McDonald’s plans to reopen all UK, Ireland drive-throughs by June

(Reuters) – McDonald’s Corp said on Tuesday it plans to reopen all its drive-throughs in the United Kingdom and Ireland by early June, as both countries ease coronavirus-led restrictions on road travel after weeks-long lockdowns.

The U.S.-based restaurant chain said it would reopen 30 restaurants in the UK and Ireland, offering services through the drive-through lane from May 20. Meanwhile, it will open 15 pilot restaurants in south-east England on Wednesday but offer services only through delivery via Uber Eats.

McDonald’s said https://bit.ly/3fIsRF5 it would cap spend in their drive-throughs at 25 pounds ($30.70) per car, while also encouraging customers to opt for contactless payment methods.

It also said the restaurants would have reduced menu and hours and that service may not be as quick as pre-pandemic levels because of reduced staffing and social distancing measures in kitchens.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in a televised address on Sunday, announced a limited easing of restrictions, including allowing people to exercise outside more often and encouraging some people to return to work.

Coffee chain Starbucks Corp said on Monday it would begin a phased reopening of 150 of its drive-thru locations and some takeaway-only stores in the United Kingdom, starting Thursday onwards.

(Reporting by Praveen Paramasivam in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)