READING town centre has been hit hard during the pandemic, like many other high streets up and down the country.

These popular shops now stand as empty and sad looking units.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, non-essential retailers suffered a terrible time facing closures during busy periods such as Black Friday, Christmas and Mother's Day.

So with shops closed, shoppers relied on online shopping instead.

READ MORE: Vigil for Woodley cow sees mourners pay respects and lay flowers

As a result, business owners have had to rely on government grants and schemes to survive. 

Shops were only allowed to reopen for the first time this year on April 12 but high-street giants like Primark documented record sales.  

So, more than a year since the pandemic, how many shops in Reading survived?

ALSO READ: 5 Reading pubs that you DON'T have to book

The Reading Chronicle visited St Mary's Butts, Broad Street, Cross Street and Minster Street to see how many units were empty in the key shopping areas. 

Here's what we discovered:

St Mary's Butts

Sonning Flowers unit

Reading Chronicle:

Pizza Express, St Mary's Butts

Reading Chronicle:

Co-op bank, St Mary's Butts

Reading Chronicle:

Broad Street

Reading town centre is a sorry sight with many shops empty and lifeless.

Reading Chronicle:

Thorntons closed all of their shops back in March 2021 following a "tough and challenging retail environment".

Reading Chronicle:

Clinton cards was another store that failed to survive.

Reading Chronicle:

Reading Chronicle:

Reading Chronicle:

Reading Chronicle:

Reading Chronicle:

Reading Chronicle:

Reading Chronicle:

Reading Chronicle:

Reading Chronicle:

Minster Street

This is the only shop down this street that isn't open.

Reading Chronicle:

Gun Street

Reading Chronicle: