A family-run Polish restaurant will be able to serve alcohol after permission was granted by councillors.
The Pasibrzueszek Polish Cousin Restaurant opened earlier this year on the site of a former hairdresser in Hemdean Road, Caversham.
It is run by a couple with the help of their daughter, Monika Maria Michalowska.
She had applied to Reading Borough Council so the restaurant could sell alcohol between 11am and 11pm from Tuesday to Sunday, closing at 11.30pm. Neighbours had raised concerns over drunk patrons leaving late at night, and bright lights coming from the premises which could disturb sleep.
At a hearing held on Thursday, June 15, Ms Michalowska said at the moment it was usually closing at 6pm, and was small: a table for four and a table for two. When it came to takeaways, her father was making deliveries using his car.
She said: “Customers are asking about wines and beers; we want customers to have an opportunity to enjoy another place in Caversham.”
The issue of lighting had been addressed, Ms Michalowska said, while the restaurant would be likely to close at 8pm or 9pm at night rather than 11.30pm.
Cllr Clarence Mitchell (Conservative, Emmer Green) asked why they submitted an application for 11pm.
Ms Michalowska replied: “This [the application submission] was three months ago, we didn’t know exactly what we wanted. We are still figuring out timings.”
Neighbours were represented by cllr Jacopo Lanzoni, who had objected to the application alongside councillors Jan Gavin and Matt Yeo (all Labour, Caversham).
Cllr Lanzoni said: “Licensed premises need to be able to coexist with residents. If people leave at 11.30pm, this will inevitably cause noise nuisance.”
He also raised concerns about traffic, but it was noted that guests could park at the council’s Chester Street car park.
The Caversham Labour councillors were criticised by cllr Clarence Mitchell for ‘copy and pasting’ their objections, who said: “It just looks formulaic, it doesn’t look like it comes from the heart” and urged them to submit self-written objections.
Cllr Lanzoni said he would take a creative writing course “to make sure objections are tailored in the future”.
He summed up by saying small businesses such as Pasibrzueszek are welcome as long as nuisance is limited as much as possible.
Addressing Ms Michalowska, Cllr Lanzoni said: “Thank you for the work you are doing. We are hoping that comments can be taken constructively.
“We want to stress this is a highly residential area. We hope that the committee can make a decision that satisfies the needs of both.”
The licensing committee granted the application to sell alcohol until 9pm and close at 9.30pm.
