Reading Biscuit Factory Cinema

Situated in Broad Street Mall, in the centre of Reading, Berkshire, the Reading Biscuit Factory proclaims itself to be “many things”: a three-screen cinema, bar, coffee shop, workspaces, live performance area and community hub, with the latter being the most important overall aspect.

The project was developed by Really Local Group, which “creates and restores cultural infrastructure through the regeneration and renewal of the UK’s high streets”. One of the Group’s other recent projects has been the community cinema at Catford Mews (see separate Cinema Treasures entry).

Despite its name, Reading Biscuit Factory actually utilises ground floor and first floor space previously occupied by an Argos store. The name “Reading Biscuit Factory” was inspired by the Huntley & Palmer’s biscuit factory, once the town’s largest employer, which earned Reading the nickname “Biscuit Town”.

The Reading Biscuit Factory Cinema screens opened on Friday 31st July 2021. The seating capacities are: Screen 1:86, Screen 2:56 and Screen 3:58.

As an indication of the independent nature of the programming, the opening films were the asylum seekers' drama “Limbo”, “Summer of Soul”, a profile of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival and the Polish drama “I Never Cry”.

In Autumn 2021, the town’s earlier art-house cinema, Reading Film Theatre (see separate Cinema Treasures entry) closed. Reading Biscuit Factory stepped in, and now screens films selected by the Reading Film Theatre fortnightly on Sundays at 4pm and Wednesdays at 7pm. This arrangement started with the screening of the French classic “Amelie” in April 2022.

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