Lidl pub opening chaos as brawl erupts amongst clients and man rushed to hospital
The supermarket giant’s The Middle Ale pub in Dundonald, Belfast – a bar with an off-licence shop attached – opened for business for the first time earlier that day
A video of the incident is circulating on social media(Image: Belfast Live)
Police were called to a violent incident at Lidl’s first ever pub just hours after it opened its doors.
A man was hospitalised following what officers referred to as an “altercation” outside The Middle Ale bar in Dundonald, on the outskirts of Belfast. The supermarket giant stated that a dispute began inside the establishment when a group of patrons were “politely asked to leave” after last orders on Thursday night.
Lidl confirmed that security staff were involved in the “prompt removal” of the group. A video clip that has been widely viewed seemed to capture the incident as it happened.
In a statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: “Police received a report of an assault outside licensed premises in Dundonald on Thursday evening, June 18.
“At approximately 11.20pm, it was reported two men were involved in an altercation outside premises in the Dunlady Road area. Officers attended, and one man was taken to hospital for treatment to injuries not believed to be serious.”
The PSNI stated that investigations were ongoing and officers appealed for any witnesses to step forward. In a statement, Lidl Northern Ireland said: “We are aware of an incident at The Middle Ale which took place yesterday evening. A group of customers were politely asked to leave the premises after last orders were called and an altercation took place between the group of customers.
“For the safety of our employees and customers, security personnel assisted in the prompt removal of the group and the PSNI supported in ensuring their full removal from the site.
“At The Middle Ale, the safety of our employees and customers is of utmost importance and we operate a zero tolerance approach to disorderly behaviour.”
The Middle Ale had only launched for the very first time earlier that day. The pub and off-licence sits next to the current Lidl store in Dundonald, close to Belfast.
The project marks Lidl’s innovative approach to meeting Northern Ireland’s stringent and complicated licensing regulations.
The allocation of alcohol licences is strictly regulated in the region and can only be secured by buying them from establishments that are shutting down or no longer wish to sell booze. Candidates must also demonstrate there is an “inadequacy” of provision in the locality.
Having failed to establish there was an insufficient number of off-licences in the Dundonald vicinity, Lidl changed tack and sought a pub licence instead, claiming there weren’t enough drinking establishments in the area.
Following a lengthy procedure, which included defeating a legal challenge in court, the supermarket giant managed to obtain a licence to serve alcohol in a pub, complete with an adjoining off-sales area.
The 60-seat establishment’s Middle Ale moniker pays tribute to Lidl’s renowned Middle Aisle of reduced supermarket goods.
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