A restaurant and bar brand is set to open its first-ever location in Reading next year.
The Cosy Club is a collection of 36 diners run by the Loungers UK business.
A few months ago, the business applied to sell alcohol, play recorded music and host entertainment including live music from the former Lakeland unit at the entrance to The Oracle from Gun Street.
Initially, it applied for these activities to go until 2am each night at its first location in Reading.
But these proposed hours have been reduced with the latest closing hour being 1.30am at weekends.
Due to concerns about noise disturbance, a Reading Borough Council meeting was called to decide the application.
Robert Botkai, a licensing representative appointed by Cosy Club, stated it provides a mix of alcoholic drinks and food, with clients often dining at the bar.
He explained: “It’s a premium restaurant bar, it’s 50/50 drinks and food. We’re more The Ivy Collection than Brewdog.
“It’s a restaurant rather than a late-night bar.”
But the application was hit with concerns about noise disturbance past 10pm.
An objection was raised by Laura Grantham, the sales manager of the Premier Suites serviced apartments, located in the same building as Cosy Club.
Speaking at the meeting, she asked: “Tell me what your clientele is, what your age demographic is and what is your door policy?”
Gareth Morgan, an operations manager who runs 14 Cosy Clubs said: “Clientele-wise women are a large part, they are slightly older, it’s a mature diners clientele, so people who are in their late 20s, 30s 40s.”
Mr Botkai added: “There’s very limited use outside. We don’t have queues to get in like The Purple Turtle and other bars.”
Laura Grantham also asked whether Cosy Club hires door staff to urge revellers to behave themselves when leaving.
Mr Morgan replied: “Primarily we don’t have door staff because we don’t need them.”
However, he did add that door supervisors are employed in Bristol and Birmingham.
Summing up her arguments, Laura Grantham said: “We do complaints, and Gun Street is busy enough, there is a spillage of people when bars close.
“Obviously seeing that licensing application was not good. If it was a nice quiet restaurant, no problem, it’s the noise and the hours. There’s going to be a noise issue.”
Replying to that Mr Botkai said that The Cosy Club is not a late-night bar, and that clients tend to disperse throughout the night, limiting the potential for crowds to cause a disturbance.
Rebecca Moon, a council environmental health officer also objected, raising concerns about music and chattering coming from within the unit.
To allay the concerns raised, the business has agreed to close the outdoor area at 10pm and submit details of its noise abatement measures to protect occupants of the serviced apartments.
Furthermore, the hours were adjusted to alcohol sales ending at midnight with closure at 12.30am Sunday to Wednesday, with alcohol sales ending at 1am with closure at 1.30am from Thursday to Saturday.
The activities were agreed at the licensing applications sub-committee meeting on Thursday, December 5.
The decision was made by councillors Paul Woodward (Labour, Church) Glenn Dennis (Labour, Kentwood) and Sarah Magon (Green, Park).
Asked when Cosy Club is due to open, Mr Morgan replied: “Hopefully by the end of April.”
A planning application (reference PL/24/1428) for external alterations and installation of plant and extract equipment was submitted in October.
The closest Cosy Club to Reading is located at Festival Place in Basingstoke.
Brand owners Loungers UK run the Alto Lounge in Caversham, the Bosco Lounge in Woodley and other locations throughout Berkshire.
