Lidl's demolition work leaves historic Liverpool pub 'literally shaking'
The Royal Arms, a longstanding pub in Liverpool's Edge Hill district, is at the centre of a bitter dispute with supermarket giant Lidl as demolition work begins on an adjacent site. The pub's owner, Chris Davies, claims the building is shaking as contractors tear down the former Taskers site off Wavertree Road, and fears the historic establishment may not survive.
What is happening at the Edge Hill site?
Lidl has commenced demolition work to make way for a new 23,000 sq. ft store, which will include an in-store bakery, the popular middle aisle, customer toilets with baby-changing facilities, rapid electric-vehicle charging points, and covered bicycle parking. The development, which also features solar panels expected to generate 25% of the store's energy needs, is projected to create around 40 new jobs.
The Royal Arms itself is not part of the development and is set to remain, but Mr Davies, 52, who has run pubs in the area for 30 years and lived above the Royal Arms for over a decade, says the company's conduct has been 'diabolical'.
Why is the pub owner so angry?
Mr Davies told the Liverpool Echo that the trouble began when local residents received letters about a demolition application that appeared to include his pub, despite Lidl having no ownership interest in it. This led to a loss of trade as customers assumed the pub was closing.
'We lost trade because people were saying, Lidl are going to knock down the pub, they must own the pub.'
He also recounted an incident where a Lidl surveyor arrived believing the pub was derelict, and another where the building was left unsecured for five days, allowing intruders to enter. Despite his efforts to alert Lidl, he claims the company ignored his calls and voicemails, and an acquisitions manager later told him it 'wasn't their responsibility'.
The previous owner, Mr Davies said, was offered £100,000 for the pub, a sum he deems 'completely inappropriate' given that three-bedroom houses across the road sell for around £290,000.
What does Lidl say in response?
A Lidl spokesperson defended the company's record, stating: '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.'
The spokesperson added that more than 90% of local residents supported the development during public consultation, and that all construction and demolition work is 'monitored by independent specialists and conducted in strict accordance with safety regulations'. They said Lidl remains 'committed to maintaining an open and constructive dialogue' with Mr Davies.
What is the future for the Royal Arms?
Mr Davies, who has signed a 10-year lease, is deeply pessimistic. He said the pub is 'literally shaking' as customers come in, and many are staying away due to the noise and disruption. He fears the Royal Arms will be left isolated on a small corner of the redeveloped site, forcing him into further debt.
'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.'
He added: 'This used to be a place where people would get dressed up on a Saturday night and come in, but people don't want to come in when there are bulldozers, cracking and construction all around them.'
What do local residents think?
Lidl's plans were backed by 95% of the more than 600 people who took part in consultation earlier this year. Supporters cited the convenience of a new supermarket, the regeneration of a long-neglected site, and the creation of jobs. Stuart Jardine, regional head of property at Lidl GB, said the company was 'grateful for the overwhelming support' and looked forward to a planning decision.
For Mr Davies, however, the battle is not just about business; it is about preserving a piece of local heritage. 'I can't open a pub and have nobody coming in all day. It's just not viable,' he said. The coming weeks will determine whether the Royal Arms can weather the storm or whether, as its owner fears, this proves to be the final nail in the coffin.