Councillor Saadat attended the hearing and, with the consent of the Sub-Committee, represented a constituent who had made a valid representation in relation to the application at item 14.

To consider an application for the variation of a premises licence in respect of Reading Festival, Little Johns Farm, Richfield Avenue, Reading, RG1 8EQ.

The Sub-Committee considered a report relating to an application submitted by Festival Republic Limited to vary the premises licence for Reading Festival, Little Johns Farm, Richfield Avenue, Reading, RG1 8EQ.

The report stated that Reading Festival was a large music-focussed event that had been held annually in Reading for over 50 years. The festival took place at Little Johns Farm on land owned by Reading Borough Council and South Oxfordshire District Council. 

A copy of the current premises licence (LMV000478) was attached to the report at Appendix RS-1.

A copy of the variation application form submitted by Festival Republic Limited on 26 June 2026 was attached to the report at Appendix RS-2. Appendix RS-2 also contained a supporting letter from the applicant dated 17 June 2026, a Noise Impact Assessment dated 26 June 2026, and a Crowd and Transport Supporting Statement.

The report stated that the application sought to vary the premises licence to add the following to the existing licence:

Provision of Live Music:

Thursday                           from 17:00hrs until 00:00hrs (Main Stage Only)

Sale by Retail of Alcohol:

Saturday to Monday           from 02:00hrs to 03:00hrs

Wednesday                       from 11:00hrs to 00:00hrs

Thursday                           from 00:00hrs to 03:00hrs & 10:00hrs to 17:00hrs

Friday                                from 00:00hrs to 03:00hrs

The Sub-Committee heard that the application also sought to increase the maximum number of Wednesday early-entry ticket holders from 20,000 to 40,000 and to update and modernise several existing licence conditions.

A schedule setting out the proposed amendments to the licence conditions was attached to the report at Appendix RS-3. The schedule compared the existing licence conditions with the revised wording proposed by the applicant and agreed with Reading Borough Council Licensing officers. The proposed changes to conditions included the introduction of new conditions, the amendment of existing conditions and the removal of a number of outdated or superseded conditions, with the aim of modernising the licence and to reflect current festival management practices.

A verbal update was provided at the meeting noting that a single condition had been inadvertently omitted from the schedule of proposed conditions attached to the report at Appendix RS-3. The Sub-Committee noted the omission and considered the following condition as part of the application before it:

“On the Thursday of the event the Provision of Live Music shall be restricted to Stage 1.”

The report stated that, during the 28-day consultation period, 13 representations had been received from local residents, including representations submitted by the Warren and District Residents' Association (WADRA) and the Caversham and District Residents' Association (CADRA). The representations were set out in appendices RS-4 and RS-5.

Appendix RS-4 comprised nine representations from local residents and residents' associations objecting to the application. The representations raised concerns regarding the proposed extension of live music to Thursday evening and alcohol sales until 03:00hrs, citing the potential for increased noise and disturbance, anti-social behaviour, adverse impacts on residents' amenity and sleep, additional pressure on transport and emergency services, and wider effects on the local community.

Appendix RS-5 comprised four representations submitted by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.