visit www.tangerinefields.co.uk for more information and bookings for tipis.

Only available in White Camping

Please note: Booking a VIP camping package does not include the weekend ticket - You must have already booked these.

myhab is here!

These 2 person myhabs are the exciting new eco-friendly way to stay at festivals. 

YOU BOOK. WE SET UP. YOU USE. WE TAKE DOWN. WE RECYCLE.

The award winning design uses recyclable plastic and reinforced waterproof cardboard to create a sturdy, spacious, comfy, and importantly green alternative to a tent.

Why is it better than a tent?

- We set up and take it down, so all you have to do is turn up and have a good time!
- myhabs are situated within ‘myvillage’, an exclusive area for you and other myhabers.
- The area comes complete with well maintained toilets and showers and on-hand staff
- Built in locker to keep your valuables safe
- Very spacious, comfy double bed
- myhabs are raised off the ground
- You can personalise the myhab by creating your own festival character online

Intrigued? Check out more at:   www.myhab.com

This year we have teamed up with Lockerhouse to make sure you can keep your belongings safe at Reading Festival. You get to keep a souvenir branded padlock after the event too! Book now, and be sure to keep your stuff safe all weekend. The lockers also have mobile phone charging facilities, which require 12v Car adapters/chargers.

IMPORTANT! - PLEASE NOTE: the locker sizes are 25cm wide x 15.5cm deep x 10cm high - so they are the right size for small valuables (mobiles, wallets, cameras). The Locker is used at Hirers own Risk

These are only available to Weekend Camping ticket holders.

Click here to buy

No-one will be allowed onto the campsite without proof that they also have a full weekend arena ticket for the festival. This will be policed across the festival weekend.

You will not be allowed to camp without a camping ticket! A camping ticket lasts for the whole weekend or just one night, it’s the same price. No rogue camping will be tolerated. Check back to this website before the festival for full details about camping, parking, safety and security.

If you are travelling by car please visit the: Reading Festival 2008 Car Share Scheme www.liftshare.org operated by Liftshare.

Car sharing will help save you money by sharing the travel costs, reduce the amount of congestion on the roads resulting in you arriving more quickly as well as being kind to our environment.

Please read this practical safety guide on liftsharing put together by A Greener Festival: http://www.agreenerfestival.com/Lift_Sharing.pdf

The coach drop off and pick up point is at Rivermead Leisure Centre for authorised coaches only. 

If you go by authorised coach you will be dropped off and picked up at the Rivermead Centre, by Red Gate.

See Tickets are selling a combined event/coach package ticket that will also get you straight to the site in the red campsite.  Buy tickets here

Reading Festival is increasing its environmental responsibility by this year including 200 Team Recycle stewards. 

If you missed out on a ticket to the festival, or other stewarding positions, have a passion for the environment and want to help get the festival goers to recycle as much as possible, then please join Team Recycle. You will be stationed at the recycle bins in the campgrounds and show people which bin to put their cans and bottles into. There is no hands-on rubbish sorting work in the waste depot.

You will be rostered to do 24 hours from Thursday to Sunday, during daylight hours. All volunteers are welcome to enjoy the festival when they are off-shift.

To apply volunteers need to:

* Be 18 or over.
* Be available to arrive at the Festival site by 7pm Wednesday 20th August 2008.
* Provide a refundable deposit of £185 by 30th May (details will be emailed to you)

To apply please email greenmessenger@festivalrepublic.com with the Subject Heading: Team Recycle Reading Festival

If you have two people who would like to apply together, please include BOTH details in the ONE email.

Include:
Name
Address
Date of Birth
Phone Number
NI Number
Next of Kin Name
Next of Kin Contact Phone Number

Reading Festival will have Green Messengers in the campsites again in 2008, talking to campers to encourage them to be environmentally aware in the disposal of their rubbish, particularly in packing up their camping site. We are keen to alert festival goers to the environmental impact of burning tents and possessions instead of taking them home or donating them.

All Green Messenger volunteer positions are now full!
Please keep an eye out on this website as we may be announcing recycling volunteer recruitment soon.

Gain free entrance to this summer's Reading Festival by joining our Campsite Assistant Teams (CATs) or Helpful Arena Teams (HATs).

Typical duties of a volunteer include:

• Assisting festival goes with directions.
• Helping festival goers carry their belongings and pitch their tents.
• Reporting back on any problems – such as litter and facilities.

In return for their efforts all volunteers are provided with:

• A Crew Pass
• A CAT/HAT Pack
• A CAT/HAT Uniform
• A Secure Camping area
• Access to the Crew Café, Bar, Toilets, and Hot Showers!

All volunteers are welcome to enjoy the festival when they are off-shift.

To apply volunteers need to:

• Be 18 or over.
• Be available to arrive at the Festival site by midday (21:00 at the latest) onWednesday 20th August. Please note the shifts are allocated on a first come first served basis.
• Be available for a briefing at either 13:00 or 22:00 on Wednesday .
• Be available to work 3 x 8 hour shifts at any time between 14:00 Wednesday (or midnight Wednesday if arriving for the 21:00 briefing) and 16:00 Monday.
• Wear a CAT/HAT uniform when on-shift.
• Report in every two hours to your area supervisor, or immediately in the case of any problems.
• Supply photographic ID on arrival.
• Provide a refundable deposit of £185.

The festival volunteers play a big part in creating a good atmosphere and helping all to get the most out of their festival. By being there helping people you will help us achieve this!

For more information please visit www.dcsiteservices.com/cats/
Or you can email cats@dcsiteservices.com

To go straight to the application please visit: https://dcss.paamapplication.co.uk/

charity number: 202918

Oxfam Festival Stewarding: Application forms are now available to apply to
steward with Oxfam at a number of music festivals during the Summer.

To steward you must be 18 or over and willing to work 3 x 8 hour shifts. In
return, we will provide you with full training, a separate camping area
with toilets and showers, a meal ticket per shift, chance to make new
friends and the opportunity to help raise £850,000 for Oxfam.

To apply go to www.oxfam.org.uk/festivals, or call 0870 010 8553

To read the Disabled Access Festival Guide 2008 [PDF] , click here
To download the application form [PDF] , click here

If you wish to use disabled facilities, we ask you to contact us in advance. We cannot process applications at the event. The scheme and disabled facilities are not open to those with temporary injuries such as broken legs, pregnant customers and so on.

Via our 2-for-1 scheme, we provide many disabled ticket holders with a free ticket for an accompanying friend or PA. For all events: 

• Purchase your own ticket as normal
• Fill in the application form and attach a copy of a recent DLA letter
• Send them by post to the address shown below, to reach us by the closing date

Please post applications to:

Disabled Ticket Enquiry
Festival Republic Festival Office
35 Bow Street, Covent Garden
London WC2E 7AU

• THERE IS A STRICT CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS. WE ARE UNABLE TO PROCESS LATE APPLICATIONS OR APPLICATIONS MADE ON SITE.

FRIDAY 25TH JULY 2008

• If you are not offered a free ticket for a PA, and the event has sold out by the time we inform you, we will make one ticket available to buy
• Disabled customer tickets are the same as everyone else’s, and there is no separate allocation of tickets or ticket booking arrangements for disabled customers. Please be aware some events sell out quickly.
• We don’t send out free tickets in advance: they are issued in person at the event.
• If you don’t wish to apply for a free ticket, but would like access to the disabled facilities, please fill in the application form stating your reasons, and we will try to assist you.
• All applications are at the discretion of Festival Republic and we reserve the right to alter or withdraw arrangements
• Applications are not first come first served. We send all confirmation letters 3 to 4 weeks before the event, with maps & car passes – please be patient and wait to hear from us!

Once we have all your details, we will acknowledge your application. At least 5 weeks before the event we will write to advise you either: 
• We can offer you one free ticket for an assistant and use of the disabled f