Reading pub to close with farewell party planned
A READING pub is calling time, saying increases in rent meant it has to stop pulling pints.
The Weather Station in Eldon Square is to close on Saturda, September 3.
In a post on social media, the team said it was no longer viable to keep operating at the location.
The pub replaced The Eldon Arms. Wild Weather Ales, a brewery in West Berkshire, took over the venue in September 2019.
Now, three years to its opening date, it will hold a final day farewell party featuring bands that have played there during its time and invites regulars to come and share fond memories of the pub.
While the pub is being closed, the brewery will remain operational.
In the post, the pub’s team thanked those who had visited and supported them, vowing “this is not the end, we will return.”
Kane Preston, general manager of The Weather Station, said: “The landlord was looking for more rent, and we had a conversation, but in the end he wouldn’t budge,
“We’re both running businesses, so I can understand – the price of everything is going up.
“But we’re gutted, my managers and I are pretty heartbroken.”
Mr Preston said that the team had put “a lot of effort” into the pub.
“We kind of came into the venue when it was nothing, and built it over the three years or so into a kind of DIY punk music venue,” he explained.
“We’ve met some wonderful people, so it’s horrible to have to see it go.”
He says that they are looking for alternative venues and weighing up options to continue away from the brewery.
“We looked at new sites, including the old Pizza Express, and it’s not looking good.
“But we’ve got a couple of things on the cards.”
The Weather Station is one of the taproom venues of Wild Weather Ales, a brewery based in Silchester.
It was founded in 2012, and The Weather Station was one of just two dedicated outlets for their ales.
The on-site taproom at the brewery will be the only such outlet after the closure, and is unaffected by the decision.
The brewery’s collection of ales is still available directly through their website, with mini kegs, boxes, cans, and even merchandise available to order online.
The Weather Station will be open for its last day on Saturday, September 3, when it wil hold a farewell party.