Changes to street pavement cafes in busiest areas throughout Reading

Businesses that wish to take space from public areas to install tables and chairs must have a licence from a local authority called a street pavement cafe licence.

The process of getting these licences was eased during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, with government laws fast-tracking the process and capping the application cost to £100.

There are currently 46 businesses with a pavement café licence, according to a Reading Borough Council document, which breaks down where the pavement cafes are across the town.

While the document does not list the names of the businesses which possess licences, it is understood that the biggest pavement cafe in Reading is run by O’Neill’s, which has 220 chairs and 50 tables.

Of the businesses which possess licences, there are nine in Broad Street, five each in Friar Street and Queen Victoria Street, three in Blagrave Street, two each in the Butter Market, Market Place, St Marys Butts in Church Street, Caversham and one each in Wokingham Road, Kennet Side and ‘Victoria Avenue’.

The council’s policy committee recently agreed to increase the cost of new pavement cafes from £100 to £500, a decision which opposition councillor Raj Singh (Conservative, Kentwood) called an ‘eye water increase’.

READ MORE: Fees increase for outdoor seating areas for businesses and extra bins for residents

The rise in fees came into force on Friday, November 1, after the increase was agreed at a policy committee meeting on October 21.

The fee changes are ranked based on the amount of chairs and tables requested by the business. 

Justifying the increase, Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey) lead councillor for community safety argued that the £100 application fee was an ‘artificially low cost’ with the government giving councils the power to increase fees for new applications up to £500. 

The council is considering the introduction of a Street Pavement Cafe Policy which would regulate pavement cafes to ensure best practice. 

A draft policy for 2024-29 has been devised by the council’s licensing team. 

The policy would give enforcement powers to the licensing team to remove tables and chairs if a business does not have a licence. 

READ MORE: Greggs taken over by new café and bakery in Reading town centre

Also, it would extend the amount of time it takes for a licence to be determined. 

Currently, the entire process takes 14 days. The change would see a 14 day consultation being held, with a 14 day determination period being held before any application is granted.

A decision on whether a street pavement cafe policy will be introduced is due to be made at a licensing applications committee meeting on Thursday, November 14. 

Reading Chronicle | Town Centre