By Tevye Markson, local democracy reporter
Plans for a new bar in Reading town centre, with games such as Bavarian axe throwing, are uncertain, with the owners of apartments above the site raising concerns.
Boom Battle Bar wants to open at Unit No. L30, Lower Level, Oracle Shopping Centre and would also feature games such as ‘crazier golf’, electric darts, shuffleboard, and beer pong.
The concerns raised by Premier Suites, which manages 41 serviced apartments above the old Lakeland store, have triggered a Licensing Applications sub-committee hearing tomorrow (Thursday, November 25).
Councillors on the Reading Borough Council (RBC) committee will decide whether to approve or refuse the licence application and whether to impose any additional conditions to those already proposed by Boom Battle Bar.
In a letter to the council, Premier Suites general manger Fiori Carp said: “Premier Suites are situated on Minster Street and our apartments are above the old Lakeland store.
“We understand from the blue licensing public notice displayed that you are proposing to grant a premises licence to Boom Bar in the unoccupied unit.
“We have 41 serviced apartments that are above the premises and, due to the type of establishment and opening hours proposed, we would like to strongly object to their application.
“We already have regular complaints from our guests, as they are disturbed late at night due to the other bars on Gun Street and this would further add to noise levels.
“Our concerns have been raised over the past few years and we feel we are not being supported on this matter.”
The council and police have withdrawn their objections after a set of draft conditions and adjusted hours were agreed.
Boom Battle Bar initially applied to Reading Borough Council (RBC) for a licence to open from 12pm-Midnight, Sunday-Thursday and 12pm-2am on Fridays and Saturdays.
The newly-agreed opening hours would see it open one hour earlier (now 11am) on all days, close half an hour later from Sunday-Thursday (now 12.30am) and close half an hour earlier on Fridays and Saturdays (now 1.30am).
Boom Battle Bar has franchises in Cardiff, Eastbourne, Lakeside, Liverpool and Norwich, and is planning to open in 23 more locations including Reading.
It is owned by the people behind Flip Out, adventure and trampoline parks across the UK, including in Aylesbury and Basingstoke.
Lakeland moved from the Minster Street site to Broad Street in November 2019.
Boom Battle Bar has been approached for comment but had not responded at the time the story was published.
