Reading nightclub in trouble with the Police
Calls for the club's licence to be reviewed after 'alarming rate' of incidents
A nightclub in Reading town centre is in trouble with the police over an ‘alarming scale’ of incidents reported there.
Gun Street Garden has been in the town centre since September 2019 and the club has two rooms with two DJ decks, a rooftop bar, and smoking area.
Photos shared by the venue on Facebook show young revellers enjoying nights out, professional dancers, and its sparkling bottle service.
But now nights at the Gun Street Garden are at risk of changing as a Thames Valley Police licensing officer has called for the club’s licence to be reviewed by Reading Borough Council.
The application for review, written by police licensing officer PC Declan Smyth, states:
“Police submit this application for review in order to address the failures of the premises licence holder to promote the licensing objectives via their insufficient measures to ensure due diligence, best practice and promote the licensing objectives.
“The scale of incidents occurring at the premises, the actions of the Premises Licence Holder, supervisors, staff and security team at this premises is alarming and steps need to be taken to safeguard the late night economy and the local community visiting the premises and area.”
Incidents
According to the police.uk crime map, a total of 12 incidents were recorded in Gun Street in October 2023, the latest data available.
Of those, four were recorded as violence and sexual offences, three public order offences, a drug offence, a robbery incident, another incident of theft and two other uncategorised crimes in the street.
The four licensing objectives PC Smyth referred to are the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of nuisance and the protection of children from harm.
A review of the licence could see the hours of operation curbed or the licence being revoked, meaning operators will be unable to sell alcohol or hold events at the venue.
Gun Street Garden currently opens from 10pm to 3am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
We've contacted the bar for comment.
You can comment on the application for review by emailing licensing@reading.gov.uk, with the deadline for responses being Thursday, January 11.