Crowds of eager fast-food fans queued in huge numbers yesterday as the first two McDonald's restaurants here reopened following lockdown.
Bangor and Newtownards drive-thrus were busy all day as cars didn't mind waiting to get their hands on their favourite McDonald's meal.
Today the company will be announcing a further 24 stores are set to reopen across NI for drive-thru only.
McDonald's have also implemented a number of new policies to ensure the safety of both customers and staff.
These include orders must be £25 or less and customers are asked to use contactless payments were possible.
Restaurants opening in Northern Ireland today include:
- Antrim
- Ballymena
- Banbridge
- Boucher Road
- Carrickfergus
- Connswater
- Cookstown
- Coleraine
- Crescent Link
- Downpatrick
- Dundonald
- Glengormley
- Knocknagoney
- Lurgan
- Newtownabbey
- Newry
- Portadown
- Rushmere
- Saintfield Road
- Shore Road
- Sprucefield
- Strabane
- Strand Road
- Westwood
Agri Minister Edwin Poots has given his endorsement on the reopening.
He said: “The reopening of McDonald’s is very encouraging and welcome news for our beef and dairy sectors. Fast food outlets purchase large quantities of produce from our farmers and their temporary closure had a big impact on the agri-food sector. They have gone to great lengths to put in place social distancing measures that will protect their staff and their customers.
The importance of getting this market open and moving again cannot be underestimated and will be a relief for many of those who supply McDonald’s with their high-quality, locally reared beef and dairy produce. As we move into recovery after COVID-19, my priority has been and will continue to be, ensuring that we have a profitable and sustainable agriculture sector that is ready and able to meet the rising demands of the market once it opens fully again.”
