The owner of the Royal Arms pub in Edge Hill has said his pub is “literally shaking” and customers are staying away as demolition work gets underway for a new Lidl store next door. Chris Davies, who has run the pub for over a decade, claims the supermarket giant has not been cooperative throughout the process.
Lidl has begun demolition work at the former Taskers site, off Wavertree Road, to make way for a new store planned to be 23,000 sq. ft in size. The development will feature an in-store bakery, Lidl’s middle aisle, customer toilets with baby-changing facilities, rapid electric-vehicle charging points, covered bicycle parking, and dedicated accessible and parent-and-child parking bays. Solar panels on the roof are expected to generate around 25% of the store’s energy consumption, and the project is expected to create around 40 new jobs.
Landlord claims Lidl was not cooperative
Chris, 52, said the first issue arose when letters were sent to people in the area while the pub was closed, stating there was a demolition application. He said: “They put the demolition application on my pub, even though it had nothing to do with Lidl. That was the first problem. We lost trade because people were saying, ‘Lidl are going to knock down the pub, they must own the pub.’”
He also described an incident when a Lidl surveyor visited the building, unaware the pub was trading. “He had been told it was derelict and closed, but when he came in, he got the shock of his life,” Chris said. He added that the building was left unsecured for five days, with intruders able to get in, and that Lidl did not answer his calls. He was later told by the acquisitions manager that it was not their responsibility if the building was unsecured.
Lidl responds to claims
A Lidl spokesperson said: “Our planned new store on Edge Hill represents a multi-million-pound investment in Liverpool, bringing enhanced shopping choice, new jobs, and long-term regeneration to the area. We have been overwhelmingly welcomed by the community, with more than 90% of local residents supporting the development during public consultation. As a responsible business, we take our commitment to being a good neighbour extremely seriously. All construction and demolition work is monitored by independent specialists and conducted in strict accordance with safety regulations. We always endeavour to keep disruption to a minimum and respond swiftly to resolve any concerns raised. We are aware of the concerns raised by a neighbour and remain committed to maintaining an open and constructive dialogue with them, whilst delivering this new Lidl store safely and efficiently for the local community.”
Chris said he has owned and run pubs in the area for around 30 years and now lives above the Royal Arms. He claimed the previous owner was initially offered £100,000 for the pub by Lidl. He said: “There are three-bedroom houses across the road going for around £290,000, so to offer £100,000 for the building was completely inappropriate.” He also said asbestos warning notices were placed across his building, leading to further lost trade.
Pub's future uncertain
Chris said he has signed a 10-year lease but claimed Lidl “didn’t want to play ball” when he tried to move forward. He added: “I really don’t believe this pub is going to survive the demolition. It’s going to be stood on its own in a tiny corner, with the rest of the whole site looking lovely, and we’re going to have to go into more debt to put things right. There’s no income. We’ve got a minimum customer base coming in, and people are saying, ‘You’re never open.’ It’s not viable to open when there are no customers and there are no customers now because of the ongoing work.”
Earlier this year, Lidl said its plans followed a successful consultation with more than 600 people taking part, with 95% supporting the proposals. Stuart Jardine, regional head of property at Lidl GB, said: “During consultation, residents highlighted the benefits of easier access to our award-winning products, more convenient shopping choices for those families without ready access to a car, the transformation of a long-neglected site, and the creation of new jobs. We’re grateful for the overwhelming support that we have received from the community and look forward to a planning decision to hopefully deliver this store for Edge Hill.”
