Wokingham's Former Takeaway Transforms into Bookshop

A former Indian takeaway in the heart of Wokingham town centre is set to become a bookshop and café.

Plans to change the ground floor of 35 Peach Street, previously Mumbai, were approved by Wokingham Borough Council on 14 October. The application was submitted by MLG Ventures Ltd.

The applicants want a community-focused bookshop with a childrens story area, regular book clubs, author events and creative workshops.

Wokingham Town Council raised no objections. The change is a change of use rather than a major redevelopment.

Permission comes with standard conditions: work must begin within three years and follow the approved plans. Any new signage will need separate advertisement consent.

Mumbai was family-run, opened in 2020 by cousins Iftekar and Wahidur Rahman, and closed in March after what management described as unmanageable financial pressures.

"Our utilities were rising incredibly fast, high street rents are extremely high, wage costs have rocketed particularly after the last two budgets, food costs have soared and business rates continue to increase," it said. "This has created a perfect storm resulting in the decision."

The business thanked customers and said the closure was not goodbye, adding it planned to share details of its relocation and reopening plans.

The new bookshop hopes to open in November.

Katie French, Local Democracy Reporter