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. 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 to build a tap room on their Dundonald site, which is located just outside of Belfast. 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 It was also alleged to be an impermissible attempt to circumvent the legislation by effectively making another application for an off-licence.
Ruling on the dispute, Mr Justice Colton determined that Lidl had established the necessary inadequacy. He pointed out that if the application is successful, there will be only one licensed premises in a vicinity where two pubs previously operated. The planned new location would be in the middle of a neighbourhood with well-established retail and transportation options as well as a growing adult population.
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