Lidl gets greenlight to open first in-store pub in Northern Ireland

Lidl has received permission from a High Court to open its first ever in-store pub inside its store in Dundonald, near Belfast, Sky News reported.

This comes after a judge dismissed an appeal from another trader.

During the ruling on Monday (27 January), Mr Justice Colton said that he saw “no good reason for refusing the application”.

According to court records, Lidl plans to open a pub which is expected to seat around 45 customers and an off-licence area.

The new pub would offer customers draft and bottled beer, wine, cider and spirits with the off-licence featuring products that are available on the supermarket’s shelves.

According to Sky, the German supermarket chain secured planning permission for the pub in August 2020, but was objected to by Philip Russell Ltd, which runs a number of convenience stores across Northern Ireland.

It argued that Lidl had failed to establish that there was an inadequate number of other licenced premises near the site.

According to the licensing laws in Northern Ireland, no new alcohol sale licences can be granted unless another one is surrendered.

Phillip Russell added that Lidl’s application for an off-licence was an “impermissible attempt” to get around the Licencing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.

However, Colton claimed that the supermarket has established the “inadequacy” of local pub offerings and that Lidl’s pub would replace two pubs that were previously in the area, and would spend at least £410,000 doing so.

He added that the pub would be located near transport and shopping facilities and in an area that has a growing adult population.

During the ruling, Colton concluded: “I am satisfied that this is a bona fide application and that the applicant fully intends to operate the premises as a public on/off-licence.”