A lively club in Reading is in trouble with the police after a night where a woman was punched in the face and disorder led to a significant police presence.
The Gun Street Garden has been in the town centre since September 2019.
The club in Gun Street has two rooms with two DJ decks, a rooftop bar, and a smoking area.
However, the venue has recently gotten into trouble with the police after violence and disorder over Easter.
The incidents occurred in the early hours of Easter Sunday, during the venue’s ‘The Playboy Mansion’ event featuring DJs, dancers and bottle service.
A Thames Valley Police chief in Reading has called for the alcohol sales and entertainment licence for Gun Street Garden to be reviewed.
The application for review from chief superintendent Felicity Parker states: “This premises is currently associated with serious crime and serious disorder in that on Sunday, April 20 at approximately 2am, a report was made of an assault where a male suspect threw a hard plastic glass and a punch at a female’s face.
“The victim had to attend A&E for an X-ray and CT scan for their jaw.
“On Sunday, April 20, at approximately 3.07am a report of Public Disorder was made.
“A significant policing response was required, involving public order tactics being utilised.
“This committed the majority of all Reading’s policing resources for over 90 minutes purely in order to control the situation stemming from the premises and its patrons.
“This meant police resources could not attend other calls for service across Reading.”
Gun Street Garden has been contacted for comment.
The application for a review of the licence has been submitted to Reading Borough Council.
A statutory consultation into the licensing review is live.
You can make a representation by emailing licensing@reading.gov.uk. The deadline for responses is Monday, May 12.
Gun Street Garden currently has a licence for alcohol sales, music and entertainment from 10pm to 3am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
The review could result in stricter conditions being imposed by the council, the activities being temporarily suspended, or the licence being revoked in full.
It is not the first time Gun Street Garden has faced a licensing review.
Police licensing officer Declan Smyth applied for a review of the licence at the end of 2023 after discoveries of the drug cocaine and the opiate oxycodone in the toilets.
There was also an incident where a security guard hired by the venue got into a conflict with a female clubber.
The council’s licensing applications sub-committee decided to suspend the licence in February last year.
However, it is understood the operators of the venue successfully appealed this suspension.
