The Oracle Shopping Centre Set for Revamp

The Oracle shopping centre in Reading could get a facelift for the first time since it opened in 1999, 27 years ago.

Owner Hammerson has applied to Reading Borough Council to change the Holy Brook entrance from Gun Street.

The plans would add 'The Oracle' signage to the front, a new planter with integrated seating, benches with planters along the walkway, and night-time illumination for the signage and planter.

The changes are billed as improving access from Gun Street and Minster Street.

Agent for Fletcher Priest Architects said: "The existing entrance presents a stark and unwelcoming public point of entry to the mall. There is a lack of seating and greenery, not inviting people to dwell. The Oracle signage is placed on the main building and obscured by the covered walkway. The patterned glass are dirty and create a cluttered appearance. The canopy extends across the river, obscuring the large glazed entrance to the mall. The setting next to Reading Minster with its mature trees provides an attractive green setting. There are a number of lower buildings that could provide visual interest to the north of the entrance, but these are obscured by a tall brick wall."

The agent added a new lower wall with planters would improve visibility of the church and the Holy Brook.

You can view the application with reference PL/26/1453 on the council planning portal.

The Holy Brook entrance has already seen retail changes: Yankee Candle moved into the unit formerly occupied by the Hobbs ladies' fashion store, and Cosy Club opened in May 2025. Cosy Club took over a unit previously used by the Artisans Homemade co-operative (which was temporary before moving to the Parkway in Newbury) and the Lakeland kitchen store, which closed at The Oracle in 2019 and at Broad Street in August last year.

Immediately next to the mall, the Argentinian steak chain CAU closed in July 2018 and was replaced by Buenasado in June 2019.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter