Story and image provided by Reading Pubwatch
Over thirty-five venues were represented at the Reading Pubwatch Meeting held at Lola Lo.
The theme of the meeting was about celebrating Licensing Week and the benefits of partnership working with all stakeholders in the Evening and Night time economy (ENTE).
Ward Councillor Jacqueline Dominguez gave the opening remarks stating how pleased she was that so many representatives from licensed premises, the BID, Fire and Rescue, First stop First Aid, Street Pastors and the Council.
Alexa Volker and Elijah Seville-Williams from the Reading BID briefed members on the different services and initiatives that the BID provides including sponsorship of Pubwatch Training courses and the cost of the Best Bar None scheme run by Reading Pubwatch. Alexa was pleased to present the new Hi Vis Tabards for the Door Supervisors working at licensed premises that have the logos of the ENTE stake holders to be distributed free to all members.
Anna Saverson from the First Stop First Aid facility provided the attendance statistics for 2025, saying that a total of 303 people attended the First Aid centre on a Friday or Saturday evening. And 237 of those people who received treatment from the onsite Paramedics, would otherwise have had to attended the Accident and Emergency Department at the local Royal Berkshire Hospital. An ENTE initiative that delivers real results.
The Senior Licensing Officer from Reading Borough Council, Robert Smalley, gave a whistlestop tour of the vast range of licensing responsibilities his department conducts from Pub Premises to Pedlars, Pavement Café and permits, from Taxis to TENs, and from Scrap to Sex Establishments and more.
The representative from the Fire and Rescue Service, Nicola Waddington, reminded members to review their Fire Risk Assessments in respect of capacity numbers ahead of the FIFA world cup tournament.
Honorary secretary Bill Donne gave a briefing update on The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (Martyn’s Law) that is being driven by the Security Industry Authority and the requirements for the standard tier and enhanced tier
