Restaurants and eateries that shut in Reading in 2023

The town is blessed with having a mix of different cuisines provided by dependable chains and buzzing independents.

But business has not gone well for every restaurant and cafe in Reading, as at least 10 food and drinks businesses have closed this year.

You can see which places closed, and get a bit of insight as to why, in this list below:

Greggs 

A popular but often less busy Greggs than the one a stone's throw away in Broad Street Mall the bakery in West Street closed its doors earlier this year.

The unit it used to occupy is being stripped out for a new occupant.

Its closure leaves seven Greggs bakeries left in the area.

San Sicario 

The now closed San Sicario restaurant in Caversham Road, Reading seen in June 2023. Credit: Google Maps (Image: Google Maps)

San Sicario in Caversham Road lasted just months after opening earlier this year, closing down in August.

When it operated, it sold Italian staples such as spaghetti bolognese, garlic bread and ice cream to diners.

The restaurant received a one-star food hygiene rating in March, with the owner called a 'terrible' decision.

San Sicario occupied the former unit of Cozze, which itself has two locations in Woodley and Pangbourne.

Wok to Walk 

Wok to Walk at The Oracle Riverside in Reading, which has been closed until further notice for months. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service (Image: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service)

Wok to Walk, a noodles and rice grab-and-go style eatery in The Oracle was closed earlier this year as well.

While it had received five-star food hygiene rating, Wok to Walk suddenly shut down, with it being listed as 'temporarily closed' on Google.

It has not reopened since.

Spice Oven 

The Spice Oven Indian and Chinese restaurant in Church Street, Caversham. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

The Spice Oven global buffet was seen closed down in September, but is thought to have closed earlier than that, with the last post on its social media channels being from April.

The building it occupied used to be the Nue Valbonne nightclub, which had a reputation for attracting celebrities such as Peter Andre and Barbara Windsor in its time.

Buon Appetito

Buon Appetito in Chatham Street, near Reading town centre, which has been taken over by Traditional Romanesc. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Buon Appetito is another restaurant where its closure date is unclear, with the Italian independent receiving a 5/5 review by a TripAdvisor user in April.

However, it closed down after that point, being taken over by the Traditional Romanesc restaurant in the summer.

Wolf Italian Street Food 

Karak Chai and Coffee which has taken over Wolf Italian Street Food in Broad Street, Reading town centre. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service (Image: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service)

Wolf Italian Street Food was a long-running takeout cafe serving up pasta, ciabatta, coffee and soft drinks in Broad Street.

While it has closed down in the town centre earlier this year, Wolf Italian has moved to South Oak Way in Green Park.

The old Wolf unit has now been taken over by Karak Chai & Coffee, which also sells Indian street food to passersby.

La'De Express

La De Express, which suddenly closed down last year, has now been turned into The Bap Korean fast food chain. Photo taken in Market Place, Reading town centre. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

The shortlived La'De Express Turkish restaurant opened in 2022 but suddenly shut down earlier this year.

The unit it occupied was taken over by The Bap fried chicken and Korean street food eatery in August.

Franco Manca

The former Debenhams unit at The Oracle now fully vacant as Next Beauty & Home, Franco Manca an The Real Greek have all closed. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Franco Manca lasted six years in Reading, first opening in The Oracle in 2017.

But the pizza chain had to close in September as a result of shopping centre owner Hammerson's plans to transform the department store space and the eastern portion of The Oracle.

Redevelopment plans meant Next Beauty & Home and the restaurants in the former Debenhams unit had all closed by early September.

The Real Greek

The Real Greek opened shortly after Franco Manca in the summer of 2017.

Also occupying a place in the Debenhams unit, it served _until it was spotted closed following the approval of plans to make changes to The Oracle department stores.

Grumpy Goat 

The now closed Grumpy Goat café, shop and bar in Union Street, also known as Smelly Alley in Reading town centre. James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

The Grumpy Goat independent beer tap, cheese seller and cafe closed on Saturday, October 28 after years of trading in the town centre.

It had previously functioned as a shop only in the Harris Arcade from 2013 onwards before moving to Union Street, called 'Smelly Alley' in late 2020.

Grumpy Goat took over the place occupied by Quantum Cafe, which closed after 21 years there when its lease expired.

Yo! Sushi

In similar circumstances to Franco Manca and The Real Greek, the Yo! Sushi conveyor belt restaurant had to close due to redevelopment plans for the House of Fraser unit it sat within.

The sushi chain was seen shut in November.