All McDonald’s Drive Thrus to reopen by 4th June

Fast food giant McDonald’s will reopen all of its Drive Thrus – including Longbridge, Kings Norton, Halesowen and Edgbaston – by Thursday 4th June it announced today (Wednesday 27th May). 

924 Drive Thru restaurants in the UK and Ireland will reopen between Tuesday 2nd and Thursday 4th June.

A list of which restaurants are opening on each day will be released each morning from Tuesday to help reduce the initial impact as customers flock for their much missed Big Macs!

Following a pilot at a limited number of restaurants, McDonald’s will also be expanding McDelivery provision with another 75 restaurants planned to offer the service. 

There will be no walk in facilities at any of the restaurants and reduced numbers of staff will be working in kitchens adapted for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Changes and Safety Measures:

• PAYMENT: Capped spend in Drive Thrus at £25 per car and customers are encouraged to pay by contactless payment methods wherever possible.
• SCREENS & PPE: Perspex screens at Drive Thru windows and employees wearing protective equipment, as well as Perspex screens and floor markings in specific areas in the restaurant and kitchen.
• EMPLOYEE HEALTH CHECKS: All McDonald’s employees will be asked to confirm they are fit and able to work, and the company will use contactless thermometers with temperatures taken on arrival at work for every shift.
• SOCIAL DISTANCING: Social distancing has been introduced in the kitchens and service areas to help create a safe working environment for restaurant teams.
• MENU RESTRICTIONS: Restaurants will return with smaller teams, offering a limited menu (no breakfast, wraps or shakes).
• REDUCED HOURS: Restaurants will be open from 11am-10pm
• QUEUES: Queues are expected but McDonald’s have vowed to work with local authorities and police where needed to reduce impact.

A spokesperson for McDonald’s said: “This is only possible following the hard work of the teams in our 44 pilot restaurants. Over the last fortnight, our employees, franchisees and suppliers have worked tirelessly to implement new procedures to enable safe working so that we can now help all parts of the UK and Ireland to enjoy the return of the Big Mac.

“With fewer employees working in our kitchens and service areas, our teams will still need your patience and support as they continue to adjust to the new ways of working. Face coverings, gloves, Perspex screens and new safety and hygiene processes mean it will look different, it will take a little longer and as we have seen in the pilot restaurants, we expect demand will be high. Please bear with us, we will continue to put our people first – their safety is our priority.”

Queues expected!

The company also recognises the impact that some of the re-openings have had on local communities, as customers have rushed back to visit the pilot Drive Thrus over the last two weeks.

The spokesperson said: “In the last week, on occasion, we have taken the decision to close Drive Thru lanes where demand has impacted local communities or the safety of our people or customers.  We will continue to work with local authorities and the police as we extend our reopening plans.”