A closed pub in Reading could be taken over by clashing cafe chains.
The Royal Albion pub in Oxford Road has been closed for months following a rocky recent history.
The pub was raided by armed police in March 2022. After that, it was temporarily closed for renovation and was briefly taken over by publican Samantha Lane, who moved to the Palmer Tavern in March last year.
Now the pub could be taken over by either Greggs bakery or the Starbucks cafe chain.
This detail has been included in a planning application to convert it from pub use to commercial use.
The planning statement for the application reveals that companies like
‘Greggs and Starbucks have demonstrated an interest in taking the property on as a lease’.
It comes as both cafe chains have plans to occupy more stores in Reading.
Although Greggs bakeries closed in West Street in 2023 and Whitley Street in 2024, a new drive-thru bakery in Bath Road is due to be opened this Spring, and the company has also been suggested as the occupant of food takeaway near the Stadium Way Industrial Estate.
Meanwhile, a drive-thru Starbucks was opened at Reading Link Retail Park in May 2023, Starbucks took over the Costa Coffee at Brunel Retail Park, and Starbucks has three kiosks at Reading train station.
Although it is unclear which company will take over The Royal Albion, the purchaser of the pub wishes for its conversion.
An agent from H+M planning wrote: “Operating this premises as a pub has become financially unsustainable.
“A combination of declining foot traffic and increasing operational costs has led to a situation where it is not feasible to maintain the business.
“The economic viability of continuing to run this establishment as a pub is, therefore, questionable, especially given the nearby competition.
“Furthermore, the recent decline in pub patronage across many areas in the UK, accelerated by changing social habits and economic factors, reinforces the idea that maintaining this site as a pub is no longer practical.
“Recent incidents have cast a negative light on the operation of The
Royal Albion, it was subject to a police raid following concerns about drug-related activities within the premises.
“This type of criminal activity not only tarnishes the reputation of The Royal Albion but also impacts the community’s sense of safety and wellbeing.
“Transitioning the property to an alternative use would help to positively influence the area and avoid any potential contribution to these issues.”
A planning application for the pub’s conversion was submitted last November and is currently under consideration.
You can view the application by typing reference PL/24/1521 into Reading Borough Council’s planning portal.
The pub was sold by Greene King at a list price £650,000 last year.
