Two blocks of flats that have replaced a pub in Reading appear to have been left dormant for years on end.
The Four Horseshoes pub used to be a fixture of life in Whitley for decades.
People reminiscing on Facebook recalled growing up in the pub and attending parties.
Eventually, it closed and was converted into the Eastern Pearl Chinese restaurant, which carried on for years until it was demolished to make way for student flats.
The project provides a total of 34 student rooms split across two buildings, with one containing 22 flats and the other containing 12 flats.
Although the work to build the apartment blocks appears to be completed, the site at the junction of Basingstoke Road and Long Barn Lane remains vacant.
Plans were granted by Reading Borough Council in 2015, a decade ago.
Once a plan is approved, the applicants have three years to start work. If nothing is done within that time, the permission is voided.
It has emerged that essential groundworks are required before the site can be marketed and occupied.
There are hopes that the flats can be sold and rented out once the groundworks are complete.
A council spokesperson explained: “Under planning law, the only time limit imposed when permission is granted applies to when physical work on a development starts.
“This is normally within three years of planning permission being granted.
“As long as this is adhered to, there is no subsequent limitation on how long it takes to complete.
“In this instance, the former Four Horsehoes pub site was granted planning permission to be demolished and replaced with student accommodation in 2015.
“The new building has been broadly completed, although external ground works are incomplete.
“The owner advises that they are keen to push on to complete and be ready for occupation, hopefully by Spring 2026.”
Streetview imagery shows that the pub building was demolished in 2016, with the new blocks taking shape in 2019.
At the time the plan was submitted, the Eastern Pearl had been vacant for a
number of years.
A person reminiscing about the pub on the Facebook group Reading and Thames Valley Memories of Another Day wrote: “It was a great ole pub, I had many a birthday party in there, and the Chinese food was lovely that came later, shame it is gone.”
Another person wrote: “I’m very sorry to see the Shoes disappear. Another part of my childhood gone.
“As kids, my sister and I used to enjoy visiting the then landlords, Mr and Mrs Ransom, their son George, who loved old clocks, and his sister Nancy (Sybil), who was mum’s best friend.”
