The conversion of a closed club into a convenience store in Reading town centre has moved a step closer.
The Neighbourhood bar and kitchen at the prominent corner of Friar Street and Blagrave Street has been closed since 2020.
It was previously occupied by the club Matchbox, which had a troubled history prior to its closure after Malcolm Callender died aged 48 with a fatal head injury following a ‘game of slaps’ with his son near the club in April 2019.
The building is finally set to be brought back into use, but not as the club and bar it used to be.
Earlier this year, a company called Prablin Stores applied to sell alcohol from 7am to 11pm daily.
This was submitted in a licensing application to Reading Borough Council.
The licence has been granted as applied for after no objections were received during a 28-day statutory consultation that concluded on Monday, September 14.
A planning application has also been submitted for the conversion project.
An agent from Multi-Creation wrote: “Alcohol will be sold for consumption away from the premises, with the sale of alcohol separately controlled through the appropriate premises licensing regime.
“The proposal will therefore maintain a customer-facing commercial activity at ground-floor level appropriate to the established function of Friar Street.”
Changes involve the installation of internal shutters to provide enhanced security.
A decision on the plan is due to be made in October.
You can view the application by typing reference PL/26/1125 into the council’s planning portal.
