Two blocks of flats that have replaced a pub in Reading appear to have been left dormant for years on end.
Two blocks of flats have taken over the site of the former Four Horseshoes pub in Reading, which has seemingly been dormant for years.
The pub was a beloved venue in Whitley, with locals reminiscing on Facebook about their childhood birthday parties held there.
After closing, it became the Eastern Pearl Chinese restaurant for a time before being demolished to make way for student accommodation.
The project, approved by Reading Borough Council in 2015, consists of 34 student rooms split across two buildings: 22 flats in one and 12 in the other.
Though the blocks look completed, the site at Basingstoke Road and Long Barn Lane remains vacant due to necessary groundworks that must be done before they can be let.
A council spokesperson noted, "As long as the physical work starts within three years of the planning permission, there’s no limit on how long the completion takes. The flats are broadly finished but require further ground works. The owner hopes to have them ready for occupation by Spring 2026."
Images show the pub was demolished in 2016, with construction on the flats beginning in 2019. The site of the Eastern Pearl had stood vacant for years prior to the plan submission.
Several locals shared their fond memories of the pub on Facebook, with one saying, "It was a great ole pub, I had many a birthday party in there, and the Chinese food was lovely that came later, shame it is gone." Another added, "I’m very sorry to see the Shoes disappear. Another part of my childhood gone."
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
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