Royal Albion Pub Saved from Greggs Conversion

A pub along one of the busiest roads in Reading has received protected status after a failed attempt to convert it into a Greggs bakery.

A pub on one of Reading’s busiest roads has been given protected status after plans to turn it into a Greggs were refused.

The Royal Albion on Oxford Road had been used for more than 150 years as a hotel and pub. It closed last year after brewing company Greene King sold it, at an estimated value of £650,000, to M & M Property Investments.

The new owner submitted plans this year to convert the building into a Greggs. If approved, it would have been the second former Greene King pub to become a Greggs locally after The George & Dragon on the A4 Bath Road was replaced by a Greggs drive-thru in March. Reading Borough Council’s planning department refused the application, saying it would mean the permanent loss of the pub.

The Reading Conservation Area Advisory Committee nominated the Royal Albion to be added to the council’s list of locally important buildings. Savills, acting for M & M Property Investments, objected, saying the building has low architectural, artistic and historic interest and arguing it has undergone ‘various incongruous and iterative alterations that have significantly diluted the limited architectural and artistic interest of the building’ and lacks ‘landmark quality’ along Oxford Road.

Council conservation officer Burcu Can Cetin noted the representation but it did not alter her recommendation that the Royal Albion be listed, a recommendation councillors backed.

Councillor Amjad Tarar (Labour, Battle), who represents the area, said: “All three councillors in Battle ward agreed and they feel that the building which currently houses the Royal Albion pub should be preserved.

“There has been a pub in this location for over 150 years, and it is part of the community landscape that we would not like to see destroyed.

“We believe it is essential to preserve this heritage asset for future generations.

“And we feel sure that a commercial concern will see the value of this historic building and concrete viable functional space within it that will preserve its legacy.”

Cllr Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey) cited Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) figures that 251 pubs have been lost and 37 demolished over the last year. While acknowledging her American accent, she argued the Royal Albion’s value as an English pub. Cllr Rowland said: “214 pubs have been converted to other situations such as housing, restaurants, shops, and off-licences.

“So there is a lot of uses for an old pub, but that’s really not what we are talking about.”

Councillors unanimously decided to add the Royal Albion to the local list at the planning applications committee meeting on 3 December. The decision had been due in November but was delayed to allow M & M Property Investments to object.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter