A longstanding cafe and bar in Caversham is set to double in size and stay open past midnight.

The Alto Lounge is a Loungers brand bar and kitchen that has become a staple for casual diners and those enjoying a night out in Church Street.

The area the Lounge operates is set to double as the company has acquired the former Thames Hospice charity shop next door, which closed in July.

Maria Kirby, an operations manager for the Loungers said the expansion will seat 100-150 people once complete, approximately doubling the size of the Lounge.

Staff will also have the option to stay open past midnight following a decision by councillors at a licensing applications sub-committee meeting.

Robert Botkai of Winckworth Sherwood, representing the company, said: "This one is successful, we are extending, and because of that we applied for this licence."

The company applied for alcohol sales until midnight each night, and late night refreshment such as food and soft drinks to go on until closure at 12.30am each night as well.

But Mr Botkai clarified that extended hours would not occur on a daily basis.

Mr Botkai said: "The hours are an umbrella. Although we applied for alcohol until midnight, that won't be every night. The Alto Lounge is fairly quiet at 10 o'clock.

"But we do ask for flexibility to continue to the hours applied for."

The meeting to decide the application was triggered after a public objection submitted by Malcolm Pemble of the Caversham and District Residents Association (CADRA).

Mr Pemble acknowledged that there is 'considerable support for the application' but argued that a public nuisance would be caused by people from the Alto Lounge speaking outside late at night.

Addressing the objection, Mr Botkai said: "It was a fairly tame representation."

He also questioned whether complaints about staff causing disturbance to neighbours in Church Street, Rectory Road and Hemdean Road.

Mr Botkai said: "We're not sure that's us, but we'll always investigate and are happy to speak to residents at any time."

Mr Pemble also stated neighbours had expressed concerns about deliveries taking place between 5am to 5.30am at times, and noisy kitchen extraction, refrigeration and air conditioning units.

To that, Mr Botkai replied: "We are trying to get deliveries later, it's something we are conscious of."

Ultimately, councillors agreed that the Alto Lounge should be able to operate past midnight.

Councillor Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley) commented: "Things are a lot quieter in Caversham than they used to be."

He was referring to the 1990s, when Caversham establishment Nue Valbonne attracted celebrities such as Peter Andre, Anna Friel, Barbara Windsor and Ross Kemp.

The application was approved on the condition that customers be banned from taking glasses outside unless going to a designated outdoors area, with the outdoors area being closed altogether from 10pm.

The decision was made by cllrs Leng, Amjad Tarar (Labour, Battle) and Paul Woodward (Labour, Church) at the licensing applications sub-committee meeting on Tuesday, November 26.

Justifying the conditions, cllr Woodward explained: "These conditions are considered necessary to uphold the licensing objectives, and to protect the amenity of neighbours."