Biscuit Factory Cinema Saved After Licensing Blunder

Reading's Biscuit Factory independent cinema has been allowed to continue after being found to have operated unlawfully for weeks.

The Broad Street Mall venue opened in July 2021 and is used by community groups, including wellbeing networks and the LGBTQ+ community.

It has had a rocky history. The original operator, The Really Local Group, went insolvent in January last year. A new company by the same people also collapsed in February, and RIENT Ltd later rescued the venue.

But RIENT failed to transfer the licence that permits film showings, alcohol and food sales past 11pm. Without it, sales and screenings were unlawful. Licensing officers visited on 24 February and found activity continuing - they were even able to buy a pint before being told alcohol sales were banned.

The venue stayed closed through May while police and council licensing officers urged that a new licence bid be rejected.

Bill Donne, a licensing representative for The Biscuit Factory, apologised and blamed a former operations manager known as 'Mr L'. He said: "Mr L misunderstood what the situation was."

Mr Donne added: "If Mr Ferguson was on site, this transgression wouldn't have happened."

Former councillor Tony Page defended the venue: "A large number of local groups use this facility during the day. It's a safe and welcoming environment and the staff encourage this. It's a welcome, unique aspect of the business."

Licensing officers disagreed, arguing the community benefit does not supersede the requirement for businesses to operate lawfully. As a consequence of the errors, two staff members had to resign, and Mr L only works for the company to organise film showings, with no other operational duties. Staff could also be prosecuted for breaches of the Licensing Act, which can result in an unlimited fine and six months imprisonment.

PC Declan Smyth said: "It's not a one-off error, it's organisational negligence."

Council licensing officer Mike Harding said: "It's not the lapse, it's what happened afterwards. They were instructed to stop. They were informed, they understood, they continued."

Despite the concerns, the council's licensing sub-committee granted the new licence on Thursday 18 June, allowing films, alcohol sales and food sales past 11pm. Conditions include that Mr L cannot manage the premises, and the four other managers plus Mr Ferguson must obtain personal licences. The decision was made by councillors Paul Woodward (Labour, Church), Glenn Dennis (Labour, Kentwood) and Sarah Magon (Green, Park).

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter