Reading Polish restaurant wins bid for alcohol sales

The Pasibrzueszek Polish Cousin Restaurant opened up earlier this year at 49 Hemdean Road in Caversham.

The unit on the ground floor has served as a hair salon since the 1990s, but was converted into a restaurant this year.

The restaurant is run by a couple with the help of their daughter Monika Maria Michalowska.

She had applied to sell alcohol from 11am to 11pm Tuesday to Sunday, with closure at 11.30pm each night, but neighbours raised concerns over drunk guests leaving late at night and bright lights coming from the premises disturbing sleep.

READ MORE: Neighbour concerns raised over possible noise disturbance at Polish restaurant

At a council licensing hearing, Ms Michalowska shed light on the business, stating its limited nature, with it typically closing at 6pm.

She said: “Customers are asking about wines and beers, we want customers to have an opportunity to enjoy another place in Caversham.”

Ms Michalowska added that Pasibrzueszek has six covers, with a table for four and a table for two, and has already had Polish, English and Asian guests.

She explained their method of takeaway is her Dad delivering food to diners in his car.

Ms Michalowska also argued neighbour concerns over bright lights have been addressed.

Pasibrzuszek Polish Cousin Restaurant at 49 Hemdean Road, Caversham. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

At a crucial moment, Ms Michalowska conceded that it would be more likely that the restaurant would close at 8pm or 9pm at night rather than 11.30pm.

That prompted cllr Clarence Mitchell (Conservative, Emmer Green)  a member of the licensing committee, to ask why they submitted a licensing application to sell alcohol until 11pm in the first place. 

Ms Michalowska replied: “This [the application submission] was three months ago, we didn’t know exactly what we wanted. We are still figuring out timings.”

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Neighbours were represented by cllr Jacopo Lanzoni, who had objected to the application alongside cllrs Jan Gavin and Matt Yeo (all Labour, Caversham).

Cllr Lanzoni said: “Licensed premises need to be able to coexist with residents.

“If people leave at 11.30pm, this will inevitably cause noise nuisance.”

He added that guests leaving at that time would disturb neighbours who are light sleepers.

Cllr Lanzoni also raised concerns about traffic, but it was noted that guests could park at the council’s Chester Street car park which is free on Sundays.

Pasibrzuszek Polish Cousin Restaurant at 49 Hemdean Road, Caversham. Credit: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service

The Caversham Labour councillors were criticised by cllr Clarence Mitchell for ‘copy and pasting’ their objections.

Cllr Mitchell said: “It just looks formulaic, it doesn’t look like it comes from the heart.”

He suggested that councillors submit self-written objections.

Cllr Lanzoni then jibed that he would take a creative writing course ‘to make sure objections are tailored in the future.

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He summed up by saying small businesses such as Pasibrzueszek are welcome as long as nuisance is limited as much as possible.

Addressing Ms Michalowska, Cllr Lanzoni said: “Thank you for the work you are doing. We are hoping that comments can be taken constructively.

“We want to stress this is a highly residential area.

“We hope that the committee can make a decision that satisfies the needs of both.”

Ultimately, the council’s licensing committee granted the application to sell alcohol, but for fewer hours than applied for.

The granted licence allows Pasibrzueszek to sell alcohol until 9pm and close at 9.30pm from Tuesday to Sunday each week.

The decision was made by cllrs Paul Woodward (Labour, Church, Deborah Edwards (Labour, Southcote) and cllr Mitchell on Thursday, June 15.