A number of restaurants and shops could be ‘at risk’ as part of plans for more than 600 homes to be built in towers at a landmark shopping mall in Reading.
Broad Street Mall is one of the busiest shopping centres in town, second to The Oracle, and has been in place in Reading for more than 50 years having been built in 1971.
Now, mall owners AEW have partnered with McLaren Living for a project to add residential towers to the rear of the Broad Street Mall, creating 644 apartments in total.
But in order for these towers to be built, the rear of the mall will be partly demolished.
A plan showing the construction zone for the project to add four towers to Broad Street Mall in Reading. It is understood businesses in the zone would have to close or relocate. Credit: Trium
That means seven units on the site could be ‘at risk’, with part of a fashion store also scheduled to be demolished.
Here is a list of the restaurants and other amenities that could be ‘at risk’ if plans go ahead.
TK Maxx
Plans show part of TK Maxx being demolished to make way for one of the new towers.
The budget fashion brand already has a store at Reading Gate Retail Park in Whitley, and is set to open a new store in the former House of Fraser in The Oracle next summer.
Sushimania
The busy Japanese restaurant would have to move, according to plans, after years in Broad Street Mall.
Bierhaus
This German-themed bar and eatery is also within the construction zone, and is therefore at risk of closure.
Bierhaus is known for its wide selection of German beers and food specialties such as bratwurst and schnitzel.
Culture Mix
The Culture Mix Arts studio opened in 2022 after taking over from the Vibes Caribbean restaurant. The venue currently hosts music sessions and events, and creative development courses.
The Forgotten British Gurkha
The Forgotten British Gurkha Association has a meeting room for the families it serves in the mall. The group would have to relocate if the project goes ahead, according to the plans.
Escape Reading
This escape room along Queens Walk would also have to relocate or consolidate as a result of the project.
Currently, its games ‘The Kidnapped’, ‘The Vampire Slayers’ and ‘The Blown Away’ are run at its unit in the mall.
Meanwhile, ‘The Ram Raid’ and ‘Age of Magic’ games are held at its second site at unit 92B Audley Street.
Audio T
Audio T has already moved to the Brookside Business Centre in Church Road, Swallowfield. The company specialises in audio and home cinema equipment.
A message on the door states the store closed on December 9 last year, with the store at the Brookside Business Centre opening on December 19, 2023.
Pepe Sale
The traditional Sardinian restaurant is known for its meat, seafood and pasta dishes, and has long been a fixture in Broad Street Mall. It is at risk as well as it is within the construction zone for the towers.
What has the project team said?
McLaren Living has not responded to a previous request for comment after Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading East, raised official objections to the project.
However, at a pre-application consultation meeting, members of the development team said any loss would be replaced with 1,501 metres of commercial space divided into eight units.
A representative of McLaren Living said: “We’re trying to move people rather than lose people.”