A Reading pub where police were previously called to a series of violent incidents and cocaine use is up for sale.

The Pheasant, in Southampton Street, has had a chequered past and was threatened with closure following a long list of police callouts in recent years.

Call outs have included reports of a 20-person brawl, a man with deep glass lacerations to his face, and someone being stabbed in the neck.

During the pandemic - August 2020 - police officers also found between 100 to 150 people in the rear garden despite the pub having a license for just 80 – one of nine licensing failures reported that year.

Read more: Decision made on future of Reading pub with reported drugs and violence issues

Despite previous attempts from police to close the pub, Reading Borough Council allowed it to stay open in December 2020 after a review.

Owner Admiral Taverns accused the police of submitting “gossip and rumour” to the council when it considered closing the pub.

The council eventually said there was “insufficient evidence to warrant revocation of the licence as a proportionate response”, and instead imposed conditions.

Management had already introduced several measures to address the issues, including a ban list for certain clientele, enhanced covid measures, and security brought in for Fridays and Saturdays.

Read more: Two men arrested after fight outside the Pheasant

New management was key to the licensing committee’s decision to let the pub keep running.

The pub is now up for sale.

Admiral Taverns is offering up 1,595 square feet of space including the car park at the Southampton Street site.