Lidl received a High Court approval to open a pub inside a UK store (Image: Getty)
will be opening its first-ever pub in after a High Court granted approval. The German supermarket chain plans to open a bar inside one of its stores in Dundonald, near Belfast.
The ruling took place on Monday, when the judge, Mr Justice Colton, saw “no good reason for refusing the application”.
The pub inside Lidl would offer a space seating 45 customers, as well as an off-licence area selling products normally found on the supermarket’s shelves. People would be able to buy draft and bottled beer, wine, cider and spirits.
Lidl secured planning permission to open a pub back in August 2020, yet their plans were objected to by Philip Russell Ltd, which operates convenience stores across the country.
The pub will seat 45 customers (Image: Getty)
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Philip Russell Ltd said that the supermarket had failed to state there was an inadequate number of other licensed businesses near the site.
In Northern Ireland, licensing laws state that new alcohol sale licences can only be granted in exchange for another one surrendering.
It was also argued that Lidl’s application was an “impermissible attempt” to get around the Licencing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.
However, in a new ruling, Mr Justice Colton acknowledged that Lidl had established the “inadequacy” of licenced premises.
The supermarket’s new establishment would replace two pubs that were once in the area, with the scheme setting the supermarket back by at least £410,000 to reach an agreement with the owners of the other pubs.
Lidl would sell draft and bottled beer, wine, cider and spirits (Image: Getty)
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The pub will be located near public transport and other shopping facilities. It was previously reported that the pub would have a separate entrance to that of the supermarket and would feature booths for customers to enjoy a drink.
Mr Justice Colton said: “I accept that it has concluded that the public house will be profitable, knowing that if it closed through lack of profitability an evitable consequence would be that the off-licence permission would lapse following any such decision.
“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”.