Lidl wins legal battle to open its first-ever pub
Lidl wins legal battle to open its first-ever pub
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The High Court has paved the way for Lidl to open the in-store pub in County Down near Belfast. A legal win has cleared the way for discount supermarket Lidl to open its first pub inside one of its stores after the High Court rejected a challenge to the proposal.
![[A legal win has cleared the way for Lidl to open its first pub]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/06/19/09/iStock-1187011005.jpg)
An appeal against the retailer's temporary permit to operate a bar within its Dundonald, County Down, store was launched by the owner of several off-licences in Northern Ireland, but the legal bid was denied by a judge. Philip Russell Ltd filed the appeal, claiming Lidl had not demonstrated that there were insufficiently licensed establishments close to the location.
Lidl obtained planning approval in 2020 to build a tap room on their Dundonald site, which is located just outside of Belfast. The suggested plan called for investing £410,000 in a new in-store pub and an off-sales section, as well as coming to an agreement with the owners of a nearby bar to give up that licence.
No new alcohol-selling licenses can be issued in Northern Ireland until an existing one is surrendered, according to licensing regulations. After being turned down for an off-licence at the shop several years earlier, Lidl has stated that should the fresh application be accepted, it was committed to operating a bar.
Philip Russell Ltd argued that Lidl had failed to show there were "inadequate licenced premises" near the site as required under the Licencing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. It was also alleged to be an impermissible attempt to circumvent the legislation by effectively making another application for an off-licence.
