What to expect from Reading Biscuit Town?
To celebrate the bicentennial of the founding of Huntley & Palmers biscuits, creators of the Nice biscuit, the Gingernut, and the Bath Oliver, Reading will be rekindling the town’s love affair with biscuits and their heritage with a series of events and tours.
The MERL (Museum of English Rural Life)
Located within what was Alfred Palmer’s (of Huntley & Palmer’s biscuits) family home, the Museum of English Rural Life will be hosting a new display to celebrate Biscuit Town 2022. This display will delve into the impact of Huntley & Palmer’s history, its impact on Reading and oversees, as well as a more personal look at the people impacted by the company. So come along and learn about the history of the company, the town and how they’ve become intertwined.
Reading Museum Huntley & Palmers Gallery
Another great place to learn about the history and the story of how Reading became Biscuit Town can be found in the Huntley & Palmer’s Gallery at Reading Museum. See and hear what life in a biscuit factory was like through an oral history of accounts from the time, photographs and historical films, as well as almost 300 decorative biscuit tins of the company. Combine this with vintage advertising, artefacts, the biscuit tin supplied to Captain Scott on his doomed Antarctic expedition and the rude “Kate Greenaway” biscuit tin that got the company in hot water, there’s plenty to learn about Biscuit Town.
Biscuit Walkabout tour
Book a Biscuit Walkabout guided tour of Reading’s biscuit heritage with Terry’s Walkabouts – weekly from April to October. Terry is passionate about all things Reading and offers a range of guided walks on Reading history. A descendent of workers for Huntley & Palmers in Reading, Terry’s guided walk will take you to many of the places synonymous with biscuits in Reading, as well as other aspects of Reading’s history.
Biscuit Crumb Trail
If you’re looking to simply explore Reading’s biscuit history at your own pace, then this is something for you to pick up. Grab a copy of the self-guided Biscuit Crumb Trail at either the Museum of English Rural Life or Reading Museum and take exploring biscuit town at your own pace.
Afternoon tea… with biscuits
To round off your day, why not spend it taking Afternoon Tea at the Reading Room restaurant at the Roseate Reading Hotel. With a spread of biscuits inspired by Huntley & Palmer, this is a great way to round off a day spent exploring biscuit town. If this doesn’t float your boat, why not take Afternoon Tea afloat on a Thames River Cruise on the Thames and watch the day sail by.
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