Plans approved for Vietnamese restaurant Hello Pho to open at 8 Bartholomew Street in Newbury

Planning permission has been granted for a Vietnamese restaurant to set up shop in Newbury town centre.

8 Bartholomew Street – a vacant unit that was formerly home to B the Lifestyle Shop – will soon become the home of Hello Pho.

Tri Van Vu applied to convert the empty retail space, put up new signage and install a kitchen extractor system in March of this year.

His proposal was approved by West Berkshire planners on December 4.

Three residents who live above the unit objected to the plans, stating that the restaurant would “unreasonably affect the peaceful enjoyment of the flats above by their occupiers”.

They listed, among others, the “noise generated by the extraction systems, pervasive smells emanating from the extraction system, late night noise disturbance by guests and staff and the Influx of rodents and insects” as reasons for their objection.

However, an environmental health consultant stated that odour and noise problems should not arise if the conditions set out by West Berkshire Council upon approval are followed and fulfilled.

It is not known when work will begin to convert the vacant unit into the restaurant, or when the restaurant will open to the public.