Known to the locals simply as “The Turtle”, the venue has been a part of Reading’s music scene since it opened on Duke Street in 1990. When the Oracle was built in 1998 the original building was knocked down, this is when the team moved to their current location on Gun Street. This move was followed by the creation of Turtles in Islington, Oxford and Camden.
The Turtle prides itself on letting people wear whatever they want, no matter how silly; they go by the philosophy “Everyone enjoys themselves because they can be themselves!” This alternative attitude is reflected in the music, with regular nights of reggae, drum n bass, electro, rap and metal, as well as the more traditional rock and indie. The Turtle’s other claim to musical fame is it’s Jukebox, and over the years it has also won various bar awards.