Lidl has announced plans to open 50 new stores across the UK in the next year, including its first pub, as it aims to overtake Morrisons as Britain's fifth largest supermarket chain. The German-owned retailer will invest over £600 million in expansion, creating nearly 2,000 jobs and growing its warehouse and logistics network.
The pub, located in east Belfast, is a response to strict local licensing laws that cap the number of premises selling alcohol. Lidl was unable to secure a standard off-licence due to an inadequacy test but succeeded for a pub after two nearby bars closed. The venue, seating about 60 people, is expected to open this summer and will serve Lidl's range of beers, wines, and spirits, alongside other beverages to promote local suppliers.
New store locations include Abbots Langley near Watford, Warrington in Cheshire, and Thornbury in Gloucestershire, all opening this summer. Lidl GB, which now operates over 1,000 British stores, opened a net 12 stores in the year to February 2025, slowing expansion to focus on existing store improvements.
Lidl and rival Aldi have grown rapidly amid the cost of living crisis, with Lidl matching Morrisons' UK market share of 8.3% as of March 2025. Sales at Lidl GB rose 8.3% to £11.7 billion in the year to February 2025, with profits more than doubling to £156.8 million. The retailer will host over 150 property partners and agents this month to secure new locations.
Ryan McDonnell, CEO of Lidl GB, said the expansion creates high-quality jobs and gives British suppliers certainty to invest. Kate Dearden, minister for employment rights and consumer protection, praised the investment for creating thousands of good jobs that boost living standards.
