Discount supermarket chain, Lidl, has been granted permission by the High Court to build a pub inside one of its stores. This supermarket boozer will be found in the Dundonald store in County Down, just outside of Belfast.
Plans for the development include a tap room in the back of the supermarket, which will seat around 45 customers, including a six-seat bar. Not only that, but there’ll be an off licence area, where customers will be able to buy drinks to take off the premises.
Lidl are set to invest a minimum of £410,000 in order to set up the pub in the Dundonald store.
The supermarket group first proposed the plans back in 2020, facing backlash from smaller businesses in the area. Under Northern Ireland licensing laws, new alcohol sales licenses cannot be granted unless another one is surrendered.
Local off-licence chain, Philip Russell Limited, brought the appeal against Lidl, objecting to its plans and claiming that the supermarket chain had not successfully shown that there was a lack of other licensed premises in the area.
The appeal was overturned by the High Court on 27 January. Mr Justice Colton, who ruled on the decision, said that even though 'the application was a novel one,' this was not, 'a reason for refusing it.'
This isn't the first stunt like this from the group, who launched their own designer croissant handbag back in September 2024.
There have also been several other pop up supermarket pubs over the years, although this is set to be the first permanent pub of its kind. A pop up from Tesco back in May 2023 saw the supermarket serving food and drinks in Farringdon to honour the King’s Coronation. In 2019, Sainsbury’s also opened a pop up in London for just one day, serving low and no alcohol options to its customers.
If you're thinking of visiting, why not check out our guide to the best restaurants in Belfast whilst you're there.