Reading Crown Court Listings

Reading Crown Court Listings Today

Reading Crown Court, located at the historic Old Shire Hall on The Forbury in Reading town centre (RG1 3EH), is one of the principal Crown Courts serving Berkshire. This page provides the most current daily hearing schedules, case references, defendant information and courtroom allocations for all proceedings listed at Reading Crown Court. Whether you are a solicitor preparing for trial, a defendant checking your hearing time, a journalist covering Reading Crown Court cases this week, or a member of the public seeking sentencing results, our listings are updated each morning as soon as HMCTS publishes the official cause list.

About Reading Crown Court

Reading Crown Court sits within the Old Shire Hall, a Grade II listed building designed by county surveyor John Clacy in the Baroque revival style. Completed in 1861 at a cost of £21,644, the courthouse features a striking seven-bay frontage with a Doric-columned portico facing The Forbury gardens. The building originally served as the Berkshire Assize Court from 1867, when it took over that role from Abingdon County Hall, and also housed Berkshire County Council following the Local Government Act 1888. After the Courts Act 1971, the former assizes court was officially re-designated as Reading Crown Court, and it has been used exclusively as a Crown Court facility since 1981 when the county council relocated to Shinfield Park.

Over the decades, Reading Crown Court has presided over several high-profile criminal cases that attracted national attention, including serious violent offences, complex fraud trials and cases involving defendants from across Berkshire, South Oxfordshire and beyond. The court handles indictable-only offences such as murder, manslaughter, rape, armed robbery, serious drug trafficking and large-scale fraud, as well as either-way offences committed for trial from local magistrates' courts and appeals against conviction or sentence from Reading Magistrates' Court.

Court Facilities, Opening Hours and Contact Details

Reading Crown Court is open Monday to Friday. The court building opens at 8:30am and closes at 5:30pm. The court counter operates from 9:00am to 5:00pm (closing at 4:30pm on Fridays). Visitors should arrive at least 30 minutes before a scheduled hearing to allow time for airport-style security screening at the entrance. The court has nine interview rooms, video conferencing facilities for prison-to-court links (by prior arrangement), and a portable hearing loop system that can be set up in any courtroom. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the building.

Contact Information

• Address: Old Shire Hall, The Forbury, Reading, RG1 3EH
• General Enquiries: 0118 967 4400 (9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday)
• Jury Service: 0118 967 4501
• Witness Service: 0300 332 1000
• Crown Court Location Code: 449
• DX: 97440 Reading 5

Accessibility

The court building provides step-free disabled access and accessible toilet facilities. There is no general car park on site, but parking for blue badge holders can be arranged by calling the enquiries number in advance. Assistance dogs are welcome, and Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyards are available on request from reception. Interpreters can be arranged through HMCTS for defendants or witnesses who require language support.

How to Get to Reading Crown Court

Reading Crown Court is centrally located and well served by public transport. Reading railway station, one of the busiest rail hubs in southern England with services operated by GWR, Elizabeth Line (Crossrail), and South Western Railway, is approximately a 10-minute walk north-west of the courthouse via Friar Street and The Forbury. Direct trains run from London Paddington (approximately 25 minutes), Basingstoke, Oxford, Newbury, Guildford and Didcot Parkway. Several bus routes operated by Reading Buses stop along Friar Street and King Street within a short walk of the court. If driving, the nearest public car parks include The Oracle Shopping Centre car park and Garrard Street car park, both within five minutes' walking distance.

Types of Cases Heard at Reading Crown Court

As a Crown Court centre, Reading handles the most serious criminal cases in the Berkshire area. All cases are heard before a judge, and jury trials are conducted for not-guilty pleas. The types of proceedings regularly listed include:

• Trials: Jury trials for indictable offences including murder, grievous bodily harm, sexual offences, robbery, burglary, arson, drug supply and serious fraud.
• Sentencing hearings: Cases where the defendant has entered a guilty plea or been found guilty, and the judge passes sentence. Those searching for who was sentenced at Reading Crown Court today can check our daily updated listings.
• Plea and Trial Preparation Hearings (PTPH): Early hearings where pleas are entered and trial timetables are set.
• Case management hearings: Pre-trial reviews to address legal arguments, disclosure and witness availability.
• Bail applications: Applications for bail or variations to bail conditions.
• Appeals: Appeals against conviction or sentence from Reading Magistrates' Court and other local magistrates' courts.
• Newton hearings: Hearings to establish disputed facts after a guilty plea, where the factual basis affects the sentence.

Understanding Reading Crown Court Listings

The daily cause list for Reading Crown Court is published by HMCTS each working day, typically by 4:00pm for the following day's hearings. Each listing entry includes the courtroom number, scheduled start time, defendant name, case reference number and the type of hearing. Listings may change at short notice due to judicial decisions, case settlements or administrative reasons, so it is always advisable to confirm your hearing details directly with the court on the morning of your attendance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find Reading Crown Court listings for tomorrow?

Tomorrow's cause list is usually published by HMCTS by 4:00pm today. Our page is updated as soon as the new list becomes available, so you can check back in the late afternoon or early evening for the next day's schedule of hearings, courtroom allocations and case references.

Can I attend a hearing at Reading Crown Court as a member of the public?

Yes. Crown Court hearings in England and Wales are generally open to the public. You can sit in the public gallery to observe proceedings. However, the presiding judge may impose reporting restrictions or close the court in certain circumstances, such as cases involving vulnerable witnesses or matters of national security. Photography and audio or video recording inside the court building are strictly prohibited.

Where can I find Reading Crown Court sentencing results?

Official sentencing outcomes are not published on HMCTS cause lists. For sentencing remarks from high-profile cases, check the Judiciary website at judiciary.uk. Local news outlets such as BerkshireLive and the Reading Chronicle also report on sentences handed down at Reading Crown Court. Our listings indicate when a case is listed "for sentence," which can help you identify when a sentencing decision is expected.

What is the difference between Reading Crown Court and Reading Magistrates' Court?

Reading Crown Court deals exclusively with serious indictable offences and either-way offences committed for trial, heard before a judge and jury. Reading Magistrates' Court, located separately, handles summary offences, initial hearings for either-way offences, and bail decisions. Cases that are too serious for magistrates are sent to Reading Crown Court for trial or sentencing.

What should I bring to Reading Crown Court?

Bring your court summons or hearing notice, a valid form of photo identification, and any documents requested by your solicitor or barrister. Mobile phones must be switched to silent before entering the courtroom. Food and drink are not permitted inside courtrooms, though there are waiting areas within the building. Arrive at least 30 minutes early to pass through security and locate your courtroom.