Island licence review after mass brawls

Adam Hewitt • Published 3 Jul 2010 11:00 2 Comments

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POLICE want a floating bar and restaurant banned from selling alcohol after two mass brawls when revellers were slashed with glass bottles and officers were attacked.

Reading borough licensing panel must make a decision next week when a Whitley couple planning a reception at the Island Bar in September after their civil partnership - with guests flying in from around the world - will plead with them not to take away the licence.

There were riots outside the bar on Pipers Island, under Caversham Bridge, when it closed at 3am on both January 31 and May 3 involving aggressive gangs. Innocent passers-by and police officers were caught up in the "explosive" violence.

In a report to councillors, Inspector Keith Stacey said: "Each of these incidents in isolation are the most serious incidents of disorder linked to licensed venues in recent years."

In the first case there was a brawl between 20 or 30 people leading to eight arrests and assaults on some of the 31 police officers at the scene. In May, at least 20 people were involved in "large scale disorder" and 38 officers including dog units were needed. Seven victims were seriously assaulted, including The Island's designated premises supervisor (DPS) Omer Yucel and a woman police officer, and some guests were slashed with broken bottles.

Police want the licence revoked or suspended for three months with strict conditions in place and Mr Yucel removed from his post.

An unnamed freelance photographer working there on May 3 said in a witness statement: "I could hear the sound of glass smashing. The DJ stopped playing music and ducked down under his table. I think this is the most concerned I have been before about my own safety. It was complete pandemonium."

PC Martin Mould said the atmosphere as the fight spilled outside was "extremely volatile".

Dog handler Brian Avery said he had to use his baton on people lashing out at police, and said one brawler gouged the eyes of his dog Blake, causing him to yelp in pain.

The Island also failed a test purchase on May 22 by selling cider to a 15-year-old boy sent in by police.

Three neighbours have written to support the licence review, but Riverside Court resident Roy Oliver told the Chronicle that it had near-unanimous support, as shown by the many more objection letters sent earlier this year objecting to late-night opening at The Island.

The panel will make its decision at a meeting at 5pm on Tuesday at the Civic Offices. Anyone can attend.

No one from The Island had any comment as The Chronicle went to press.

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ReadingVisitor
Unregistered User
Jun 2, 11:10
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50 years of dining out throughout the world, including many undeveloped countries in Africa, this is the worst.

We 'happened' on the Island Bar and Restaurant in Reading at about 5pm on a Sunday 29th May 2011 for a drink after a very pleasant day walking the Thames towpaths. Should have been warned by the initial poor amateurish service at the bar but wasn't so went to the bar for a second round after a yoof retrieved our empty glasses from our table on the very pleasant river terrace. Having secured the glasses and stepped a pace or two away the previously silent yoof muttered "if we want another drink get it from the bar". As is often the case in this kind of circumstance, I thought this was another chance to contribute in a small way to the micro habilitation of that section of the nation's yoof who have had the misfortune to have a childhood in the nineties and naughties. I thought probably from a tribe culturally isolated and hemmed in by soaps, red tops, reality tv etc., and this may indeed be his first job.

Having finished the second drink, we decided to look at the menu, although pricey (could be building our illusions) and concluded would fulfill our need to take on some calories before 2 hour drive back to south coast. We went inside to tables laid with white linen and an array of wine glasses fostered an illusion that this was going to get busy.

My partner ordered the soup of the day which was served in one of those very large soup plates with a 6inch lip. This was decorated with pinches of paprika pepper in the fashionable way popularised by our tv chefs. The soup had the characteristics of those good 'fresh' soups found in the supermarket chiller cabinets. My whitebait was good with a mediocre 'salad' garnish. Paprica, the universal whitebait condiment was not offered and getting the hang of things I did'nt ask, having had to get up and go and ask for salt and pepper condiments.

It got worse after the first dish, my partners second dish (asparagas +) was burnt so much had to be returned - replacement was edible. My black pudding chiritzo salad I would describe as average for a greasy spoon outlet.

It did not get busy - there was worryingly few people there, with hindsight I'd say the locals have sussed it.

On finishing I asked to see the manager/owner who obligingly came right over to our table. His response (summarised) to my observations about the service was that his was not in an upmarket restaurant as we thought but in an establishment at a much lower end of the market. Therefore our expectations were wrong and in any case he had difficulties getting and retaining staff.

What a waste of location. By all means enjoy a drink on the terrace and soak up the ambiance of the Thames but find somewhere else to eat!

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lxrichar
Unregistered User
Sep 19, 15:18
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Dreadful service at this Bar/restaurant I recently hired it for my wedding reception - what a joke the owner permitted his friends and members of the public to be served and seated amongst my guests - extremely embarrassing and upsetting. I complained at the time and it fell on deaf ears. The owner was not inteersted in assisting my complaint and would not refund me the £500 I had paid to hire it. I will never step foot on the premises again and neither will any of my guests or their friends.

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Nov 27, 21:47
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