‘Is this a joke’ shoppers complain as discount supermarket reveals store closure – but there’s hope for customers

LOYAL shoppers of a discount supermarket chain have hit out as their local branch is due to close.

The Lidl outlet in Beckenham, Bromley, south-east London looks set to close its doors for good at the beginning of December this year.

A shopper posted on the Beckenham Appreciation Group on Facebook: “Just heard from staff in Lidl in Beckenham is will be closing 1/12/23!!”

Many were not happy after hearing the news.

Another member of the Facebook group said: “No! I will cable tie myself to the meat fridge. I will not allow this.”

One person asked: “Is this a joke?”

In reply, someone else wrote: “Just heard from one of the Lidl managers. Apparently Lidl doesn’t own the store and they couldn’t come to an agreement with the landlord re the lease. Staff only found out today.”

While another happy shopper added: “Absolutely dismayed and saddened to hear this. So is this what Beckenham is turning into?

“Expensive property, coffee, shops and restaurants., I not only like Lidl but I have to go there as Sainsbury’s is far too expensive. It is actually a lifeline for me and close enough for me to walk.”

However, there is hope for those loyal Lidl shoppers, as while the store is due to close this year there are plans it will be replaced.

A Lidl spokesperson told The Sun Online: “Whilst the lease on our current store in Beckenham has come to an end, we are having active discussions about relocating the store to a nearby site, which we will update the local community on in due course.”

Earlier this year, Lidl announced it is looking to open hundreds of new locations across the UK as part of huge expansion plans.

The discount supermarket chain, which already has 950 sites, published the full list of its priority locations where it would like to open shops.

The potential locations would be for high street, standalone, mixed use, or shopping centre stores.

The full list, of which there are 1,168 locations, includes sites across all areas of Great Britain - including: 66 in Scotland, 83 in Yorkshire, 83 in central England, 91 in south London and 42 in south-mid Wales.

It's important to note that the locations listed represent only potential sites.

Lidl says only a small number will eventually be developed and opened as stores.

But, the retailer has confirmed a new store target of 1,100 stores by the end of 2025, creating 4,000 new jobs.