Owners win bid to sell alcohol at rebranded cafe at railway station
THE owners of a café in Reading train station have won permission to sell alcohol despite fears over binge drinking on the platform.
Select Service Partner (SSP) Ltd announced intentions to convert the Delice de France bakery located at platforms 8 and 9 into a Café Local.
As part of the makeover, SSP submitted a licensing application to sell alcohol from the unit on and off the premises from 6am to 11pm, seven days a week.
But a commuter objected, raising fears that people drinking on the platform would lead to anti-social behaviour.
“I have travelled frequently to London for over 14 years by train,” they wrote. “Alcohol consumption at the station is dangerous due to the trains and crowded platforms.
“The consumption on trains is unsocial including people relieving themselves on the platforms, train seats and carriages, especially at night. At night in particular it can be intimidating for passengers.
“Slipping on platforms is always a safety issue this will make it worse.
“The cafe is near escalators, which poses an additional danger.”
They suggested that if alcohol is sold, it must be in plastic bottles or cans rather than glass to minimise the risk posed by the smashed glass.
Reading Borough Council’s licensing committee considered the application.
During the meeting, Simon Hilton, operations manager of
SSP said Café Local will have a mixed product offering of food, alcoholic and soft drinks, phone chargers, electric items, umbrellas and toiletries.
Sharon Scott, general manager of SSP said no issues had been raised at the other SSP sites that sell alcohol in the station – the Pumpkin Café on platform 7 and Caffè Ritazza on platform 10.
Mr Hilton added that only individual cans and bottles of alcohol will be sold, clarifying that no multi-packs will be sold, saying: “We see ourselves as a take-out option.”
Cllr Paul Woodward (Labour, Church) chair of the committee, said he was satisfied that the firm was not looking to be “an extension of The Three Guineas”, the pub at the front of the station.
Ms Scott said the price points for alcohol would be from £3.49 to £4.79, with the product range including beer, cider, mixer cans, and small bottles of wine.
The licensing committee granted the licence for Café Local subject to conditions, which lay out a CCTV operation regime, a Challenge 25 age verification policy, and a staff training regime with refreshers every 12 months.
The decision was made on Thursday, April 13 by Cllr Woodward, Cllr Sue Kitchingham (Labour, Caversham Heights) and Cllr Louise Keane (Green, Katesgrove).