Plans for a brewery and taproom to extend its opening hours have been opposed by neighbours and the council’s planning team.

Phantom Brewing’s co-owners Dom Gemski and Dane White are seeking a change to their licence to extend its hours as late as midnight, and open up its taproom on Sundays.

Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Licensing Applications sub-committee will vote on the plans for the brewery and taproom, based on Meadow Road, next Thursday (September 3).

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Phantom Brewing currently has permission to open and sell alcohol from 5pm-8pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 3pm-10pm on Fridays and 1pm-10pm on Saturdays, with opening times half an hour later.

The brewery and taproom has applied to change this to the following times:

  • Wednesday-Thursday: 5pm-10pm
  • Friday: 3pm-midnight
  • Saturday: 1pm-midnight
  • Sunday: 1pm-8pm

Planning officers have objected to the extended hours of opening of the taproom, saying it is “unlawful change of use of the site” as they would require planning permission first.

The brewery currently only has a certificate of lawfulness to use the site as a brewery with an ancillary taproom.

Officers are concerned about the impact on those living at existing homes around 90m east of the site on Addison Road, as well as future occupiers of the 96 homes currently being built at the former Cox & Wyman site, directly opposite Phantom Brewing.

But Andrew Somerville, a planning consultant for the applicant, said the planning team has “jumped to conclusions” by saying an increase in hours of opening of the taproom would result in a material change of use, calling the claims “premature and unfounded”.

He said, even if it were a change of use, this is “irrelevant” to the four licensing objectives.

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The plans have also been opposed by four neighbours, all of whom specifically opposed the late opening on Fridays and Saturdays.

Jonathan Dart, who lives on Addison Road, summed up the views of these neighbours with his comments.

He said: “Patrons will have to walk through a residential area after closing time to return home, causing noise nuisance to those living along routes to the Caversham Road, many of whom will be trying to sleep at midnight.

“In addition, people will soon be living directly opposite the premises once the old Cox and Wyman site has been developed and will also be caused nuisance at closing time.”

The extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays would be just for special events or staff birthdays and at these hours would take place indoors, with music turned down and no entry after 10pm, the brewery said.

RBC’s licensing team has withdrawn its concerns after agreeing to five new conditions with Phantom Brewing, including keeping windows and doors closed after 8pm and getting planning permission for the extended hours.

The 12-barrel brewery launched in November 2019.

It re-opened following the coronavirus lockdown on July 11, with limited hours of Saturday: 2pm-5pm and 6pm-9pm.