The supermarket chain has won its bid to open a tap room within its Dundonald store in Northern Ireland, meaning that its customers will be able to have a well-earned beer after doing their grocery shopping.
The tap room will be located at the back of the supermarket and have space for around 45 people, including a bar for around six people to sit at.
It will also have an off-licence area, according to court records. Customers will be able to buy draft and bottled beer and cider as well as wines and spirits with the off-licence stocking products available on its supermarket shelves.
Lidl had initially secured planning permission for the pub back in August 2020, but local convenience store operator Philip Russell objected to the plans.
The proposed scheme involved the owners of a local bar surrendering its licence so that Lidl could take it on. Under Northern Ireland licensing laws, no new alcohol sale licences can be granted unless another one is surrendered.
Ruling on the decision Mr Justice Colton said: “It may well be that it will not meet the full demand for licensed premises within the vicinity given its size and lack of food provision,” the judge said.
“That however does not mean that (Lidl) fails to establish inadequacy.”