McDonald’s is reopening 30 more drive-thru restaurants TODAY after coronavirus lockdown 

McDonald’s is reopening 30 more drive-thru restaurants TODAY after coronavirus lockdown

  • McDonald’s has reopened 30 of its restaurants today amid coronavirus easings
  • The fast-food giant will see its drive-thru service available at selected stores
  • A limited menu is available, and health and safety measures are in place 
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

McDonalds has reopened 30 of its restaurants today, allowing customers to purchase food through its drive-thru restaurants as the fast-food giants set about their re-opening strategy.

The restaurant chain opened a number of its branches from 11am on Wednesday, in conjunction with the Government’s strict guidance on social distancing rules. 

The move follows from last week, where 15 of its restaurants in the South East of England were reopened through food couriers Deliveroo, with the fast food outlet offering a limited menu and putting a spending cap at £25 per order.

McDonald’s have reopened 30 of its restaurants today amid coronavirus restrictions easing

Drive-Thrus will be open at another 30 stores with the fast-food chain offering a limited menu

Drive-Thrus will be open at another 30 stores with the fast-food chain offering a limited menu

‘We will have a £25 order cap as we adjust to smaller teams and social distancing in our kitchens. I want to reiterate the restaurants, Drive Thrus and their car parks remain closed, we will only be serving food via Uber Eats this week,’ a statement said. 

And today, an additional 30 restaurants have reopened across the UK and Ireland, with a drive-thru service offered only.

A statement said: ‘Moving in step with government guidelines, we plan to reopen all our Drive-Thrus by early June. We will keep the restaurant locator on our website updated as our Drive Thrus reopen over the coming weeks.’

The fast-food giants have moved to ensure a number of health and safety measures are in place for staff working in the restaurants. 

Customers look happy as they pick up their food after McDonald's temporary closure

Customers look happy as they pick up their food after McDonald’s temporary closure

Upon arrival at work, all staff will have their temperatures monitored, while perspex screens will be fitted in kitchens and other key locations. 

Last week, McDonald’s workers had to contend with swathes of people trying to order food as 15 of its branches reopened. 

Restaurants were swamped with UberEats and Deliveroo workers – but it became so busy at one south London branch that two-metre social distancing went out of the window.

One UberEats worker was one of 25 delivery drivers working out of the fast food chain’s Tooting branch last week, claiming the situation became ‘dangerous’. 

He said: ‘They allowed 43 orders to come in at 11am and they were only allowing five drivers to come in at a time. The drivers were all bunched outside, it was chaotic, a danger for everyone involved. They hadn’t even got security there, it was a joke.’ 

The fast-food giant has said that strict health and safety measures will be put in place now

The fast-food giant has said that strict health and safety measures will be put in place now 

The company’s statement added: ‘When your local Drive Thru does reopen, it will be different. Our service will not be as quick as you might be used to, as we adjust to smaller teams and social distancing in our kitchens. 

‘We expect there will be some queues for some of our busier sites and our restaurants will look different, with Perspex screens at our Drive Thru windows and employees wearing protective equipment.

‘I ask that you continue to be supportive of and patient with our restaurant teams as we slowly and safely return. We are asking all of our employees to adapt to how our restaurants now work, and will only reopen at a pace that enables them to work safely.

‘As we get accustomed to the new processes and procedures, we will look to reopen more restaurants, for longer hours and reintroduce more menu items. But only when I am confident we can do so whilst maintaining the new procedures we have introduced for the protection of our people.’

The McDonald’s menu will still be limited, while the £25 spending cap will remain in place. Breakfasts, wraps and milkshakes are still unavailable. 

The restaurant’s nine signature burgers are still on the menu, as well as the McChicken sandwich and the Big Mac. Limited options will be available for vegetarians. 

FULL LIST OF MCDONALD’S STORES REOPENING TODAY

Drive-thru only

Ipswich – Ranelagh Road

Ipswich – Ravenswood

Ipswich – Whitehouse

Chelmsford – Regiment Business Park

Hounslow – Traveller’s Friend

Sutton – Oldfield’s Road

North Cheam – Worcester Park

Strood – Commercial Road

Rochester – Medway Valley Leisure Park

Hertfordshire – Bushey

Staines – Two Rivers Retail Park

Staines – London Road

Peterborough – Bourges Boulevard

Peterborough – Boongate

Peterborough – Hampton

Peterborough – Morrisons

Peterborough – Glinton

Peterborough – Eye Green

Rochester – Medway City Estate

Bobbing – Sheppey Way

Dubstable – Luton Road

Luton Retail Park – Gipsy Lane

Watford – Garston

McDelivery and drive-thru

Chelmsford Riverside

Chelmsford Westway

Ipswich – Cardinal Park

Boreham Interchange

Luton – Leagrave

Watford – Hertfordshire Arms

Beechings Way

Sittingbourne

Gillingham – Bowaters

McDelivery only

Tooting

Dalston

Welling

Harrow