A pub in Bracknell is losing customers due to neighbours being moved to replace flat blocks that were built out of crumbling concrete.
Award-winning Bracknell pub losing trade after flats evacuated
The Newtown Pippin in Ralph's Ride, which serves neighbours in Harmans Water with food, live music and community events, has been hit hard after people were moved out of nearby blocks built with crumbling concrete.
The pub has been named the Campaign for Real Ale’s ‘Pub of the Year’ for three years running (2023–2025), but managers say trade has fallen sharply since residents left Hambleden Court and Hurley Court ahead of potential demolition.
Management wrote: “Like many local businesses, we’re having a really difficult time right now.
“We’ve lost around 75 per cent of the residents from the flats opposite, which has had a huge impact on our trade.
“As a result, we’ve had to stop serving lunches on a Tuesday so far with a view to cancelling them all together next year and if things don’t improve, we may not be able to stay open long-term.
“If you enjoy having a local pub, please support us when you can — whether that’s popping in for a drink, bringing friends, or sharing this post. Every bit truly helps.
“Thank you to everyone who continues to support us — it means more than you know.”
The decline in trade follows the relocation of social housing tenants from Hambleden Court and Hurley Court. Both blocks used Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in their structures — often described as ‘crumbling concrete’ — and are due to be replaced.
The flats were run as council homes by Silva Homes before housing association Abri acquired Silva in October 2023. Abri plans to replace the 72 flats with 106 new energy-efficient homes.
There are currently 50 Abri-owned properties and 22 leaseholder properties, which Abri is buying back, and the relocation of residents into other Abri homes has begun.
An Abri spokesperson said: “We want our existing customers to be rehomed in a quality, affordable home as quickly as possible.
“Therefore, we are currently in the process of moving customers into permanent homes in other local Abri homes.
“We don’t envisage there will be a need to move current customers back into the new development.”
No replacement plans are currently visible on the council’s planning portal. Plans submitted in 2022 for replacement insulation at Hambleden Court and Hurley Court were withdrawn in June last year.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
Aldermaston Storage Plans Spark Safety Concerns
