New Aldi store set to open in Reading

Aldi looks set to open at the Reading Gateway centre near the M4, which is also home to a Burger King, a Nandos, a Costa Coffee, Beefeater and Premier Inn.

It’s understood the new Aldi will occupy the ‘big box’ Toys R Us store which closed in April 2018.

In preparation for opening, the supermarket has applied to sell alcohol from 6am to midnight each day.

READ MORE: New Tesco to open in Reading near McDonald's

Aldi is a German supermarket chain that opened its first UK location in Birmingham in 1990.

Since then, it has expanded and now has more than 990 stores in the UK.

There are currently four Aldis in Reading, with one at Vastern Court near the train station, one at 350 Basingstoke Road in Whitley, and others in Bath Road, West Reading and London Road in Earley.

The closed Toys R Us big box store at Reading Gateway near the M4 Junction 11. Credit: Google Maps

You can comment on the licensing application by emailing licensing@reading.gov.uk, and the deadline for comments is Wednesday, September 13.

If anyone makes a representation about a licensing application to the council a licensing meeting will be triggered.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has asked Aldi for more details on the opening, and has yet to receive a response for comment.

The Toys R Us store it is believed Aldi will occupy was shortlived, opening in December 2017 but then closing in April the following year.

At the time, the toy store was re-establishing itself in Reading after its original location in Kenavon Drive was demolished to make way for the Huntley Wharf development.