Carnage

[Bisque]

Discussing this with a friend who camps in yellow, I camp in purple up by the hedge near Henry's Gate... what's been the worst year for the annual Reading riots? I can remember '05 being a bit lairy & Reading '08 on the Sunday was like a scene from Full Metal Jacket at the end.

[ThisSceneIsDead]

Discussing this with a friend who camps in yellow, I camp in purple up by the hedge near Henry's Gate... what's been the worst year for the annual Reading riots? I can remember '05 being a bit lairy & Reading '08 on the Sunday was like a scene from Full Metal Jacket at the end.

[Bisque]

When you go into purple from green were you on the left side or right, by the hedges? I camped there, on the left side this year.. was just curious

Edited March 4, 2011 by zerocouch

[ThisSceneIsDead]

Ah yeah we camped pretty near you then We were a bit more in from the stream though, avoid the disgusting smells that generate by the end of the weekend... It was nice and quiet there but being a bit more inland from the stream, did seem to have an insane amount of people walking through and tripping over our tents.. more so than in 09.

I'll look out for the boombox this year if you're camping there again

[Bisque]

Ah yeah we camped pretty near you then We were a bit more in from the stream though, avoid the disgusting smells that generate by the end of the weekend... It was nice and quiet there but being a bit more inland from the stream, did seem to have an insane amount of people walking through and tripping over our tents.. more so than in 09.

I'll look out for the boombox this year if you're camping there again

[Nialldotcom]

This year will be my first i dont know where would be the best place to camp :-/ i want good atmospheree!

[Cieran]

This year will be my first i dont know where would be the best place to camp :-/ i want good atmospheree!

[Bisque]

Purple is pretty tame compared to yellow, but as lively as some of the others. Just a big hedge separates you from yellow so it is about a minute walk away... you can be in the action pretty quickly. Also close to to silent disco/fun fair/arena.

[Nialldotcom]

i might try yellow this year!! or just decide once i get there... Depending on capacity, i am leaving around 8am (train takes 2hours)so around 10 - 11.. will it be busy?

[ThisSceneIsDead]

Depends entirely on what day you're travelling, I'll break them down how I've found it:

Wednesday (with early entry ticket) - the doors for that won't open until 1-2pm ish, earliest, so you'll get a space wherever you please.

Thursday - should get a half decent spot in the likes of green or maybe even yellow if you're pretty lucky (depends how many tents in your group).. purple should be fine, I advise purple for camping.

Friday - you're looking at a brown or even further away spot.

[Cieran]

I'm going down with Niall (Other poster) and mates! We're going down early on Thursday and hope to get into Yellow, Green or Purple.

Why do you recommended purple for camping?

[ThisSceneIsDead]

Same reasons as what Couchy said, it's a bit quieter but not a dead atmosphere, less idiots running around, and you get a bit more space... but it's not empty. It's all subjective to how you want your festival to go.

[Cieran]

We've decided to go down on Wednesday now At the opening time, guess we'll have a good chance of getting a decent camp spot in yellow ;} (Reading)

[Bisque]

We've decided to go down on Wednesday now At the opening time, guess we'll have a good chance of getting a decent camp spot in yellow ;} (Reading)

[ThisSceneIsDead]

Couchy, did you see the guys wearing Beaver/Scout uniforms last year? If it was your group wearing them, I didn't like you

[Bisque]

Couchy, did you see the guys wearing Beaver/Scout uniforms last year? If it was your group wearing them, I didn't like you

[ThisSceneIsDead]

I vaguely remember seeing a group of people in scout uniforms, wasn't us though. We forgot to bring any fancy dress with us. The year before we were all in cricket gear to celebrate bringing the Ashes home. Did you see a guy called Max who faceplanted a tree & spikey hedge when he passed out whilst going to the toilet. I got a picture.

[Mega Ross]

Heard '08 was one of the worst, last year was fine I thought, nothing wrong in Red at all except for one of our neighbours getting booted for having a little bit of weed left on him (they saw him grinding).

I was half tempted to go round and burn some shit after they put our barbecue out sunday though, baring in mind we were cooking, it was freezing.

One set of ghostbusters said it was fine, then about 5 ghostbusters and a couple of coppers showed up and put it out, pricks.

Purple and yellow are the worst camps for it, mainly because it's where the 14 year old kids who've had half a can of cider go "Mums not here, I'm gonna go and f**k up everyones stuff while they are trying to have a post gig party, yay we're so cool"

Green and red are ok generally I found.

Brown is full of stoners, tripping too hard to do anything.

White is families, oldies and dull people mainly.

Orange is unpredictable.

[Banana Co]

Green is the perfect camp. Great atmosphere but no dickheads pissing around. Near the arena, therefore, it usually gets completely packed.

[chappiepunk]

Yellow 2009 was the worst I have ever seen in almost ten years of going. So many dickheads around setting fire to other peoples stuff. Didnt go last year so dont know if it was just as bad then.

[glasto-worker]

its always been a rough event and really it depends if you are lucky or not - as you can be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

its the only event I would never attend as a ticket holder and I can look after myself.

[*Stevie B*]

08 was by far the worse ive seen. It really was quite surreal. 09 weren't as bad due to stricter rules over fires, but saw a few fights and bottle wars all through Sunday.

Spent my last 3 Readings in green. Close to the arena, and away from the total madness. Great place to camp. It everywhere else I worry about. From when I was first in 05, to the last time I went in 09, I noticed a massive change in the campsite atmosphere. Think it was 07 when I noticed out of control carnage, with things getting worse since. Those massive fires and destoryed toilets in 08 really were dangerous.

[Bisque]

Didnt go last year so dont know if it was just as bad then.

[Becoming a veteran]

Never been part of trouble but have gone to see what was happening. It may have been me getting older and my perception but what was going on seemed to change over the years. My first Reading was 98 and the trouble was more anti authoritarian, against the police and security with toilets going up in flames, which then led to blocks of guarded toilets and then to long drops. In 08 i wasn't that close to one of the fires but saw tents and all sorts going in, it did seem like it was peoples own, although possibly thought wrong having witnessed in 09 a 16-18 year old girl screaming as a couple of lads were about to rip her tent up before i stepped in. It did seem to get a lot more indescriminate.

Even though i didn't go last year and not again this year, its not the people now or the trouble putting me off going its just doing different things along with work. Could very well be back next year as 3 years in a row would be a lot to miss.