News & Insights: Licensing

Lidl Wins High Court Battle to Open First Ever In-Store Pub in Northern Ireland

30 January 2025

German Supermarket Lidl has won a landmark High Court case allowing it to open its first-ever pub in Northern Ireland. This decision marks a significant development in the region’s licensing laws, with the Court rejecting an appeal by rival trader Philip Russell Ltd.
Mr Justice Colton ruled that while the concept of a supermarket-attached pub is new, this does not justify refusal. The Court determined that Lidl had met the legal requirement to establish an “inadequacy” of licenced premises in the area. The Court acknowledged that Lidl’s proposal would not increase the number of pubs in the area, but would instead replace an existing licence, addressing a demand for licensed premises.
Lidl attempted to obtain an off-licence for its Dundonald store in 2019 but was unsuccessful. In 2020, it secured planning permission for a pub within its supermarket and reached an agreement to take over the licence of the former ‘Ruby’s pb’. Philip Russel Ltd opposed the move, arguing that Lidl was attempting to circumvent licensing restrictions by establishing an off-sales facility under the guise of an on-sales pub.
However, Mr Justice Colton found that Lidl met all statutory requirements under the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. Research indicated increased demand for pubs in the area, with a 23% rise in the adult population over the last decade.
In his final ruling, Justice Colton ruled that Lidl’s application was legitimate and not an attempt to bypass licensing laws. He 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 it meets the statutory requirements and there is no good reason for refusing the application.”
Lidl will invest £410,000 into the project, featuring a 45-seat pub alongside its off-sales section. While no opening date has been announced, this ruling sets a precedent for similar developments in Northern Ireland, potentially paving the way for further supermarket-licenced premises in the future.
The Licensing Team at O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors can assist licence holders in respect of all kinds of licensing applications. For expert, professional advice, please contact O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors on 028 90 321 000.

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