Demolition work has begun for Lidl's new store in Edge Hill, and the owner of the neighbouring Royal Arms pub says the building is "literally shaking" as customers come in. Chris Davies, who has run the pub for over a decade, claims the supermarket giant has not been cooperative and that the pub's survival is now in doubt.
Demolition underway at former Taskers site
Lidl has started demolition at the former Taskers site off Wavertree Road. The planned store will be 23,000 sq. ft and include 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. The development is expected to create around 40 new jobs. The Royal Arms is not part of the Lidl development and is set to remain.
Pub owner's complaints
Davies told the ECHO that he and his customers want Lidl in the area, but the "way they are going about it now, is diabolical". He said people in the area received letters about the demolition application while the pub was closed, leading customers to believe Lidl owned the pub and would knock it down.
He also said the building was left unsecured for five days, with intruders able to get in, and that Lidl's surveyor was unaware the pub was trading. Davies claimed the previous owner was offered £100,000 for the pub, which he called "completely inappropriate" given nearby three-bedroom houses sell for around £290,000.
Lidl's response
A Lidl spokesperson said the new store represents a multi-million-pound investment in Liverpool, bringing enhanced shopping choice, new jobs, and long-term regeneration. They said more than 90% of local residents supported the development during public consultation.
The spokesperson added: "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."
Pub's future in question
Davies said he has signed a 10-year lease but claims Lidl "didn't want to play ball". He said the pub is losing trade because of the ongoing work, with customers staying away due to the noise and disruption.
He said: "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."
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 residents highlighted benefits including easier access to products, more convenient shopping for families without cars, and the transformation of a long-neglected site.
