The spokesman for much of Northern Ireland’s hospitality industry says that Lidl’s first-ever attempt at a pub is “totally legitimate” and that he wishes it well.

Construction has now begun on the site at 2 Dunlady Road in Dundonald, east Belfast, and the pub-and-off-licence is expected to open sometime in the summer, the grocery retailer announced on Thursday.

Its name has yet to be decided upon.

Colin Neill, the chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, said he is not concerned about the potential impact on home-grown, indigenous pubs in the area.

placeholder image — A further page of the blueprints lodged with council planners

Plans for the pub – which were approved by Lisburn and Castlereagh Borough Council – have been in the works for several years, and were subject to a legal attempt to block them.

In the High Court in Belfast in January 2025, Mr Justice Colton rejected claims by rival off-licence firm Philip Russell Ltd that Lidl had failed to show there are inadequate licensed premises in the vicinity (something required by the Licencing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996).

He ruled that there used to be two pubs serving the vicinity, and with the Lidl bar there will be only one.

The pub is being added on to an existing Lidl supermarket at the site, which has been there for around 20 years.

It will be accessible from the Lidl car park only, not through the supermarket.

Mr Neill suggested it could serve as kind of “husband creche” while wives are out shopping.

"It’s totally legitimate,” he told the News Letter.

"They applied for a pub licence, and got it…

"They have done what’s within the law and allowed, so I wish them well.”

Mr Neill is the de facto spokesman for roughly 1,100 pubs in the Province, as well as 600 restaurants and 150 hotels.

Will this be the first of many such supermarket pubs?

"It’s honestly in the lap of entrepreneurs,” he said.

"Knowing Lidl it’ll be done well and legally and right, and it will be operated responsibly, I’m sure.”

Is he concerned it could undercut locally-owned pubs?

"You always have that potential – you have it with the big English chains, obviously, as well,” he said, citing their “huge buying power”.

But he added: “I think the good thing in Northern Ireland is obviously we have a really fantastic independent pub offer...

"It’ll appeal to a particular demographic, but that’s with all businesses.

"But I don’t think it will undermine the independent offer we have, because the quality is superb.”

The new pub-and-off-licence is anticipated to add a further eight permanent jobs to the 27 existing ones at the Lidl supermarket site.

The pub is relatively small; it will have a floor space of 60sqm and seated capacity of 60, with the plans showing two individual toilets.

Lidl says there will be “a focus on promoting local suppliers” when it comes to the beers on offer.

Gordon Cruikshanks, regional managing director for Lidl Northern Ireland, said in a statement: “Dundonald is a thriving town which has experienced a significant population boost of more than 20% in recent years, placing extra demand on the need for a public house in the locality.”