A pizza takeaway which was accidentally operating without a licence has been granted a new one, subject to planning consent.

Farmhouse Pizza, on 435 Oxford Road, was granted a licence by Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) licensing committee today (Thursday June 6) after the owner agreed to a series of conditions.

The takeaway went into liquidation on October 30, 2018, and the business was taken over by Sohail Anwar, who had been a partner in the previous business.

When a business goes into liquidation, the licence must be transferred to the new owner within 28 days but this did not happen.

When the new owner was made aware of the error, he applied for a licence to sell hot food and drink from 9am to 2am, Monday-Thursday, and 9am to 3am, Friday-Sunday

The shop only has planning permission to sell until 11pm, however, ‘to protect local residents from unreasonable disturbance’.

Mr Anwar's consultant, Colin Alborough, said there have been no complaints about the business.

The owner agreed to reduce the opening times to finish at 1am every day of the week, after discussion with Thames Valley Police (TVP).

RBC and TVP licensing officers withdrew their objections to the licence application, subject to planning consent being granted and after a series of licensing conditions were agreed with Mr Anwar.

These conditions include continuous recording of CCTV, training refreshment every six months, keeping an incident log and carrying out security risk assessments quarterly.

Mr Anwar will now have to seek planning permission before he opens the takeaway past 11pm.

Mr Alborough said: “We are delighted to be granted a premises licence. I think we have had a good hearing.

“They have been really supportive in their approach. Clearly planning is the next hurdle.”