A popular cocktail bar and dance venue in Reading town centre can keep the party going for longer at night even as its sister bar has shut down.
Revolucion de Cuba is a Latin American-themed cocktail bar in Friar Street well known to host salsa classes on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Last September, the bar's operators Inventive Service Company applied for it to stay open until 2am from Thursday to Saturday.
That licence has since been granted. The hour's extension allows customers to stay in the bar longer and gives the operators greater flexibility.
Previously, Revolucion de Cuba had to close its doors no later than 1am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and at 11pm during the rest of the week.
The news comes as its sister bar Revolution in Station Road closed for good in an announcement by Revolution Bars Group plc published on Friday, January 5.
That's despite the Revolution bar benefitting from a £250,000+ upgrade in November 2022.
Rob Pitcher, CEO of Revolution Bars Group said: “We have had the best festive trading period for four years with all of our brands recording positive like-for-like sales and Revolución de Cuba being the standout performer.
However, our younger customers are still feeling the disproportionate effect of the cost-of-living crisis and the national living wage will increase materially in April 2024.
“Therefore, we have taken the difficult yet ultimately beneficial step for the Group to close several bars which are unprofitable.”
The company closed a total of eight bars, the Revolutions in Derby, Beaconsfield, Liverpool and Wilmslow, the Revolución de Cubas in Sheffield and Southampton and the Playhouse physical gaming and restaurant centre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme.
Revolucion de Cuba in Reading itself is at risk as the building occupies, 138-141 Friar Street is set to be demolished to make way for a 163-bed Leonardo brand hotel.
This project was given full approval from Reading Borough Council's planning department on May 24, 2023.
It also involves the demolition of the EyeSite opticians at 142 Friar Street, with The Bugle pub which was closed in October 2021 being brought back into use as a bar area for the hotel.
READ MORE: Reading plans that change Friar Street forever explained
You can view the approved application by typing reference 221235 into the council’s planning portal.
The plans have been devised by assets manager Thackeray Estates, which predicted that the construction project on the hotel would be completed within 18 months of work beginning.
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