A quirky shopping arcade in Reading town centre will be getting a fresh new look for the first time in years.
The Harris Arcade indoor shopping mall is a business area for independent shops similar to the Burlington Arcade in London.
The arcade is home to a range of businesses, including Crunch Comics, The Sound Machine records store, Shave & Coster tobacconists and a smoothie drinks company.
People can also eat out at Pierre’s Baguettes and Zorba’s Kebabs, and buy antiques, hats from the Adrienne Henry Millinery and other special items from the traders within.
The arcade provides a walking route between Friar Street and Station Road.
The owning company applied to repaint the wood and existing painted surfaces that make up the arcade in a planning application to Reading Borough Council.
Originally, the company wanted to paint the wood in a willow tree colour.
However, following negotiations with council officers, the colour has been changed to ‘Burford Green’.
In a report into the application, planning officer Jonathan Markwell wrote: “The proposed works are considered appropriate in terms of protecting and enhancing the significance of the heritage asset.
“It is hoped that the repainting works will enliven the units and wider Arcade, to help enhance the vitality and viability of the wider retail centre.”
The repainting project was approved by the council last month.
The Harris Arcade is owned by global capital management company AEW, which purchased the arcade and surrounding properties in 2022.
Since then, The Pitcher & Piano bar has been renamed The Signal Box, and Revolution has been replaced with Boom Battle Bar, which opened this year.
