Lidl Secures High Court Approval for First In-Store Pub in Northern Ireland

The budget supermarket chain plans to invest £410,000 in a Dundonald location featuring a pub and off-licence area after overcoming legal challenges.

Lidl has received High Court approval to open its first-ever in-store pub in Dundonald, Northern Ireland, near Belfast.
The pub will seat approximately 45 customers and serve a range of alcoholic beverages, with an off-licence section offering products sold in Lidl stores.
The project, initially approved in 2020, required Lidl to secure an existing alcohol licence due to Northern Ireland's licensing laws, which mandate surrendering an old licence to issue a new one.
Philip Russell Ltd, a local off-licence operator, challenged the plan, arguing Lidl failed to prove insufficient availability of licensed premises nearby, but the court ruled in Lidl's favor.
The judge highlighted the area's growing population and lack of sufficient licensed establishments, noting Lidl's £410,000 investment and commitment to operating the pub as a legitimate business.