A bid for a Korean barbecue restaurant in Reading town centre to become a late-night bar has been decided.
A decision has been made regarding a Korean barbecue restaurant in Reading town centre seeking to become a late-night bar.
The AKA BBQ Station, located in St Mary's Butts, has been serving noodle dishes, sushi, and Korean rolls since December 2023, but currently shuts at 11pm with alcohol served until 10.30pm.
New owners took over three months ago, transitioning to a dark kitchen and adding a sign for Chillim food business.
They applied to extend their hours to 2.30am on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 1am on Thursdays and midnight through the rest of the week.
However, the BBQ Station faced scrutiny from Reading Borough Council and Thames Valley Police after an inspection revealed blocked fire exits and expired fire extinguishers. Additionally, a business partner was caught smoking shisha without permission.
During a council meeting, BBQ Station’s representative, Bill Donne, argued for the bar's potential, comparing it to local venues like Coconut Bar & Kitchen.
Yet, police licensing officer PC Declan Smyth raised concerns, citing the rise in crime in St Mary’s Butts, calling it a ‘hotspot’. He suggested a closing time of 1am to mitigate risks.
Ultimately, at a meeting on November 28, councillors granted a licence for a 2am closure on certain nights, along with the condition of two door staff from 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays, a compromise to earlier proposals by the owners.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
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