Huge queues outside McDonald's drive-thrus as first five North East locations open to customers

McDonald’s temporarily closed its chain of fast food restaurants in March for the safety of employees and customers during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

However as lockdown restrictions are beginning to ease, bosses at the fast food chain have announced the locations of 168 drive-thrus which have opened to UK customers at 11am today (Tuesday, June 2).

So far this includes just five North East McDonald’s drive-thrus – one at the Metro Retail Park in Gateshead and the other four in Darlington, Newton Aycliffe and West Auckland:

Restaurants opening drive-thrus on Tuesday, June 2:

Gateshead – Metro Retail Park

Darlington – Morton Park Way

Newton Aycliffe – Newton Park Services

West Auckland – Abraham Enterprise Park

Darlington – North Road Industrial Estate

Long queues have already begun to form outside the McDrive-thru at Metro Retail Park in Gateshead – the only establishment to open to customers in the Tyne and Wear area.

McDonald’s is expected to release the locations of the drive-thrus, which will open to customers between today and Thursday, June 4, every morning.

As drive-thrus and some McDelivery services are reopened, bosses say they will be operating at reduced hours between 11am and 10pm and a reduced menu will be on offer.

A spokesman for McDonald’s said: “As we open our restaurants, we will have fewer people working on each shift, and we will be introducing new measures including additional screens in our kitchens and service areas to provide a safer environment and help our teams adhere to social distancing.

“We encourage you to use contactless payment methods and cap your spend at £25.”

McDonald’s says teams will be washing their hands at least every 30 minutes and is providing sanitiser for staff and delivery partners.

Teams are being given additional protective equipment including face coverings and McDonald’s will be checking the temperature of staff members everyday with contactless thermometers.

Those visiting McDonald’s drive-thrus can browse the menu, order and pay in advance using the McDonald’s app.

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