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The Oracle - Riverside

The Oracle Shopping Centre, Reading, RG1 2AG

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Access Guide

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Getting Here

Getting Help and Assistance

  • For more information on Shopmobility please click here (new tab).
  • There is a member of staff trained in British Sign Language. Please phone the venue in advance for more information.
  • Guest Services Associates do receive training in escorting visually impaired people.
  • Trained escorts are also available for people with a hearing impairment.
    Escorts must be booked in advance by calling the Management office on 0118 965 9000.
  • Alternative formats of the shopping centre map are available in large print.
  • There is not an assistance dog toilet or toileting area at the venue/nearby.
  • There is not a designated place of safety which can be used by people with dementia, autism or learning disabilities.
  • The venue offers a quiet shopping experience.
  • The Oracle shopping centre has autism-friendly quiet shopping periods between 09:30 and 11:30 on the first Tuesday of each month.
    Music is turned off and announcements are kept to a minimum.
    Visitors can call the Centre Management office on 0118 965 9000 for further information.
  • Water bowls for assistance dogs are available.
  • There are mobility aids available.
  • The mobility aids available include ceiling track hoists, wheelchairs, motorised wheelchairs, mobility scooters and adjustable beds.
  • To obtain mobility aids please contact the Centre Management office on 0118 965 9000.
  • A Shopper's Assistant is also available Monday to Wednesday to help those who could benefit from such a service.
    To book this service in advance, contact the Centre Management office on 0118 965 9000.
  • Membership with Shopmobility is free.
    There is a passenger drop-off area outside Shopmobility in the Holy Brook car park on level P1.
    The Oracle partners with the ReadiBus dial-a-ride bus service for people in and around Reading with restricted mobility.
    There is a ReadiBus bus stop outside the dedicated Readibus entrance off Yield Hall Place to the rear of the shopping centre.
  • Oracle Shopmobility was closed at the time of survey (February 2025). Mobility equipment can still be borrowed by contacting the Centre Management office in advance on 0118 965 9000.
  • RADAR keys required for toilets with adaptations with RADAR locks are available to be borrowed from any security officer on duty.

Parking

  • There are two adjacent multi-storey car parks for The Oracle: Holy Brook and Riverside.
  • Holy Brook car park offers internal access via lift to The Oracle shopping centre.
  • For access information about Holy Brook Car Park click here (opens in new tab).
  • Riverside car park offers external access via lift to the Oracle Riverside Walk for The Riverside restaurants and entertainments, plus step-free access via link bridge to The Oracle shopping centre.
  • For access information about Riverside Car Park click here (opens in new tab).

Access Point (Bridge Street - Riverside Walk North)

  • This information is for the access point located off Bridge Street, over the road bridge from the entrance to the Riverside car park/A329 roundabout.
  • This access point gives access to the Oracle Riverside walk for The Oracle shopping mall.
  • The access point is clearly signed.
  • This access point sign says 'THE ORACLE RIVERSIDE'.
  • There is ramped/sloped or stepped access at this access point.
  • There are bollards at this access point.
  • The minimum width between the bollards is 120cm.
  • Access Point View
    • The height of the bollard(s) is 97cm.
    • The bollards do have an identification band to aid visually impaired people.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located off Bridge Street.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.
    • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the ramp.
    • The handrail(s) is/are on the left going up.
    • The ramp/slope does bypass the step(s).
  • Step(s) View
    • The step(s) is/are located off Bridge Street, to the left of the ramp.
    • There is/are 3 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are not between 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 11cm.
    • The going of the step(s) is/are between 30cm and 45cm.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).
  • Comments View
    • There are two access points for Riverside Walk North.
    • The first access point has an opening width of 200cm.
    • There is a ramp on a slope with a slight gradient on this approach to Riverside Walk North, with handrails on the right-hand side going down.
    • This ramp overcomes the steps, and the adjacent access point.
    • The second access point has bollards at the top of a slope.
    • The slope after the bollards on this approach to Riverside Walk North is on a steep gradient.

Access Point (Bridge Street - Oracle Riverside)

  • This information is for the access point located off Bridge Street, adjacent to the Riverside multi-storey car park.
  • This access point gives access to the Oracle Riverside walk for The Riverside restaurants and entertainments.
  • The access point is clearly signed.
  • This access point sign says 'THE ORACLE RIVERSIDE'.
  • There is ramped/sloped access at this access point.
  • There are bollards at this access point.
  • The minimum width between the bollards is 110cm.
  • Access Point View
    • The height of the bollard(s) is 114cm.
    • The bollards do have an identification band to aid visually impaired people.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located after the bollards.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.
    • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.

Access Point (Yield Hall Place - Riverside Walk North)

  • This information is for the access point located off Yield Hall Place, over the road bridge from London Street/Queens Road.
  • This access point gives access to the Oracle Riverside walk for The Oracle shopping mall.
  • The access point is clearly signed.
  • This access point sign says 'THE ORACLE RIVERSIDE'.
  • There is ramped/sloped access at this access point.
  • There are bollards at this access point.
  • The minimum width between the bollards is 120cm.
  • Access Point View
    • The height of the bollard(s) is 99cm.
    • The bollards do have an identification band to aid visually impaired people.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located in front of and beyond the bollards leading along the Riverside Walk.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is steep.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.
    • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.

Access Point (Yield Hall Place - Oracle Riverside)

  • This information is for the access point located off Yield Hall Place, before the road bridge from London Street/Queens Road.
  • This access point gives access to the Oracle Riverside walk for The Riverside restaurants and entertainments.
  • This access point sign says 'THE ORACLE RIVERSIDE'.
  • There is ramped/sloped access at this access point.
  • There are bollards at this access point.
  • The minimum width between the bollards is 105cm.
  • Access Point View
    • The height of the bollard(s) is 120cm.
    • The bollards do have an identification band to aid visually impaired people.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located after the bollards.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.
    • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
  • Comments View
    • The slope is steeper at one end.

External Area(s) (Riverside)

  • Digital wayfinders are not available.
  • Information posts are provided to aid wayfinding.
  • This external area is not covered.
  • The type of flooring in this area is stone/concrete paving.
  • The following types of seating can be found in this area; wooden benches.
  • There are some centrally located kiosks or shops along walkways in this area.
  • Background music is played during events.
  • There is an events area which is located along the Oracle Riverside walk for The Riverside restaurants and entertainments.
  • There is step free access in this area.
  • The Riverside is home to a number of cafés, restaurants, bars and a cinema.
    The Riverside spans the Brewery Gut, a narrow stretch of the River Kennet.
    There is step-free access to both sides of the waterway.
    There are two bridges providing access across the waterway.
    The Kennet—Cooks Bridge straight footbridge links The Riverside car park to The Oracle shopping mall.
    The Delphi Bridge, an ellipse bridge, links the Vue cinema to the Riverside Walk north side. Both bridges have a slope on a very easy gradient leading on their approach, which can be used to overcome 6 to 8 medium height steps.
    An events area and stadium-style seating area set either side of the waterway are shown in the photographs.
    Benches and boxed seating is located at regular intervals and in the events and seating areas, as shown in the photographs.
  • There are slopes on a slight gradient on the approach to the events and seating areas.
  • There are steps on the approach to the events and seating areas.

Level Change (Stadium-style Seating Area - Riverside Walk North)

  • There is a ramp/slope located near Pizza Express, to the side of Comptoir Libanais.
  • The ramp/slope is used to access the stadium-style seating area.
  • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
  • The ramp/slope is permanent.
  • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
  • There is a/are handrail(s) at the ramp.
  • The handrail(s) is/are on the left going up.
  • The ramp/slope does bypass the step(s).
  • There is a/are step(s) located outside McDonald's.
  • The step(s) is/are used to access the stadium-style seating area.
  • There is/are 9 step(s).
  • The step(s) is/are clearly marked.
  • The height of the step(s) is/are between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the step(s) is/are 16cm.
  • The going of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
  • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
  • The handrail(s) is/are on both sides.
  • Handrails are not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
  • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • Handrails are easy to grip.
  • Handrails do extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
  • Comments View
    • The ramp described above is long.
    • There is a similar set of nine steps located to the centre of the seating area.
    • There is a further set of nine steps located next to the ramp to the rear of Comptoir Libanais.

Level Change (Events Area - Oracle Riverside)

  • There is a ramp/slope located off the Oracle Riverside walk, in front of Las Iguanas.
  • The ramp/slope is used to access the Oracle Riverside events area.
  • The gradient of the ramp/slope is steep.
  • The ramp/slope is permanent.
  • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
  • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the ramp.
  • The ramp/slope does bypass the step(s).
  • There is a/are step(s) located off the Oracle Riverside walk, in front of Nando's.
  • The step(s) is/are used to access the Oracle Riverside events area.
  • There is/are 12 step(s).
  • The step(s) is/are clearly marked.
  • The step(s) has/have tactile paving at the top and bottom.
  • The height of the step(s) is/are between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the step(s) is/are 15cm.
  • The going of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
  • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
  • The handrail(s) is/are in the centre.
  • Handrails are at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
  • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • Handrails are easy to grip.
  • Handrails do extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
  • Comments View
    • The ramp described above is long.
    • There is an identical set of steps located nearby.
    • There is a further set of 13 steps off the Oracle Riverside walk outside the Vue cinema, as shown in the photographs.

Toilet with Adaptations

  • There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.
  • The nearest accessible toilet(s) is/are located within The Oracle shopping mall nearby, on the Riverside level of the centre.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are not available.
  • The nearest standard toilet(s) is/are located within The Oracle shopping mall nearby, on the Riverside level of the centre.

The Oracle - Information and Links

  • The Oracle mall has autism-friendly quiet shopping periods between 09:30 and 11:30 on the first Tuesday of each month.
  • Music is turned off and announcements are kept to a minimum.
  • Visitors are advised to call ahead for further information.
  • For access information about The Oracle Level 1 (Holy Brook Walk) click here (opens in new tab).
  • For access information about The Oracle Level 2 (Town Walk) click here (opens in new tab).