Double Turtle: Legendary town centre bar plans expansion

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By JAKE CLOTHIER jclothier@rdg.today

ONE OF Reading’s legendary bars could be set to expand after submitting a bid to the council.

The Purple Turtle has laid out proposals to more than double its footprint as it seeks to change the adjoining building.

The bar and events venue currently occupies 9 Gun Street, whose owners came into possession of the building next door, number 10, in 2004.

Current plans will see parts of the disused building demolished to make way for new cafe and club spaces become part of The Purple Turtle.

Permission was granted for demolition works affecting the redundant features in 2016, but market changes meant that the “financial viability” of the proposals had dwindled, and it fell through.

The new proposals have a more flexible use of the building built in, with coffee shop or restaurant in the front of the building stretching across two floors, and a venue to the rear acting as a smaller club venue.

The existing Purple Turtle would be connected to the property via the basement, which would also contain customer toilets, storage, and staff rooms.

Plans also include the construction of an extension behind the property, including a three-story building for storage and the development of yard space where it meets the culvert nearby.

The property is a Grade II listed building dating back to the 16th Century, when a