Plans to replace a central Reading nightclub are up in the air after two companies withdrew their licensing applications on Thursday, writes Tevye Markson.

Eclectic Bars Ltd and Fever Bars submitted applications which would have seen Coalition, on 5 Gun Street, replaced by chain nightclub Fever, and neighbour Smash, reduce their hours.

The premises currently has one licence for Smash and Coalition, formerly known as Sakura, which are both run by Eclectic Bars.

The planned licensing sub-committee on Tuesday, September 4, has now been cancelled as the two companies, represented by licensing firm Woods Whur, rethink their applications.

Ian Freeman, consultant to Eclectic Bars Ltd said: “The reason for withdrawing our licensing application is simply that we have rethought what we were planning and decided to vary the application from the original.

“I'm sure you'll understand that, for commercial reasons, we don't wish to say any more at this stage.”

Detailed objections were raised against both applications, with the lack of a dispersal policy in both applications particularly concerning Thames Valley Police (TVP) and the Reading Borough Council (RBC) licensing team.

Smash currently opens as late as 3am on Fridays and Saturday while Coalition is open until 3.30am on weekends.

Police licensing officer Simon Wheeler said: “No distinction has been made between the hours for sale of alcohol and the hours the premises would be open to the public, hence no consideration has been provided for safe dispersal of customers.”

On a visit to Smash on Monday, July 23, police licensing officer Simon Wheeler found that 17 conditions had not been complied with.

These included challenge 25 not being operated, no active dispersal policy, and no active illegal drugs and weapons search policy.

Gun Street has been specifically mentioned as an area for concern in the council statement for licensing policy and comes joint second for calls to the TVP service despite having just three licensed venues.

Friar Street, which TVP received the most calls about (

Thames Valley Police and RBC’s licensing team also cited failure to address the Cumulative Impact Policy (CIP).

The CIP exists to address the cumulative stress caused by the high concentration of late night licensed premises within the defined area of Reading town centre.

Mr Wheeler concluded that the application for Fever failed to address how their application would not lead to an increase in crime and disorder.

If they failed to do so at the committee meeting, he said, no further evidence would be needed to reject the application.

Environmental protection and nuisance officer Rebecca Moon also called for a number of measures to prevent a public nuisance from occurring at both venues.

The withdrawal, and the subsequent response from Eclectic Bars that the application will be varied, suggests these concerns may have been listened to.