The Sub-Committee considered a report that set out an application for the variation of a Premises Licence in respect of Mosaic Peri Peri, 51 Wokingham Road, Reading, RG6 1LH.

The report stated that, on 12 December 2024, the Applicant (Zing Cooperates Ltd) had submitted an application that sought to vary the operating hours for the licensable activity of Late Night Refreshment and to extend the hours that the premises would be open to the public.

During the 28-day consultation period the application had attracted representations from Thames Valley Police and from the Council’s Licensing and Environmental Protection teams. This had resulted in the application being considered at the meeting of the Sub-Committee held on 23 January 2025 at which the variation applicant had been granted as sought (Minute 40 2024-25 refers). A link to view the agenda papers and Minutes for the meeting was provided in the report.

The report stated that the Sub-Committee’s decision to grant the variation application had been appealed by Thames Valley Police to the Magistrates’ Court. A first hearing and direction setting for the appeal took place at Reading Magistrates’ Court on 4 April 2025.

The report stated that, on 6 July 2025, the Applicant's legal representative (from Godwin Austen Solicitors), contacted the Council's Legal Team to inform them that the Applicant had instructed them to withdraw the variation application. A copy of the correspondence was attached to the report at Appendix TS-1.

Following discussions between the Applicant, the Council’s Licensing Team and Thames Valley Police it had been agreed that the premises licence should revert back to its original hours. A consent order to that effect had been drafted and submitted to Reading Magistrates’ Court.

On 23 July 2025, a District Judge had considered the consent order but did not sign it and instead made directions remitting the case back to the Council’s Licensing Applications Sub-Committee to be redetermined and to allow for the application to vary the licence conditions of Mosaic Peri Peri to be formally withdrawn. A copy of the Judge’s Direction was attached to the report at Appendix TS-2.

On 24 July 2025 a further email had been received by the Council from the applicant's legal representative requesting that the variation application be formally withdrawn and for the former licence conditions and hours of the premises to be restored to those that were in place before the application. A copy of the correspondence was attached to the report at Appendix TS-3.

Tabitha Shaw, Licensing Enforcement Officer, Reading Borough Council, attended the hearing, presented the report to the Sub-Committee and answered questions.

Robert Smalley, Licensing Enforcement Officer, Reading Borough Council and Declan Smyth, Licensing Officer, Thames Valley Police both attended the hearing acting as Responsible Authorities. Both addressed the Sub-Committee.

The Applicant did not attend the hearing and had not been expected to do so.

Resolved –

(1)           That, after taking into consideration the Licensing Act 2003, the Secretary of State’s Guidance issued under section 182 of that Act and Reading Borough Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and having considered the likely effect that granting the application would have on the promotion of the four Licensing Objectives:

·       the prevention of crime and disorder;

·       public safety;

·       the prevention of public nuisance; and

·       the protection of children from harm

and having considered the report prepared by Reading Borough Council’s Licensing Team, the written submissions made on behalf of the Applicant formally withdrawing the application to vary the hours of the premises, as well as the representations made by the statutory objectors, the Sub-Committee agreed to not grant the application to vary the premises licence;

(2)           That the conditions of the premises licence in respect of Mosaic Peri Peri, 51 Wokingham Road, Reading, RG6 1LH, remain the same as they had been before the variation application.