Lidl Dundonald has been approved to open a pub within its store after battling Northern Ireland's surrender principle licensing system. Please find a statement on behalf of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) below:
Ruth Sloan, Director of CAMRA Northern Ireland said:
“Lidl Dundonald’s new pub opening could bring a great experience for consumers to savour a pint after their shopping, but my concern is the wider lack of beer and cider choice presented to consumers. Regular Lidl shoppers are used to browsing the beer on the supermarket’s shelves, but failure to address the issue of access to market could wipe away the pleasure of mulling over the perfect pint and tasting new beer styles in their pub.
“Northern Ireland’s independent breweries struggle to access the UK beer market due to global giants' stranglehold over the sector. It would be great to see Lidl's Kickstart program used to showcase some of the great quality products from Northern Ireland's brewers and cidermakers behind their bar.
“While we support Lidl’s extension into the pub business, it serves as a brutal reminder of the impact that the surrender principle licensing system has on our market; one that fails to deliver for local entrepreneurs and limits choice for consumers. This system ended up costing Lidl £410,000 just to secure the licence and premises, before factoring in court cases and legal objections. Lidl may be able to fund such cases, but local businesses wishing to enrich the pub scene in Northern Ireland can and do find that an insurmountable barrier - and every new pub comes at the cost of an existing one surrendering their licence, more often than not a small rural community pub.”
