When is McDonald’s reopening and how is it following social distancing guidelines?

Fast food restaurant recently announced it is opening a greater number of branches for drive-through and delivery

(Getty Images)

In March, following the prime minister‘s announcement of a nationwide lockdown, McDonald’s was forced to close its doors.

However, two months on, the fast food restaurant has opened several of its branches and outlined plans to reopen more across the UK and Ireland by the beginning of next month.

The franchise began by reopening 15 UK sites for delivery only after carrying out operational tests in April.

This was then extended to 44 restaurants, before drastically increasing the number of reopened restaurants for drive-through and delivery in June.

When is McDonalds reopening?

McDonald’s, like most other large restaurant chains, stopped serving at all its UK outlets on 23 March at 7pm following Boris Johnson’s address to the nation.

When making the announcement that the restaurant was carrying out “operational tests” before reopening branches, Paul Pomroy, McDonald’s chief executive for the UK and Ireland, stated that customers will have to adjust to a “new normal”.

“I want to apologise in advance if our first wave of reopened restaurants does not serve your area. Rest assured, we are working hard to reopen more restaurants, but I am adamant this must be at the right pace with the wellbeing of our employees, suppliers and customers front of mind,” he said.

“Slowly, but safely, we will return to towns and cities across the UK and Ireland, and thank you for your continued support as we work through this crisis.”

On Wednesday 27 May, McDonald’s announced that by Thursday 4 June, 1,019 of its restaurants will have been reopened, either for delivery or drive-through.

This means that between Tuesday 2 June and Thursday 4 June, all McDonald’s drive-through restaurants in the UK and Ireland will be reopened, with plans for more delivery-only restaurants to resume operations in due course.

Is McDonald's serving a limited menu?

While it continues to reopen restaurants for drive-through and delivery, McDonald’s is currently offering customers a limited menu.

This is due to the fact that there are smaller teams of staff currently working in restaurants.

Items on the menu include staple dishes such as the Big Mac, McChicken Sandwich, Chicken McNuggets, Maltesers McFlurry, soft drinks and various coffees.

For the full limited menu, click here.

What is McDonald’s doing to practise with social distancing?

In addition to having smaller teams working in restaurants, McDonald’s has also said it is ensuring that staff members carry out social distancing in the workplace.

“Social distancing has been introduced in the kitchens and service areas to help create a safe working environment for restaurant teams,” a McDonald’s spokesperson said.

Perspex screens are being installed at drive-through windows and in certain areas of the restaurants and kitchens, while employees will wear protective equipment

Floor markings will also be placed in the restaurants and kitchens to ensure workers maintain a safe distance from one another.

“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,” the company’s spokesperson stated.

McDonald’s customers are being encouraged to pay by contactless payment methods “wherever possible”, and drive-through orders will be capped at £25 per car.

All restaurants reopening for takeaway or delivery should provide customers with hand washing and hand sanitiser products and encourage visitors to wash their hands frequently, official government advice states.​

According to the Food Standards Agency, restaurants “should make sure that the risk assessment for your business addresses the risk of Covid-19”.