McDonald's — Restaurant in England

UPDATE: visited on 18/12/2023 to go in for a coffee. Waited 12 minutes for a coffee and no customers were inside. The place was a mess with food all over the floor, rubbish overflowing in the bins. There was more than a handful of staff stood around doing nothing apart from having conversations with each other. Not interested in making the place look respectable. Photos added.

My most decent visit hasn't changed my opinion of this particular McDonald's. The car park has litter falling out of the bins, a great first impression to anyone. Using the drive thru is painful. Order a black coffee at 05:30, I'm the only car in the drive thru, no one else is being served. I drive around they keep me waiting 14 minutes. When it's served it's was pretty much thrown towards me, which is probably the reason they serve is luke-warm rather than hot. Attitude of staff is disgusting.

On my last visit I ordered a double cheeseburger, again no one in the drive-thru as it was just after midnight (I work shifts). The whole process took 18 minutes, not fast and when I looked at the burger it wasn't food. The burger was cold, not slightly warm, the cheese was rock hard and there was no sauce on it.

How this place continues to be open is amazing. You really need to look at the staff you're training because they seem to be afraid of serving hot items. Either that or the training needs to be investigated.

How can this McDonald's consistently get it so wrong 100% of the time, they all work off the same food product, cooking facilities and the rest around the country are exactly what you expect to pay for. I wouldn't waste my money here again.

I'll take a longer drive to Baldock services when I want a...

It is what it is. You see there is nothing that wows when I come to these “restaurants”. I have usually had a drink the night before and I find myself carb hunting in the AM.

I always appreciate the touch screen demi gods. These mean I have no need to actually communicate with humans at such an unearthly hour. I like the speed of service, the breakfast fills that alcohol induced hole nicely and I do get exactly what I expect to get… However, and I say this in all seriousness. I could not go to McD’s for anything other than breakfast and cannot realistically call it a restaurant or even entertain that level of cash expenditure, when considering an “eating out” experience or even proper food scenario. Can they ever escape that?

Having said all the above, if you are 17 or around that age and out with friends. Or, find yourself in similar situations as I (post a celebratory session). Or, maybe just less than fussy and just needing sustenance at whatever cost… well then why not? Apparently I have (by accident) found Macdonald’s market and I do not think they really mind that much because if they did. They would sell alcohol like they do in Europe. However, they do not. Mainly because those in the McD ivory towers have also have worked out their market, their demographic and the British way. Hic! So, breakfast yes, free range eggs and oddly processed...

I’d give less then a 1 star if it was possible, there’s been many times when I’ve turned up to this McDonald’s on my way home from work only to see 2 cones at the entrance of the drive through, I have called up multiple times to ask why they are shut and when they would be reopening only to hear the same thing every time “our system is down at the moment and we’re on with I.T. To get it sorted” or “our systems are updating and will be closed until further notice” this time however I called up twice at different times to be told on the first call that the system is down and the second time that they are under essential maintenance, it’s funny how it’s at pretty much the exact same time every night, this McDonald’s is advertised as a 24hr however they do close at a very specific time during the night, so should be advertising as a 22 and a half hour McDonald’s, I don’t know if McDonald’s or the owners of this specific franchise are aware of this. they could very well be or the problem could be from the laziness of the staff, I don’t know but from the best of my knowledge I don’t think I’ve had this happen to me at any other McDonald’s. Correct me if I’m wrong. Ps. I back the many complaints about the food being cold and forgotten items along with poor customer service. I hope this...