A pub and hotel in Reading is undergoing a transformation that could see it receive a new name.
Charles Dickens opened The Great Expectations in 1843 as a Literary, Scientific and Mechanics’ Institute.
After that, in 1866, it became a ‘primitive Methodist Chapel, and in the early to mid-20th century it served as an Everyman Theatre, before becoming a pub and a hotel.
Now, plans for the building show it being rebranded as Hotel 1843nwith black boarding and gold lettering.
The neoclassical facade would be retained, but the green wrapping on the Ionic columns would be removed.
The plans have been submitted by the owning company, addressed in Crowthorne.
The pub section of The Great Expectations closed in June, but the hotel is still open.
A statement on its Facebook page said: “Please note that we will be closed from Saturday, June 25, for refurbishment.
“The hotel will run as usual, but the bar will re-open in the coming months.”
As well as the rebrand, the plan involves installing awnings above the ground floor windows, replacing timber panels with glazing to match existing windows, changing the handrails to the entrance to make them bronze with a black finish, and adding black iron railings to hold new plant boxes.
A public consultation on the proposals ends on Wednesday, August 31.
Application 221141 relates to full permissions for the works and application has been submitted for ‘listed building consent’, as The Great Expectations was Grade II listed in 1957, when it as the Everyman Theatre.
Earlier this year, a licensing application was submitted by the Great Expectations for outdoor seating, so that the venue could put tables outside from 8am to midnight each day.
The licence was issued in July, but is only temporary.
In line with Business & Planning Act 2020 regulations, permission will expire on Friday, September 30.
The planning application can be seen by typing reference 221141 and 221142 into Reading Borough Council’s planning portal.
