We may have said goodbye to a fair few staples of Reading’s high street in 2023, but we've also welcomed a number of brand-new businesses this year.

Here is our pick of some of the best new businesses that (we hope) are here to stay as we welcome in 2024. Enjoy!

Bellas Beauty Salon

Located on St Marys Butts, The brand-new salon opened its doors for the very first time on Friday November 24, and friends and family gathered to celebrate with owner Jaswinder Kaur.

The salon offers a whole range of treatments from hair colouring and cuts, nail extensions and gels, eyebrow threading, waxing, lashes, and loads more.

Jollyes Pet Store

The new Jollyes pet store is now open at Reading’s Imperial Gateway in Woodley.

The store, at Unit 1B, Reading Gateway, Imperial Way is managed by Emily Palethorpe and her dog Rolo.

The store employs a team of 12 to support it and features a Raw Food shop-in shop, Jolly Groomer, and a Community Pet Clinic

Aldi, Reading Gateway

The Gateway Retail Park store is the newest Aldi to open in Reading and will be run by Store Manager Graeme Milligan, along with a team of 28 colleagues from the local community.

During the shop launch, Team GB gold and bronze medallist Hollie Pearne Webb gave away complimentary bags of fresh fruit and vegetables from Aldi’s famous Super 6 range to the first 30 customers in the queue.

Space NK

Space NK launched its first Reading store in the Oracle Shopping Centre, replacing the menswear store GANT on Hollybrook Walk.

The British retailer was founded in 1991 and currently stocks a range of luxury skincare and beauty brands for both men and women.

Toys R Us

Toys R Us opened on Saturday (June 24)  in the WHSmith in Broad Street, as one of the nine new branches opening in partnership with the newsagent.

The new retail partnership will see nine shop-in-shops across the country including Oxford.

Black Sheep Coffee

Black Sheep Coffee opened the Broad Street branch after seeing success at the Queen Victoria Street store that opened last year.

The company specialises in coffee but sells a range of other items including teas, hot chocolate, pastries, sandwiches and smoothies.

Since 2013, Black Sheep Coffee has opened stores across the UK and is continuing to open worldwide.