Lidl thief steals Liam Gallagher tribute from Manchester store as supermarket offers £500 for its return

Supermarket chain Lidl is offering a £500 voucher reward for the safe return of a stolen blue plaque that honoured Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher at their Manchester store.

The commemorative plaque, which playfully noted that the rock star “almost played here,” was installed at the Newton Heath branch in June following a viral social media exchange.

The retailer confirmed the distinctive tribute went missing last month, disappointing both locals and tourists who had been visiting the spot to take photographs.

The plaque’s installation stemmed from a social media exchange when Gallagher was scheduled to perform his Definitely Maybe anniversary tour at Manchester’s Co-op Live venue.

After the venue cancelled several high-profile events, including shows by Peter Kay and Olivia Rodrigo, fans worried about Gallagher’s upcoming performance.

When asked on X about a backup plan, Gallagher quipped to his 3.6 million followers that he would “Gig in Lidl.”

The response sparked widespread social media attention, with Lidl joining in by posting: “We’re gonna roll with it.”

The supermarket chain embraced the viral moment by creating a hypothetical setlist for Gallagher’s ‘Lidl Arena’ performance.

Lidl cleverly reimagined Oasis classics with retail-themed puns, including “Don’t Look Back in Hanger” and “Champagne Superoffer.”

The budget retailer then took the joke further by installing a blue plaque mimicking the style of English Heritage’s familiar commemorative signs.

The plaque was designed to permanently mark the location, reading: “LIAM GALLAGHER, LEGEND ‘ALMOST PLAYED HERE’ JUNE 2024.”

The plaque quickly became a popular attraction at the Newton Heath store, drawing visitors keen to photograph the unique tribute.

Located on the exterior wall of the store, it was intended to be a permanent installation celebrating the viral moment.

A Lidl spokesperson said: “With no leads as to its whereabouts, we are now issuing a plea to the public, hopeful that the iconic memento can find its way back home ahead of Christmas.”

The £500 voucher reward remains on offer for anyone who can return the plaque safely to the Newton Heath store.

Meanwhile, Liam Gallagher is preparing for an even bigger stage than the Lidl storefront, with plans for a hotly anticipated Oasis reunion tour.

The Manchester rock star is set to reunite with his older brother Noel, as the band prepares to play stadiums across the UK next year.