New Reading Pizzeria finds out whether it can open late

A food business called Vesuvio Pizzeria is gearing up to open at 20 Norcot Road in Tilehurst, taking over from the old Coral Betting Shop which has been closed for years.

Vesuvio Pizzeria submitted a licensing application to Reading Borough Council to sell food and drink indoors and outdoors until 2am each night, and sell alcohol from 11am to 11.30pm.

However, the application proved controversial as neighbours raised concerns over noise disturbance, anti-social behaviour and an intensification of traffic in the area.

Objecting Tilehurst resident Fiona Conroy said:  “The risk of possible damage, violence, anti-social behaviour is increased by introducing a considerable number of people, late at night and having been in an environment where alcohol is involved, is not an acceptable risk for existing residents.

“Generally any activity involving increased numbers of people, vehicles, and alcohol after 11:30pm is not appropriate for a residential area and it increases the possibility of becoming a public nuisance, safe guarding issue’s and significantly raises the risk of criminal and disorderly behaviour.”

Fellow neighbours Jenny Trist and Claire Foxon both argued the pizzeria should close at 11pm, in line with the closure of nearby pub The Victoria, which calls time at 11pm Sunday to Thursday and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

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An objection was also lodged by council planning officer David Brett, who questioned whether the Vesuvio company had permission to convert the betting shop into a restaurant.

The council gave consent for its conversion from a betting shop into offices under application reference 200766.

Due to planning laws, if that application has been actioned, Vesuvio Pizzeria should be in the clear.

However, the planning status of the building is not entirely certain.

Conversion work has begun with an outdoors area being established.

Vesuvio Pizzeria at 20 Norcot Road, Tilehurst. Credit: Reading Chronicle

The application was decided at a licensing applications committee meeting on Thursday, March 2.

The licence was approved with no alterations at the meeting, with the decision being made by councillors Paul Woodward (Labour, Church), Glenn Dennis (Labour, Kentwood) and Liam Challenger (Labour, Katesgrove).

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Approval means the restaurant will be open and serving food, drinks and alcohol until 11.30pm each night.

From then on, the pizzeria will function as a takeaway only until 2am each night.

In comments to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, cllr Dennis stated deliveries would be conducted from the rear of the building.

He said: “There will be no impact on residents at the front, as all deliveries will be conducted from the back.

“We saw no reason why they couldn’t open.”

He added that the business in touch with the council’s planning department to resolve any lingering issues.