A busy Reading pub at the junction of Shinfield Road and Elm Road has been given the go-ahead for a major revamp.
The Sportsman sits close to homes in Whitley, Earley and Shinfield, with Tesco Express, Specsavers, Greggs and other shops opposite in the Whiteknights Retail Centre.
Owner Greene King plans a £249,000 makeover. On Facebook, Greene King Pub Partners said: "The Sportsman will be undergoing an extensive refurbishment to rejuvenate the space, making it a fresh and vibrant destination for both locals and visitors."
Greene King is also looking for a landlord to run the site as a 'Hive' pub, a franchise it launched in November 2021. Reading Borough Council's planning department has approved the changes.
The building, now painted white with green signage, will be repainted dark blue with golden lettering. The Elm Road sign that currently shows a horse racer will be replaced with a sign featuring a football, a rugby ball and a cricket bat.
View the approved application on the council planning portal using reference PL/25/1483.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
