A building in Reading town centre that’s been empty for nearly two decades looks set to host a restaurant again.
The Bristol & West Arcade at the end of Friar Street — once a busy pedestrian cut‑through to Broad Street — closed in 2007 and has stayed vacant since.
Now La Oliva Ltd has applied to Reading Borough Council to sell alcohol from one of the front‑facing retail units. The application would allow alcohol sales from 11am to 11pm every day.
La Oliva is owned by Luftar Rusta, who also runs Tasty Greek Souvlaki in nearby Market Place. The company is also directed by Edra Shtembati. Tasty Greek Souvlaki will be celebrating its sixth anniversary in May, as it opened in 2020.
The Market Place restaurant sells beers including Greek brands Mythos and Alfa, plus wines and spirits such as ouzo and metaxa.
A statutory consultation on the application is currently live. You can respond by emailing licensing@reading.gov.uk. The deadline for responses closes on Monday, April 13.
There was previously a plan to demolish the arcade and replace it with an eight‑storey hotel, but that never went ahead. Offices above the arcade are in the process of being converted into 20 flats.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
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