We arrive in Reading at 10pm and do a drive by past the supposed venue....can't see anything...we park and take a walk up the road....three story office block, looks deserted ...see a few people milling around and a few people walk around the back of the building. We follow them and find a small queue at a fire door. Now I had been told this was a ticket event only.... luckily we spot a mate wandering around and he gets us in for a fiver. Up the stairs in the pitch black, start to hear a system pumping out some tunes....have a wander around - Inside it really is an office block - old and almost abandoned....loads of walls have big holes in them....but there's carpet ! lovely little venue, with running water (a little bit to much in the roof - there's a big leak up there!). In the main room System Co- Existence Soundsystem had already got the party up and running.
The place has been done up really well, all the windows had been blacked out with massive backdrops and UV is everywhere. Further exploring of the building revealed a funk soundsystem and another room had drum & bass going. The place filled up pretty quick, and by 11.30 it was packed. The atmosphere was a bit moody at the beginning, but once the New Year was out of the way everyone was buzzing. By 3am everyone had dispersed into the various rooms around the building and were chatting and dancing to the tunes. Stayed until 6.30 - Lightweights or what - we're not use to starting at 10pm !
We certainly made the right choice in going to Reading, as it turns out we knew quite a few people there. Definitely the best New Year I've had....ever
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