A convenience store in Whitley has applied to sell alcohol as late as midnight.
The Niki Convenience Store has been a fixture in Whitley Wood Lane for years, serving on-the-go items, snacks, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks.
The store is currently open from 6.30am each day, with closure at 10pm Sunday to Thursday, and 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Now the owners have applied to keep on selling alcohol until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11pm the rest of the week.
The Niki Convenience Store last made the news in 2023, when its owner Ghanshyam Patel objected to a licensing application for a new store to sell alcohol at the former Berkshire Home Brew and Smith’s motorcycle site.
Mr Patel’s objection stated: “Whitley Wood Lane is already home to Niki Convenience Store, which adequately serves the needs of our community.
“The addition of another alcohol store is unnecessary and potentially harmful to the overall well-being of our neighbourhood.”
He also stated that there is an ‘oversaturation’ of places selling alcohol in the area.
Mr Patel submitted a petition signed by 162 neighbours opposing the licence application at the former Berkshire Home Brew and Smith’s site.
While the licence was granted, this will only apply to the store once it is created, as work is taking place on the development.
The application for later alcohol sales at Niki Convenience Store has been submitted to Reading Borough Council’s licensing department.
You can comment on the application by emailing licensing@reading.gov.uk.
The deadline for representations is Tuesday, November 18.
