Lifestyle

On Monday, March 23, at 7pm, McDonald’s closed all UK and Ireland stores in order to prevent further spread of coronavirus. McDonald’s initially stayed open, even when Boris Johnson announced the nation would be employing social distancing techniques in an attempt to beat the virus.

However, to protect staff and customers, the chain decided to close all restaurants fully.

On closing, the online statement read: “This is not a decision we are taking lightly, but one made with the well-being and safety of our employees in mind as well as in the best interests of our customers.

“We will work with local community groups to responsibly distribute food and drink from our restaurants in the coming days.”

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Why did McDonald’s close?

McDonald’s UK and Ireland’s CEO Paul Pomroy released a statement before closure saying: “It has become clear that maintaining safe social distancing whilst operating busy takeaway and Drive Thru restaurants is increasingly difficult.

“I have been clear throughout this that we would only continue to operate whilst it was safe for our people and together with our franchisees, we feel now is the time to make this decision to temporarily close.

“Ahead of closing tomorrow evening, we will ensure frontline health workers and emergency services personnel do not have to pay for any food or drink in our restaurants on sight of their work pass.”

Regular McDonald’s customers took to social media to praise the decision.

One user said: “Perhaps this is when the younger generation start to realise how serious this situation is.”

Is Mcdonald’s reopening?

Rumours spread across Twitter on April 1 claiming McDonald’s was reopening its Drive-Thru and takeaway services on April 6.

Fans of the fast-food giant were overjoyed at the prospect.

One twitter user took to the site to say ‘McDonald’s opening again has made my whole day’, and another tweeted ‘Best news I’ve heard since lockdown is that McDonald’s is opening again on Monday’.

Is the news true, or was it just an April Fools Day trick? A tweet from the official McDonald’s UK Twitter account said: “Lots of people getting in touch about a certain post circulating tonight.

“It’s fake, we are not reopening next week and any official announcements would come from this page and would spell the brand name correctly.”

Since then, McDonald’s took to Twitter on May 1 to announce it was “running controlled tests to explore the safest way to reopen our restaurants.”

On May 5, the chain announced it would be reopening 15 restaurants for ‘McDelivery only’  from May 13.

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Which McDonald’s restaurants are open in the UK?

  • Chelmsford Riverside
  • Chelmsford Westway
  • Ipswich Cardinal Park
  • Boreham Interchange
  • Luton Leagrave
  • Watford Hertfordshire Arms
  • Chaul End Lane, Luton
  • Beechings Way, Gillingham
  • Sittingbourne Retail Park
  • Gillingham Bowaters
  • Tooting
  • Dalston
  • Welling
  • Harrow
  • Luton George Street

What about Drive-Thru?

McDonald’s Drive-Thru branches have also been selected to reopen this week, but the locations have not yet been revealed.

Thirty restaurants will be taking Drive-Thru orders from May 20, but a reduced menu will be served over reduced hours (between 11am and 10pm)

McDonald’s has said: “In the last few days, updated government guidance has been shared in both the UK and Ireland, which makes it clear that takeaways and deliveries can operate.

“In line with government guidance, next week we will begin the next phase of reopening a further 30 pilot restaurants in the UK and Ireland, offering service through the Drive-Thru lane from Wednesday 20 May.

“Moving in step with government guidelines, we plan to reopen all our Drive-Thrus by early June.”

Contactless payment is encouraged, and special measures have been put in place to protect both workers and customers.

Find out more here.

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