A quirk of Northern Ireland licensing laws has led to Lidl revealing plans to open its first pub in Dundonald, East Belfast.
The supermarket giant had tried to get an off-sales licence for its Dundonald store, but due to the surrender principle in operation there, it was turned down. This rule stipulates that an existing licence must be surrendered before a new one can be issued.
It was also unable to pass an ‘inadequacy test’ — it was ruled there was not an inadequate number of off-sales outlets in the area. So the pub idea was born.
It faced a High Court challenge from rival businesses saying it was utilising a legal loophole to set up an off-licence. But this challenge was thrown out.
Now work on the pub site has begun, although Lidl has yet to reveal an opening date.
