Whitley Wood Community Centre

Community centre bookings update

We recently moved to a new online booking system for community centres.

If you had made a booking before Wednesday 20 May, it will have been added to the system already. You should have received emails to confirm this.

For more information about online bookings and step-by-step guidance please visit the community centre bookings support page.

Whitley Wood Community Centre is an accessible single-storey building with a large hall, a small hall and a small kitchen. The centre can be hired for activities and services to benefit the local community.

outside photo of the Whitley Wood Community Centre

This is a non-smoking building, including vaping and e-cigarettes. This includes the grounds of the property, smoking must be outside of the property.

Rooms available for hire and pricing

You must be at least 21 years old to hire this venue or any of its rooms. We may ask to see proof of your age.

All hires will be charged:

  • a £100 deposit (refundable, subject to terms and conditions)
  • an opening and closing fee of £42 (includes VAT)
  • a public liability insurance fee, which is 11% of the total hire rate

If you plan to make 4 or more bookings within a 12 month period, you may benefit from becoming a member. Find out more about frequent hire membership.

Please ensure you have read and understood the community centre terms and conditions of hire before making a booking.

decorative

Main hall

Hire costs

  • Standard rate: £12 per hour
  • Charity/not for profit rate: £7.50 per hour
  • Council voluntary and staff rate: £5.50 per hour

    • Check availability – main hall
    decorative

    Small hall

    Hire costs

  • Standard rate: £4.40 per hour
  • Charity/not for profit rate: £3 per hour
  • Council voluntary and staff rate: £2 per hour

    • Check availability – small hall
    Frequent hire membership

    Frequent hire membership is for individuals and groups who use the centre regularly and need flexible, self-managed access. If you plan to make more than four booking within 12 months, you may benefit from becoming a member.

    As a member, you will have your own keys or access card so you can open and lock the building yourself. Security opening and closing fees do not apply, and you will not need to pay the £100 deposit required for one-off bookings.

    Who can apply for membership
    You can apply for frequent hire membership if you plan to make four or more bookings at this venue within a 12 month period. Membership is ideal for:

  • weekly or monthly classes
  • community groups
  • clubs and social groups
  • repeat bookings spread throughout the year

    • Becoming a member
    You can apply to become a member at your preferred community centre via the online booking system. Please read the membership application information carefully before your start the application form.

    If you already hire a venue regularly, you will have been given membership at that venue when we set up the new system. You may have received an email to confirm this.

    Become a member

    Special booking requirements

    We may ask for more information when booking certain types of events, such as:

    • Group bookings made by a business or organisation – we will need evidence of public liability insurance at a minimum indemnity of £5million.
    • Activities for people under the age of 19 or vulnerable adults – we will need a copy of your safeguarding policy.
    • Serving food to the public – we will need a copy of your food hygiene certificate.
    • Selling alcohol – to sell alcohol at an event you will need to apply for a Temporary Events Notice.

    What’s on – April to June 2026

    Mondays

    • 10am to 12pm – Reading Borough Council housing and communities drop in (every 4th Monday of the month, in the small hall)
    • 12pm to 2pm – Jigsaw Creative Care, Golden Planet Project (in the large hall)
    • Also, on Mondays Rainbows meet (term time only). Contact them for further information on times.

    Tuesdays

    • 10am to 1pm – Coffee morning (in the large hall)
    • 1pm to 3pm – Whitley Wood Pantry (in the large hall)
    • 1pm to 3pm – Citizens Advice drop in (fortnightly, in the small hall)
    • 4.15pm to 6.15pm – Create Music (term time only, in the small hall)
    • 7.30pm to 9.30pm – Whitley Wood Reformed Baptist Church (in the small hall)

    Wednesdays

    • 9.30am to 4pm – Community wellness outreach (every 2nd Wednesday of the month, in the small hall)
    • 11am to 2pm – Over 50s lunch club (in the large hall)
    • 1.30pm to 4.30pm – ACRE sewing class (every 1st Wednesday of the month)
    • 4pm to 5.30pm – Compass Recovery College cooking social (every 2nd Wednesday of the month, in the large hall)
    • 6pm to 9pm – Brighter Futures for Children Reach Out club (fortnightly, in the large hall)

    Thursdays

    • 10am to 11.30am – Playgroup (term time only, in the large hall)
    • 12pm to 2pm – Jigsaw Creative Care, Golden Planet Project (in the large hall)
    • 5.30pm to 7pm – Becalm/Rock Academy Youth Club (term time only, in both halls)

    Fridays

    • 1pm to 5pm – Warm welcome space (in the large hall)
    • 2pm to 4pm – Over 60s social club (in the small hall)
    • 5pm to 6.30pm – Reading Young Engineers (term time only, in the small hall)
    • 7pm to 9pm -Jigsaw Creative Care, Golden Planet Project (in the large hall)

    Saturdays

    Available for hire – parties, celebrations and more.

    Sunday

    All day – Whitley Wood reformed baptist church

    On-site equipment

    Use the sections below to find out what equipment is available in each room. Please note we do not provide bin bags, dishwasher tablets, cutlery or crockery.

    Main hall and small hall
  • 42 stacking chairs
  • 30 other chairs
  • 10 trestle tables
    • Kitchen equipment
  • 2 kettles
  • 1 microwave
  • 1 double oven and hob
  • 1 fridge
    • Cleaning equipment
  • 2 brooms
  • 1 vacuum cleaner
  • 2 mops and buckets

    • Opening times

    • Monday – 9am to 11pm
    • Tuesday – 9am to 11pm
    • Wednesday – 9am to 11pm
    • Thursday – 9am to 11pm
    • Friday – 9am to 11pm
    • Saturday – 9am to 11pm
    • Sunday – 9am to 11pm

    Location

    Whitley Wood Community Centre
    28–35 Lexington Grove
    Reading
    RG2 8UG

    Open location in Google maps

    Getting there

    By car

    There is a car park next to the centre which is shared with residents.

    By public transport

    The nearest bus route is number 6. The bus stop is called Farmers Close and is located just outside the centre.

    Cancel a booking

    To cancel a booking, please follow the cancellation steps on the community centre bookings support page.

    Contact and support

    For help with your booking, or to find out how to contact the bookings team, please visit the community centre bookings support page.

    Last updated on 20/05/2026