Since McDonald’s came to the Scotland in the 80s, it's become a staple in most of our lives.
Here in Edinburgh, we've welcomed 12 McDonald's restaurants in and around the city, with the main eatery being on Princes Street.
We weren't the first city in Scotland to get our fast food fix though, that golden-arched honour went to Dundee.
Like it or not, the fast food chain is here to stay and has proved its popularity over the past 40 years. During that time, there’s been a lot of changes and things that have come and gone from McDonald's.
Some of them are sorely missed, and some of them have us asking - why? We’ve raked through the archives to find some of the long gone things that are missed.
McDonald’s Playgrounds
Some McDonald’s restaurants were graced with a playground or ball pit, which wasn’t ideal if you’d just wolfed down a Happy Meal.
These days, the restaurants have leaned in favour of extra seating over a play area. However, McDonald’s has invested in playgrounds for Ronald McDonald Houses - which provides play areas for ill children from recycled materials.
McDonald’s Ashtray
It’s hard to imagine now, but in the years prior to the smoking ban, some McDonald’s restaurants provided ashtrays.
If you’re in possession of one, you could make a pretty penny on these long gone items.
Classic uniforms
Back in the 80s, every McDonald’s worker was donned in the classic striped shirts and cornered hats - all very American diner chic.
These days, the uniform consists of polo shirts and baseball caps. Frankly, we miss the retro outfits.
90s Happy Meals
Happy Meals were served in America from the late 70s, but didn’t cross the Atlantic until 1986.
Aimed at children, the Happy Meal changes themes often depending on whats trending at the moment. Each meal would come with a toy, some of which have since become collectors items.
Most memorable is the Furby, which was popular in the 90s.
Birthday parties
At one point, McDonald’s was the place to be for any birthday celebration.
Here in Edinburgh many will remember the party room in the Princes Street McDonald’s, where many birthdays were celebrated. If your parents organised a party here, you were sure to be to the talk of the school for at least a week.
Classic colours
Before they switched out the colour palette for a more muted look, McDonald’s was once instantly recognisable with its red, white and yellow branding.
Since the 90s, they’ve swapped to a look that supposedly represents the company’s commitment to the environment. Something that will never change in the golden arches of the McDonald’s M.
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80s menu
While most of the items from the menu are still available, the pricing is definitely different today.
With a hamburger available to takeaway for just 37p, the 80s menu is nothing short of a bargain. Breakfast items weren’t introduced until 1982 in the UK, at a time when you could order some scrambled eggs at the counter.
Ronald McDonald and co
We’re not entirely sure what happened to the mascot of McDonald’s, but Ronald is rarely seen these days.
Once a staple of the McDonald’s adverts, Ronald lived in the fictional world of McDonaldland with his pals Mayor McCheese, the Hamburglar, Grimace, Birdie the Early Bird and The Fry Kids.
Ronald McDonald bench
Though it was slightly terrifying, many McDonald’s branches had a bench outside with a Ronald statue - a perfect picture opportunity.
Again, we’re not sure where they went but they certainly wouldn’t be out of place in this Instagram age.
McDonald’s polystyrene box
Long before the card boxes of modern times, a Big Mac was served in the typical polystyrene burger box.
Not great for the environment, but slightly more satisfying - only those of a certain age will remember these squeaky containers. They were pulled in the 90s, but it wasn’t until 2018 that McDonald’s promised to eliminate foam from all packaging.
McDonald’s pizza
McDonald’s tested the waters in the mid 90s, selling pizzas of three varieties - cheese, cheese and pepperoni, and the deluxe (peppers, onions, pepperoni and more).
Eight inches wide and cut into four slices, the tasty delights were quickly pulled from the menu. According to the McDonald’s menu, they have no plans to reintroduce pizza anytime soon,
