McDonald’s is getting rid of front desks, which is changing the way customers order

McDonald’s will refurbish 200 restaurants this year as part of a £250million ‘Convenience of the Future’ upgrade scheme. The new design will be used in a total of 800 stores over the next four years.

McDonald’s is getting rid of the traditionally staffed counters in hundreds of its UK restaurants as part of a major revolution in how customers order their food.

The fast-food chain is set to refurbish 200 restaurants this year as part of a £250m “convenience of the future” upgrade scheme.

The new design will be used in a total of 800 stores over the next four years. McDonald’s has around 1,200 restaurants in the UK.

Three restaurants in Bow, East London, Peckham, South London and Kirkby, Merseyside have already been refurbished.

Maccies says the renovations are because 50% of shoppers are now ordering from in-store touchscreens or the free app.

Instead of having a dedicated counter for orders, McDonald’s will have “specific areas for different sales channels” and a large collections window.

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The restructuring will result in fewer people queuing at touchscreens and should mean diners get their food faster, the fast-food chain said.

Customers who want to pay in cash can continue to do so at so-called “Customer Experience Pods”, which are equipped with a cash register. Touch vending machine orders can only be placed with card payment.

No jobs would be lost as a result of the renovations, McDonald’s told The Mirror.

Other changes for restaurants include a separate waiting area and an entrance for delivery couriers picking up orders for home delivery.

There will also be larger kitchens and separate areas for deliveries and food orders to speed up service.

The burger chain also plans to improve the layout of its parking lots to make pickup easier for drive-through customers.

Gareth Pearson, McDonald’s UK and Ireland Chief Operations Officer, said: “The pace of change in the restaurant industry is relentless and the pandemic has accelerated this as digital adoption accelerates.

“Our customers rightly expect to have choices about how and where to order and collect their food, and our job is to make sure every experience is great.

“For that to be the case, we know we need to provide the best possible work environment for our restaurant teams and delivery partners as well.”

McDonald’s just overhauled its menu and brought back the fan-favorite McSpicy burger.

The McSpicy consists of a fiery chicken breast fillet with lettuce and mayonnaise between a toasted sesame bun.

McDonald’s is also bringing back the Grand Big Mac as part of its latest menu upgrade. The Grand Big Mac comes with the same ingredients as a regular Big Mac, but in a larger size.