HEREFORD has been snubbed as a list of McDonald's stores to re-open their drive-thru lanes was released today, but there's a specific reason why.

The fast-food giant announced that the drive-thru lanes at 39 locations across the UK and Republic of Ireland will open today.

It comes after McDonald's opened 15 of its restaurants in the south east of England exactly a week ago for delivery only, through Uber Eats.

This new list also includes five new delivery only locations which will re-open.

But McDonald's branch in Belmont Road, Hereford, which has a drive-thru, has been snubbed on both accounts.

The list mainly includes restaurants based in the south and east of the country, such as places like Ipswich and Peterborough.

The sites opened from 11am on Wednesday and are offering a limited menu with orders capped at £25 per car, the fast-food chain said.

Contactless payment is also being encouraged.

Hereford Times:

Traffic queues form at the McDonald's branch at Garston, Luton. Picture: Artan Selini

The re-opening brought queues in some places, including at Garston, Luton, as diners rushed to get their takeaways again.

McDonald's, which also has a branch in Commercial Street, Hereford, says the reasoning behind selecting the 39 stores is because they are all close to one of the company's distribution centres.

A McDonald's spokesperson said: "Today we are reopening 39 drive-thru lanes at restaurants across the south east of England and in Dublin as we continue to test our plans for reopening.

"Our teams are still adjusting to the new procedures we've introcuced to enable safe working and social distancing, so things might take a little longer.

"We expect a high demand across all locations.

"We are working closely with local authorities and we may determine that it is necessary to close our drive-thru lanes if queues cause disruption or put our employees or customers at risk."

Staff will be temperature checked before each shift and the number of workers on each site will be reduced to ensure social distancing.

Perspex screens are installed at all drive-thru windows and staff will be given protective equipment.

McDonald's is planning to open drive-thrus at all its stores across the UK and the Republic of Ireland by early June.

The McDonald's spokespeson said: "Thank you for your continued patience as we slowly but safely reopen our restaurants."

A full list of stores reopening their drive-thrus and/or for McDelivery is as follows:

Drive-Thru Only:

  • Ipswich - Ranelagh Road
  • Ipswich - Ravenswood
  • Ipswich - Whitehouse
  • Chelmsford - Regiment Business Park
  • Hounslow - Traveller's Friend 
  • Sutton - Oldfield's Row
  • North Cheam - Worcester Park
  • Strood - Commercial Road
  • Rochester - Medway Valley Leisure Park
  • Herfordshire - Bushey
  • Staines - Two Rivers Retail Park
  • Staines - London Road
  • Peterborough - Bourges Boulevard
  • Peterborough - Boongate
  • Peterborough - Hampton
  • Peterborough - Morrisons, Lincoln Road
  • Peterborough - Eye Green
  • Peterborough - Glinton
  • Rochester - Medway City Estate
  • Bobbing - Sheppey Way
  • Dunstable - Luton Road
  • Luton Retail Park - Gipsy Lane
  • Watford - Garston

Drive-Thru Only in Republic of Ireland (all Dublin):

  • Nutgrove
  • Kylemore Road
  • East Wall
  • Artaine
  • Malahide Road
  • Tallaght

McDelivery And Drive-Thru:

  • Chelmsford Riverside
  • Chelmsford Westway
  • Ipswich - Cardinal Park
  • Boreham Interchange
  • Luton - Leagrave
  • Luton - Chaul End Lane
  • Watford - Hertfordshire Arms
  • Beechings Way
  • Sittingbourne
  • Gillingham - Bowaters

McDelivery Only:

  • Tooting
  • Dalston
  • Welling
  • Harrow
  • Luton - George Street