A central Reading restaurant has withdrawn its application to sell alcohol beyond its current permissible hours, after a series of objections were raised.

The Botanist, on King Street, had applied to extend its licensable hours by an hour, to midnight (Sunday-Wednesday) and 1am (Thursday-Saturday).

The application was objected to by representatives from Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) licensing, planning and environmental health teams, as well as Thames Valley Police (TVP) and licensing consultant Richard Donne.

TVP officer Simon Wheeler said the police force had ‘a lack of confidence in the management and processes’ at the premises.

He also criticised a ‘bottomless brunch’ promotion at the restaurant as ‘irresponsible’ and pointed out several recent incidents of aggression and intoxication, all of which took place after 10pm.

Simon Wheeler’s objection stated: “Thames Valley Police respectfully recommend that there is no evidential reason why an exception should be made to the CIA policy in this situation.”

Licensing officer, Richard French, added that a TVP drug swab, which found ‘high’ cocaine use at the premises, was a further reason for refusal.

The council’s licensing team criticised the lack of reference to the cumulative impact assessment policy (CIA) in the application and the restaurant's breach of licensing conditions at two recent visits.

The CIA policy aims to mitigate the potential impact of a significant number of licensed premises concentrated in one area.

Mr Donne said: “The council has just renewed the cumulative impact policy and restated that restaurants within the zone should not be granted hours beyond midnight.

“This policy has been applied to many operators in town and I believe that the policy should be applied in this case too.

“I do not believe they have provided sufficient evidence within their application to rebut this policy.”

Rebecca Moon, environmental health officer, expressed concern that increased hours till 1am would cause noise disturbance to locals.

The restaurant-bar currently has planning permission to open until 11.30pm and 12.30am (Thursday-Saturday).

RBC’s planning team said planning permission variation would need to be sought first to open, and sell alcohol, beyond these times.

The restaurant has been approached for comment.