The building that houses London Street Brasserie dates back to the early 1700s. It was built as a toll-house for traffic entering Reading over Duke Street Bridge. The building was constructed on the banks of the Kennet on the parapets of Duke Street Bridge. By 1839 the building was listed in Varials Directory of Reading as a public house, owned by Evans & Francis, Kennet brewery. Beer was delivered by barge. Blacksmiths, Williams and Son occupied one half of the building. In fact the building was separated into retail outlets until 1999 when Paul Clerehugh acquired the property knocking both shops into one to form the London Street Brasserie.

Half the building remained licensed to retail beer until 1907 when it was re-licensed as a chemist to manufacture and wholesale pharmaceuticals. It remained a chemist until 1935. The other retailing units at the site were used for a multitude of businesses including a hairdressers, tobacconist, newsagents, confectioners, china doll dealer, photographic printers and publishers.

By the 1980s, the building had started to fall into a state or poor repair. However, it always had bags of character and remained one of Reading’s most architecturally interesting buildings. The last tenant to occupy the building was Rogers & Shergold who traded as newsagents. Mr and Mrs Shergold attended the opening party of London Street Brasserie in 2000 and were very enthusiastic about the sympathetic changes Paul Clerehugh had made to their shop and flat above in creating the London Street Brasserie.