While you can still get your McDonald's fix during lockdown by visiting the drive-thru, McDonalds is now planning to reintroduce walk-in takeaways.
In a message to customers, CEO of McDonald's UK, Paul Pomroy, said that following the roll of of the Click & Serve programme - where diners order ahead via an app and it is then delivered to a designated parking bay - a similar serving method will be piloted for those customers on foot in the 'coming weeks'.
He said: "This week, we will begin reviewing our safety measures for walk-in takeaway, working with third-party experts to assess any changes we could make to enhance the additional safety measures put in place since re-opening our restaurants last year."
Last week McDonald's stopped walk-in takeaway services across the UK following the UK Government announcing a tougher lockdown. In Wales, Alert Level 4 restrictions have been in place since December 20, and while the option to dine-in became unavailable under the new measures, McDonald's was previously still offering takeaway services to customers in line with Welsh Government guidelines.
Those guidelines are still in place regarding collecting takeaway food but a Welsh Government spokesman reiterated the main principles of the guidelines, in that 'people must stay at home' and that visits to food retailers should be as limited as possible with alternatives such as deliveries used where possible.
The message said: "The Click & Serve programme has been rolled out at all drive-thrus to help reduce waiting times in queues and for those customers with vehicles deemed unsuitable for the drive-thru lane.
"Designated parking bays are present in all drive-thru restaurant car parks, enabling you to park, order via the My McDonald's app, and have your order safely delivered to your vehicle in a numbered bay. We are reviewing how we might introduce a similar provision for customers on-foot and we will begin piloting this provision in the coming weeks."
The email also stated that they'd be starting assessments for the walk-ins and were working with experts to "assess any changes we could make to enhance the additional safety measures put in place since re-opening our restaurants last year".
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A spokesman for McDonald's told WalesOnline that there was no further information about the Click & Serve walk-in takeaway pilot as yet.
Drive-thru and delivery services are still available.
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