A man has been hospitalised following a violent incident outside Lidl's first-ever pub, just hours after it opened its doors for the first time. The Middle Ale bar in Dundonald, on the outskirts of Belfast, became the scene of an altercation that required police intervention.
Incident Details
Police rushed to the scene after reports of an assault outside the licensed premises on Thursday evening, June 18. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) stated that at approximately 11:20 pm, two men were involved in an altercation outside the premises on the Dunlady Road area. Officers attended, and one man was taken to hospital for treatment of injuries that are not believed to be serious.
A video of the incident is circulating on social media, capturing the disturbance that occurred shortly after last orders were called.
Lidl's Statement
Lidl Northern Ireland released a statement regarding the incident: "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: A Novel Venture
The Middle Ale only opened for business for the first time earlier that day. The bar and off-licence is adjacent to the existing Lidl store in Dundonald, near Belfast. This venture represents Lidl's innovative approach to complying with Northern Ireland's strict and complex licensing laws. The distribution of liquor licences is tightly controlled in the region and can only be obtained by purchasing them from businesses that are closing or no longer intend to sell alcohol. Applicants must also prove there is an "inadequacy" of provision in the area.
Having been unable to prove there was an inadequate number of off-licences in the Dundonald area, Lidl pivoted its strategy and applied for a pub licence instead, arguing there were not enough bars in the area. After a protracted process, which involved seeing off a legal challenge in court, the chain succeeded in securing a licence to sell alcohol in a pub, with an attached off-sales section. The 60-seat pub's name, The Middle Ale, is a nod to Lidl's famous Middle Aisle of discounted supermarket items.
Police Appeal
The PSNI confirmed that inquiries are ongoing and appealed for witnesses to come forward. Anyone with information is urged to contact the police.
