Just two restaurants remain of the six that were put at risk due to the changes at The Oracle in Reading are still open- and their days are numbered as well.
The landmark decision to transform The Oracle Shopping Centre into a place to live for the first time was made by Reading Borough Council last week.
This will see 436 apartments added to the centre, with the former Debenhams being partly demolished and the Vue Cinema building completely demolished to make it happen.
It has taken four years to get to this stage, as the plans were first floated in 2022.
Back then The Local Democracy Reporting Service identified six restaurants that had been put at risk on either side of the River Kennet.
They included the Franco Manca and The Real Greek at the old Debenhams north of the river, and Miller & Carter, TGI Fridays, Browns Brasserie and Cote Brasserie in the Vue Cinema building to the south.
Franco Manca and The Real Greek both suddenly closed in September 2023 shortly after plans to transform the former House of Fraser into Hollywood Bowl, TK Maxx and Zara.
This meant that the former Debenhams store has been completely closed since then.
Next Beauty and Home occupied the department store from December 2020 to September 2023.
After that, Browns Brasserie & Bar and TGI Fridays closed in April and June 2024 respectively.
This has left Miller & Carter and the Cote Brasserie as the last remaining restaurants that have been put at risk by the transformation project.
Both of these restaurants will have to close to clear the way for 218 flats, a newly provided Vue Cinema, and a new bar and leisure unit for a new occupant.
Miller & Carter opened at the Caversham Rose in October 2022.
The former Debenhams will be the first part of the project to see construction, as the building is unoccupied.
During the debate at the meeting where the redevelopment was approved, councillor James Moore pointed out that shopping habits have changed since The Oracle opened 27 years ago.
Cllr Moore (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst) said: “The Oracle was opened in 1999, and we had the dotcom after that, and retail has fundamentally changed since it opened. Then we had COVID, which also fundamentally changed going to shops and doing things.
“Actually, we don’t need retail units in the way we have today, the landscape has changed. The Oracle being empty doesn’t help anyone.”
Work to demolish the Vue Cinema and replace it will take place after work on the former Debenhams unit.
That involves building 218 flats, co-working office space, and a leisure unit.
The redevelopment project was approved by the council’s planning applications committee on Wednesday, February 4.
This is subject to the centre owners, Hammerson, entering into a legal agreement with the council.
