Major Changes to Reading's Historic Pub Project

Thackeray Estates has changed plans for several Friar Street buildings at its junction with Queen Victoria Street in Reading town centre.

Its QVS1+ project will create a 107-bedroom apartment-hotel and a new courtyard, and led to the demolition of 146 Friar Street, the Reading Food & Wine store.

QVS2 was originally approved as a hotel of more than 163 rooms, but the firm now wants 145 one-bed "co-living" apartments instead.

The co-living rooms would include a bed, table, chair, basic cooking facilities and a toilet with shower or bath. Residents would share an open-plan lounge and games area, dining space and garden, a gym, co-working space and cleaning facilities.

The Bugle pub, dating from 1841, was due to be folded into the hotel. The revised plan keeps it separate as a commercial unit open 7am to 10pm daily.

Daniel Watney Partnership planning agents say: "As there is currently no operator identified for the unit, it is considered appropriate to propose opening hours that would accommodate a broad range of potential occupiers, whether their business model is focused on early morning trade or evening custom."

The design still proposes a six-storey building with a basement, but with frontage changes to reflect the new use and a reduction in height.

Revolucion de Cuba closed in January and 142 Friar Street is now occupied by Fone Store. The application has been submitted by National Pub Portfolio Limited, which is linked to Thackeray Estates.

You can view the plans using planning reference 26/1121 on the council portal. QVS1+ was revised in 2024, increasing apartment-hotel rooms from 103 to 107, cutting commercial units from four to three and removing a laundry facility.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter