Work is set to convert a steak and grill restaurant in Reading into hotel rooms as part of nationwide business changes.

The company Whitbread owns a number of hospitality brands including the Premier Inn, Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and the Bar + Block.

Earlier this year, the company announced that it aimed to create 3,500 hotel rooms by converting its restaurants into rooms nationwide.

According to a statement from Dominic Paul, the CEO of Whitbread, the change is being undertaken to provide 'a better experience for hotel guests' while retaining a  'great breakfast and dinner' offer as well.

In Reading, this meant the closure of The Beefeater at Reading Gateway on July 4, to clear the way for nine hotel rooms. This project has recently been approved.

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The Premier Inn has had 120 bookable rooms since opening, with the conversion bringing that total to 129.

Reading Borough Council planning officer Anthony Scholes stated that 'limited evidence' had been provided that there was little demand for The Beefeater.

However, he acknowledged that there was a food and drinks offer nearby, mentioning The Holiday Inn, The Sportsman, The World Turned Upside Down and The Swan in Three Mile Cross.

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The plan (application reference PL/24/1329) was approved on Thursday, November 21.

Changes involve closing off the access to the Beefeater, adding windows to the nine new bedrooms, reducing the size of existing windows and infilling them with similar materials to those used when the hotel was built.

The Beefeater in Southcote remains open.