Lidl to open its first in-store pub, Northern Ireland

Lidl has won a court battle in the High Court in Northern Ireland to open its first-ever in-store pub.

The German supermarket chain has now been given the legal green light to open a bar inside its Dundonald store after a complaint had been brought against the proposed project by another local trader, near Belfast.

Mr. Justice Colton said he saw ‘no good reason for refusing the application’ for a bar that would accommodate around 45 punters as well as an off-licence. The Lidl pub will stock draft and bottled beers, wine, cider, and spirits, and no doubt Ireland’s favourite crisps, Taytos. Many of the brands on offer will be those already available on the shelves of the supermarket.

5-year court battle to open first Lidl pub in Northern Ireland

The supermarket had already been granted to go ahead with the pub project back in August 2000 but was blocked when Philip Russell Ltd., which runs a number of convenience stores across Northern Ireland, requested an injunction be filed against the plan based on its claim that the chain had failed to establish that there was first a lack of pubs in the area.

Licences for new pubs legally depend on there being a shortfall of other similar businesses within a certain radius. Philip Russell Ltd also claimed that Lidl had applied for a licence in order to get around the Licence (NI) Order 1996. However, the judge was having none of it and allowed Lidl to go ahead with their project.