ONCE, it was Reading’s go-to destination for sending letters, but it could be the last post for a popular bar.
Yates on Friar Street has been a key part of the town centre’s nighttime economy since the 1990s, taking over the from the historic Post Office.
Now, its owners, Stonegate have sent a letter of their own – to Reading Borough Council – asking for permission to open longer.
Under the new licence application, it would host live and recorded music, film screenings and a range of other activities.
And the application suggests that the bar will become a Slug & Lettuce, rather than a Yates, a sister to the branch at The Oracle: Stonegate refers to the bar, in 7-9 Friar Street, as “Slug & Lettuce (currently known as Yates)”.
A spokesperson for Stonegate was unable to confirm whether Yates would change, and no planning application has been submitted to change the external signage on the building.
The spokesperson said: “As part of our on-going review of our estate, we often consider alternative options for our businesses.
“There is currently no timeframe for any potential changes to Yates in Reading.”
Yates has had a chequered past. In 2008, it featured in an episode of the BBC show Rogue Restaurants, which led to the kitchens being closed for a refurbishment.
And in 2020, the bar was placed under review after a mass brawl on New Year’s Eve 2019 into 2020 saw a man knocked unconscious.
Stonegate closed the venue temporarily and said it would ban drill, which its legal representatives implied attracted “a particular demographic of people” responsible for the brawl.
The music genre has been criticised for violent references and drug laden content.
Reading Borough Council’s licensing committee chose to limit Yates’ opening hours to 7am-12.30am Sunday to Thursday, and 7am-1.30am Friday and Saturday.
The new application requests opening until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, and sale of alcohol, and playing of music, to be permitted from 8am to midnight Sunday to Thursday.
Late night food would be available from 11pm to midnight on Thursdays, and until 2am on Friday and Saturday.
Live music, dance performances and anything similar could be performed from 10am to midnight Monday to Thursdays, until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays and midnight on Sundays.
If films are allowed, these could be screens from 7am daily until midnight Sunday to Thursday, and until 2am on Friday and Saturday.
The application will be decided at a future meeting of Reading Borough Council’s licensing committee.
Stonegate also owns the Be at One, Popworld and Walkabout brands, and The Boundary pub which used to be called Pavlov’s Dog in St Mary’s Butts.
