Family Weekend in Reading
The trip around Mum's 80th 🎉
Fri 10 – Sun 12 July 2026
Portsmouth for Mum's 80th on the Saturday, wrapped in a family weekend — Friday down to the grandparents', Saturday night in Reading, an easy Sunday home. Forecast: hot — Sat ~30.5°C ☀️, Sun ~28.8°C ⛅.
Straight into central Reading isn't needed — dinner's by the hotel, the escape room's a short hop. Play it in this order:
| ~6:00pm | Arrive Reading, check into Parkside International Hotel (72 Bath Rd, RG30 2BE) — 2 rooms |
| ~6:30pm | Light dinner near the hotel (big picnic lunch, so keep it light) |
| ~7:45pm | Uber to Friar Street (~9 min; walking's 34 min so cab it) |
| 8:00pm | 🔐 Escape room — Mary's Curse (90 min) pending Tamas |
| ~9:40pm | Back to hotel |
| 10:00pm | ⚽ Football in the bigger room (Norway) — all together |
Pending Tamas's confirmation Sat 8pm 3 players 90 min ~£30–35pp
Escape Reading, 106A Friar Street, RG1 1EP. Playing: Paul, Michael & daughter (wife relaxing back at the hotel). Newest room, family-friendly (3/5), the one James raved about — and owner Tamas is sorting us in (an old ex-owner favour 🙏).
Alternatives if needed: Age of Magic / Ram Raid (Audley St, RG30 1BS — 5 min from the hotel). No train to Ringwood note aside — all central Reading.
Saturday — light & near the hotel. Beefeater or Harvester (grill + salad suits Paul's keto and Michael's pescatarian). Sunday — Osaka lunch at The Oracle.
The Southcote Beefeater (Southcote Ln) or Harvester — Mansion House (Prospect Park, ~2 min). Both: grill + salad bar = light, flexible, keto-able.
💷 Offer watch Best discounts are app/email only. Beefeater (you're signed up): 40%-off-mains reissues ~weekly — watch for one valid Sat 11th. Harvester: grab the app / Flavour Fan Club for a personal code (usually 25% off £30+, sometimes 40–50% off mains). "Kids Eat Free" won't apply — Michael's 17, Wendy older (only if your daughter counts as a child, usually under 12).
Open Sunday 11am–9pm — lunch is fine, no booking needed (arrive ~12 for an easy table). Reading's top-rated Japanese, and it suits the whole table:
Sashimi, grilled fish, edamame, miso, tofu — skip rice & tempura.
Sushi & sashimi, veg + fish dishes, no meat.
Katsu (pork), grilled fish, ramen.
Small plates — gyoza, edamame, a few nigiri.
Guide price ~£25–35pp (sashimi-heavy climbs). Browse the menu:
Osaka menu → Menu & prices (Deliveroo) →Shape: check out ~9:45 → MERL ~10 → Osaka lunch ~12 → optional Oracle → home early–mid afternoon (your wife's "soonish after lunch").
72 Bath Road, Reading RG30 2BE. 2 rooms — one double, one double + single (sleeps 5). West Reading, near Prospect Park. Football on Saturday: in the bigger room.
Leave after the 5pm call (~6pm) → pick up Wendy in Reading (she comes Abingdon → Didcot Parkway) → on to Mum & Dad's in Ludgershall → dinner there.