Council Reviews Kings Food & Wine Licence

A row has broken out between a shop owner and council staff over a new convenience store opposite one of Reading9s busiest pubs.

Kings Food & Wine opened on Kings Road in Spring 2024, opposite the Back of Beyond. It sells Asian, Romanian and Polish food, convenience items, fresh fruit and vegetables and alcoholic drinks.

The business won permission from Reading Borough Council in November 2023 to sell alcohol from 7am to 11pm each day.

But, after two years of operating, the council9s licensing team has applied to have the licence reviewed, saying the shop is breaching its conditions.

"The Licensing Team has applied for a review of the premises licence for Kings Food & Wine on the grounds that the operation of the premises is undermining the licensing objectives."

"The application follows repeated breaches of licence conditions and ongoing concerns regarding the management of the premises, despite advice, inspections and opportunities to improve."

A statutory consultation is live. Interested parties, including Thames Valley Police, can comment, and members of the public may support or object to the review by emailing licensing@reading.gov.uk. The deadline for responses is Thursday, September 3. A review hearing of the council's licensing applications sub-committee will take place after the consultation closes.

Kings Food & Wine took over the unit after Pack & Send left; Pack & Send moved to 43-45 Milford Road in January 2021.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter