A decision on whether to shut down a Reading pub has been delayed after the owner submitted 50 pages of papers the day before the hearing.

The Pheasant, on Southampton Street, faces potentially losing its licence after a series of violent incidents, including GBH, and high levels of drug use.

The pub will now have its licence reviewed by Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) licensing committee on December 1, after today’s (November 10) meeting was adjourned.

READ MORE: Drugs and fights at Reading's The Pheasant pub could prompt shutdown

Police asked for the review, raising “serious concerns” about reported drug use and fights involving bottles, knives, and reports of people being threatened with a bat with a spike attached, and calling for the licence to be stripped from Admiral Taverns.

While Admiral Taverns did not request the adjournment, council officers said their submission of dozens of pages of paperwork just 24 hours before the meeting meant councillors and other interested parties would not have had a “practical” amount of time to read the evidence.

According to officers, the pub claimed its late submission of evidence was because it only received paperwork on November 4 and was not asked by the council to submit evidence.

But councillor Paul Woodward, a member of the Licensing Applications sub-committee, slammed the pub owners.

The former Reading mayor said: “To use a technical term, I think they are taking the p**s.

“I think it is rude. I think they are perfectly able to sort themselves out.

“I am not happy about it. I disagree that they didn’t have time. A large organisation like Admiral Taverns should have had all their ducks in a row.”

READ MORE: Why Reading pub The Pheasant could be shut down - a timeline

Councillor Debs Edwards added her own criticism, saying: “Having 50 pages sent to me yesterday, considering this is quite a complicated case, it was very difficult to follow. It is disappointing to have 50 pages sent the day before.”

And Cllr Woodward added: “I think this is a tactic. This is not the first time we have had this. I have personally had enough of it.”