Shear strength is enhanced within the short shear span of reinforced concrete beams that are loaded on their upper side within a distance of around 2-2.5d of supports (where d is the beam effective depth). Eurocode 2 (EC2) and fib Model Code 2010 (MC2010) account for this by reducing the design shear force unlike the previous UK code BS8110 which increases the shear resistance provided by concrete. EC2 and MC2010 also allow shear enhancement to be modelled using strut and tie models (STM). Very few test data are available to assess the comparative merits of these approaches for the design of beams with multiple point loads within 2d of supports. Consequently, twelve beams were tested to investigate the influence of loading arrangement on shear resistance. Comparisons are made between the strengths of the tested beams and the predictions of BS8110, EC2, MC2010, STM and nonlinear finite element analysis (NLFEA). Significantly, the BS8110 approach of enhancing shear resistance is found to give better strength predictions than the load reduction method of EC2 and MC2010 for the tested beams and 55 beams from the literature. The accuracy of the NLFEA and STM is broadly comparable but the NLFEA requires calibration unlike the STM which is most accurate when the strut strength is calculated with the Modified Compression Field Theory. Parametric studies are presented to illustrate the influence of loading arrangement on shear strength. Finally, recommendations are made for modifying the shear enhancement provisions in EC2.