A READING nightclub could reopen under new ownership.
Greene King is exploring an option to sell the former Matchbox nightclub, which was most recently trading at Neighbourhood Bar and Kitchen. The Spirit Bar group is understood to be interested in taking the site on.
The site has seen a raft of incident in recent years, prompting Thames Valley Police to call for restricted opening hours.
In 2019, a former soldier, Malcolm Callender died after a ‘a game of slaps’ with his son went wrong.
In December that year, a fight broke out that led to a security guard having a chair thrown at him, with a brawl spilling to outside the club.
Thirty police officers were dispatched to restore order after 2am.
Greene King, which owns the club and leased it out to operators voluntarily closed Matchbox after the incident, and a council licensing meeting in January 2020 reviewed the license. The opening hours were restricted.
A representative of Greene King and the club operators Big Smoke Brew Co were present at the meeting, where they declared intentions to convert the venue into a craft beer and gin bar.
The council’s licensing committee decided the new brewery must close at 1.30am Thursday to Saturday rather than 3am, and 12.30am from Sunday to Wednesday rather than 2.30am.
The rebrand happened in 2020, but was affected by the covid lockdowns.
Greene King wants to sell the Friar Street premises.
A spokesperson said: “We are continuing to explore our options for the sale of The Matchbox, however, no decision has been made yet.”
It is understood that Spirit Bar is interested in buying the club at 5-6 Friar Street, subject to a licence for later opening hours being granted: it wishes to sell alcohol and soft drinks and host DJs and other entertainers from 11am to 2.30am Thursday to Saturday, from noon to 2am on Sundays, and from 11am to 2am Monday to Wednesday.
This application would reverse time constraints imposed on the club when it was operating as Matchbox.
The application by Spirit Bar is subject to a public consultation. Comments can be emailed to: licensing@reading.gov.uk by the deadline on Friday, November 17.
