One of the nation’s biggest bakery chains has been slated to take over a closed pub in Reading that had a troubled recent history.
The Royal Albion pub in Oxford Road stood for years serving drinks and food to customers, and for some time was used as a hotel as well.
The pub was owned by Greene King, which decided to close it and put it on the market in July 2023.
Customer numbers at The Royal Albion had declined following the closure of the Ibis Styles hotel in July 2021, which was taken over by the Home Office to house asylum seekers.
The pub had suffered a poor recent reputation, as it was raided by armed police in March 2022.
Greene King refurbished The Royal Albion, and it was briefly taken over by publican Samantha Lane, who later moved on to The Palmer Tavern in East Reading.
The brewing company then sold it to a new owner for £650,000 in May last year, who has applied to Reading Borough Council convert it from a pub into commercial use.
A justification for its closure states: “Despite Greene King’s best efforts, the pub ultimately has a history of long term failure and was therefore put on the market.
“The was very limited and non-viable interest in taking it on as a pub.”
Evidence provided by Greene King shows nine different leaseholders taking on the pub between 2004 and 2024.
The latest planning document submitted identifies bakery chain Greggs as the intended occupied.
A letter by JMS Planning states: “It is envisaged that a Greggs of this size would generate 10 full-time equivalent jobs, with five full-time positions and 10 part-time opportunities.
“These jobs will be recruited locally.
“Planning permission is sought for the unit to operate 5am to 11pm Monday to Sunday to ensure the needs are met.
“Depending on local requirements and demand, the opening hours will be within this timeframe but the above allows for flexibility.”
Plans show that the site has a 19 space car park, with the ground floor being turned into a retail unit for Greggs and the first floor providing three office rooms, two store rooms, a kitchen, washroom and two staff rooms.
Greggs has been contacted for further information.
The plan for the conversion of The Royal Albion into a bakery cafe is under consideration.
You can view the application by typing reference PL/24/1521 into the council’s planning portal.
The news about Greggs being the proposed occupant comes as the bakery chain and Starbucks were floated as the possible occupiers in an earlier planning statement.
Curiously, a plan for Starbucks to occupy a drive-through restaurant on grassland in Scours Lane was submitted in April but withdrawn on Monday, August 18.
