Lidl has opened a pub called The Middle Ale in Dundonald, Northern Ireland, after a court battle to secure an alcohol licence. The supermarket chain was initially refused a licence to sell alcohol in its Dundonald store but successfully obtained one for a pub, which now operates next door, offering both on-site drinks and alcohol to take away.
This move by Lidl highlights Northern Ireland's stringent alcohol licensing laws. According to research by Free the Night, a charitable organisation advocating for nightlife reform, obtaining an alcohol licence in Northern Ireland costs an average of £75,250, due to a "surrender principle" that requires new establishments to purchase an existing licence.
The Middle Ale reportedly cost Lidl over £500,000 and took six years of planning. Boyd Sleator, co-founder of Free the Night, claims such costs are prohibitive for local businesses. Free the Night is currently mounting a legal challenge against the Department for Communities' decision to reject a 2025 independent review of liquor licensing.
Holly Lester, co-founder of Free the Night, notes that the night-time economy in Northern Ireland is "incredibly restrictive" due to a lack of venues and strict closing times. The organisation's research indicates that 70% of creatives have considered leaving Northern Ireland, with 60% having already done so, partly due to the lack of spaces for musicians to thrive.