Page 29 - A History Of Food And Drink In Wokingham

1986

The Wheatsheaf Inn at 14 & 15 Market Place closed and was replaced by Oddbins, wine
merchants. Earlier in the year the Wheatsheaf had upset the Borough Council by making
changes to their listed building without permission.

The Bush Hotel closed.

The Penguin and Vulture public house opened at Cantley
1991

Berni Inn no longer owned Ye Olde Rose Inn.

The Pin and Bowl public house in Finchampstead Road shut.
1996

The Sultan Balti Palace restaurant took over the empty premises at 7 Market Place which
had been empty since 1992
1998

Shoppers and traders were baffled by the mysterious disappearance of Wokingham’s town
centre butchers. Pettit and Brown, who reported good trade over Christmas, suddenly closed
down, leaving a sign saying ‘Gone for lunch’ propped up in the window. The butchers’ landlord,
said that the company had gone into liquidation although this report has not been confirmed.

2006

Oddbins, the wine merchants, closed down and was replaced by Fat Face Clothing, still there
today.
2010

The restaurant Café Rouge took over The New Rose at 30 Market Place and closed in 2016.
The premises are being developed by Oakman Inns.
2012

The Roebuck public house had been renamed Square Bar in 2007, but reverted back to
being the Roebuck as part of Wokingham’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
2016

The Co-operative Food took over 9/10 Market Place from My Local Chain that had gone into
administration.

2019
Elusive Brewing brewed a commemorative beer, Old Market Ale, to mark the 800 year
anniversary of Wokingham gaining a Charter to hold a market in the town.

The ale had been brewed using heritage malts that had been in existence for hundreds of
years and were oak aged acknowledging Wokingham once being called Oakingham”.

29 of 34