Changes are on the way for a former pub at the riverside in Reading that has been turned into a training facility for up-and-coming chefs.
The Narrowboat, previously the Bel & Dragon, which ceased serving as a pub in March last year, has since been operating as a training facility for hospitality staff.
Fuller’s, the brewer that owns the site, has won permission for new kitchen stations to train up chefs.
Elsewhere, changes have been made for the rebuilding of flats that were devastated in a fire, and a new advertisement screen in a commercial area of West Reading has been refused.
These plans have recently been decided by Reading Borough Council.
You can view each decided application by typing the reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.
Changes approved for The Narrowboat (PL/25/0055 and PL/25/0073)
Fuller’s has won permission to replace bench seating for the pub with free-standing kitchen equipment and sink cabinets.
The project also involves further internal modifications to the old restaurant area, with a table with 10 seats being placed in it to create a meeting room, with timber framing being used to separate it from the training kitchen.
To facilitate the installation of the new kitchen equipment, two extract louvre vents, four air condensers, and a steelwork frame will be installed on the outside of the building.
These extensive modifications were approved by the council on June 4.
It comes after the council granted permission for The Narrowboat to be used as a training facility for a temporary period of five years last September.
Fuller’s pubs in the area include The Three Guineas at Reading station, The Bull in Sonning, and The Lock Stock & Barrel in Newbury.
Changes to replacement flats after murderous fire (PL/24/1631)
Adaptations have been made to the design of flats that will replace Rowe Court in Norcot, which was devastated in a fire in December 2021.
The fire led to the deaths of Richard Burgess, 46, and Neil Morris, 45, with neighbour Hakeem Kigundu being locked up for life for their murder in October 2022.
Earlier that year, Rowe Court was demolished as it was deemed to be an unsafe structure.
The site owners recently won permission to make changes to the design of the rear balcony of the replacement building to minimise overlooking.
These adjustments were deemed acceptable and were approved on June 6.
New advertising board in commercial area refused (PL/24/1631)
A plan for a new LED advertising board in West Reading has been rejected.
The applicant was hoping to install the billboard on the southeast elevation of the Milk and More warehouse at 1 Portman Road.
However, planning officer Gary Miles judged the board would distract drivers at the three-way roundabout junction of Portman Road, Beresford Road and Cow Lane.
The plan was therefore rejected on June 4.
