Alan Bunce

Stories by Alan Bunce

Below are recent stories by Alan Bunce

• Published: 1 Feb 2010 14:00

  Review: Comedy at the Jazz Café at the Madejski complex, Reading, Wednesday, January 20

  APART from the occasional football match there has long been very little to attract the Reading public to the Madejski Stadium on a cold Wednesday night.

• Published: 16 Jun 2009 12:30

  The Bottle and Glass

  Alan Bunce reviews the Binfield Heath pub

• Published: 4 Jun 2009 08:30

  Derren Brown reviewed

  THE title of Derren Brown"s current show rather plays down his ability as master of deception. Enigma at the Hexagon was like most of his - a sell out offering a weird evening of inexplicable events.

• Published: 3 Mar 2009 15:00

  Mandelson and Darling descend on town

  BUSINESS secretary Lord Mandelson and Chancellor Alistair Darling were in Reading this week to see at first hand how the town is selling itself.

• Published: 13 Feb 2009 12:55

  Go ahead for town centre improvements

  ALMOST £2m of new investment will be put into Reading town centre over the next five years after businesses voted to support plans to a new and enlarged Business Improvement District (BID).

• Published: 26 Jan 2009 10:00

  Herrington & Carmichael given the thumbs up

  WOKINGHAM law firm Herrington & Carmichael LLP has given the thumbs up to Government proposals to replace the doctors' sick note with electronic ‘fit' notes.

• Published: 5 Dec 2008 07:00

  World's cheapest electric car

  An inventor is appealing for financial backing to drive forward his designs for the world's cheapest electric car.

• Published: 4 Dec 2008 08:00

  Wintertime and the living is Zizzi

  IF the crowd at Zizzi on a cold Wednesday night was anything to go by, Wokingham residents are scarcely noticing the credit crunch.

• Published: 21 Nov 2008 08:00

  Changing rooms raided

  FOOTBALLERS had valuables stolen when thieves broke into their changing room during the first half of a cup tie.

• Last updated: 18 Nov 2008 12:44

  Jobs threat at Theale HQ

  BUILDING and plumbing equipment supplier Wolseley would give no indication how the firm's 2,300 job loses would affect its head office at Theale.

• Published: 7 Nov 2008 09:00

  Eden aims for Michelin star

  READING'S most exclusive town centre restaurant opened this week - complete with its own celebrity chef.

• Published: 7 Nov 2008 08:00

  Credit crunch could help independent shops

  THE credit crunch could spark a re-emergence of independent traders according to a local property agent.

• Published: 29 Oct 2008 07:55

  The heat is on as vans patrol to check efficiency

  ENERGY wasters should beware as thermal imaging cameras will be patrolling the streets to check how energy efficient homes are.

• Published: 23 Oct 2008 07:00

  Build family homes, urges planning expert

  READING faces a population imbalance with too few family homes, according to a leading planning consultant.

• Published: 1 Sep 2008 08:00

  Friends join 1,200-mile rally in £250 banger

  FOUR friends got the bank holiday off with a bang when they took part in a charity junk-car rally to Portugal.

• Last updated: 29 Aug 2008 11:20

  Fury as youth centre plans are thrown out

  PLANS to build a youth centre in the countryside have been rejected -despite the decision coming down to a split vote.

• Published: 29 Aug 2008 08:00

  Reward for stolen jewellery

  A REWARD has been posted for the return of jewellery stolen during an armed robbery in Sandurst.

• Published: 28 Aug 2008 09:00

  Ten years of Royals hospitality

  FOR one Reading fan the Madejski Stadium has not only been a theatre of royal dreams but helped him grow his business alongside the club. Chris Bartlett, a Royals fan of almost 40 years, is a veteran of the Tilehurst End and the South Bank at Elm Park. He is one of the founders of IT recruitment specialists GCS and is now a regular supporter not only of the team on matchdays but of the club through its corporate hospitality. His memories of the hospitality at Elm Park evoked mixed emotions. He said: "I only ever attended the hospitality boxes at Elm Park once - at the invitation of a friend, Kiren Sharma, managing director of Gravity Personnel. "The food and drink was very basic and the boxes themselves had a wooden shed appeal but Kiren was a great host and meeting another businessman or two and a player or two made it a great afternoon." He was quickly sold on the delights of the new stadium though and after a tour of the unfinished structure in 1998, he took executive box number 6 for season 1998/99. The following year he took space in the Royals restaurant where he has remained ever since, occasionally sponsoring the match ball or the match itself. Mr Bartlett said the Premiership took his relationships with clients to a new level: "The excitement of the Premiership was excellent and our table was fully booked with customers, certainly throughout the first season and generally for the second. "Even though we have slipped down a league we have maintained our presence in the restaurant, the food is always excellent and it remains a great way to socialise with customers. It is great for networking around the local and not so local business community." Mr Bartlett added: "The move to the Madejski and the vision that John Madejski had for the club has been a great boom for business in Reading. "Although Elm Park had its own magic and atmosphere, the Madstad has taken the experience to a much higher level and provided local business with facilities that we could only dream about over 10 years ago."

• Published: 28 Aug 2008 09:00

  Rates misery costing tens of thousands.

  EMPTY commercial buildings are costing businesses and individuals tens of thousands of pounds because of legislation brought in this year. In April the Government slashed the rate relief available on empty buildings - meaning shops or offices left vacant for more than three months no longer get a 50% rate rebate. Owners of industrial buildings, who used to get full relief when a building was empty, find their 'holiday' stops after six months. According to property experts in Reading that means charities, businesses and individuals are losing out and firms are knocking down unwanted buildings quicker. Rents are being driven down because major landlords undercut lesser rivals to keep buildings occupied. Serviced offices which typically have to carry on average of around 20% vacant space are among the hardest hit. David Janes, who runs Asmec with serviced offices in Bracknell and Theale, said: "It is quite a serious problem. This last year our rates bill has gone up £46,000 which is a massive amount of money for a small company." He is unable to charge the same rents as last year and he dubs the law change "another stealth tax". Linda Staker, ratings partner at Hicks Baker, said the legislation will discourage development and developers will be more reluctant to market buildings. She added: "Instead of leaving a poor quality building, they are saying. 'Let's knock this down'." That, she said. means charities aren't getting cheap or rent-free short term leases on empty buildings. Rod Thomas, head of rating at Vail Williams, highlighted one warehouse building in Basingstoke Road demolished early as a direct result of the legislation. But he said: "The real pain is for private investors. You or I might have inherited a shop or an old warehouse and the economy goes under so it's empty. "Not only do you not get an income but you are forced to pay tens of thousands of pounds in business rates. Some people must be at their wits' ends."

• Published: 27 Aug 2008 16:00

  Crimestoppers appoint new chairman

  THERE is a new face at Thames Valley Crimestoppers following the appointment of their chairman.

• Published: 27 Aug 2008 08:00

  Dundee to Bracknell in seven days for transplant patient

  A TRANSPLANT patient at the Royal Berks has cycled 500 miles for charity.

• Published: 26 Aug 2008 12:00

  Youth centre for 200 turned down

  THE owner of a Christian outdoor activity center and farm has said he is flabbergasted that plans to build a youth centre on the site have been refused.

• Published: 25 Aug 2008 16:00

  Good sports are reading champs

  OLYMPIC tots copied their sporting heroes during a family reading challenge at a library.

• Published: 25 Aug 2008 12:00

  Taking a leaf from an author's book

  ASPIRING writers have had a crash course in how to create characters and weave storylines.

• Last updated: 22 Aug 2008 16:19

  Animal attack charge

  TWO children have been charged with cruelty to animals and are due to appear in a youth court.

• Published: 23 Aug 2008 12:00

  Watching the detectives

  A STORY of suspense and intrigue was acted out in the grounds of a stately home as people got clued up on the Great Sherlock Holmes Trail.

• Published: 22 Aug 2008 12:00

  Flag raising marks 2012 countdown

  A FLAG will be flown to mark the Olympic handover from Beijing to London.

• Published: 22 Aug 2008 12:00

  Close call on youth club

  PLANS to build a youth centre in the countryside have been rejected -despite the decision coming down to a split vote.

• Published: 20 Aug 2008 16:00

  Maggots in Bracknell blamed on bins

  WASTE managers have defended bin collection regimes despite householders complaining about a rise in bluebottle infestations.

• Published: 19 Aug 2008 16:00

  Countdown for 2012 Olympics begins

  A FLAG will be flown in Wokingham to mark the Olympic handover from Beijing to London.