Introduction
McDonald’s, the world’s largest fast-food chain, has announced that it will be closing all of its locations in the United Kingdom for one day. This unprecedented move is in response to the growing concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. The closure will affect all 1,270 McDonald’s restaurants in the U.K., including those in airports, motorway service stations, and hospitals. This is the first time in the company’s history that it has closed all of its locations in a single country. The closure is expected to have a significant impact on the U.K. economy, as McDonald’s is one of the country’s largest employers. The company has stated that it will be providing support to its employees during this difficult time.
McDonald’s Is Closing All Locations In the U.K. For a Day
McDonald’s has announced that it will be closing all of its locations in the United Kingdom for one day. The fast-food giant said that the closure is part of a “national day of reflection” to mark the one-year anniversary of the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
The company said that the closure will take place on Tuesday, March 23, and that all of its 1,350 restaurants in the U.K. will be closed for the day. The company said that it will use the day to “reflect on the past year and to consider the lessons we have learned.”
McDonald’s said that it will also be donating £25,000 to the National Emergencies Trust, a charity that provides support to those affected by the pandemic. The company said that it hopes the donation will help those in need during this difficult time.
The closure of all McDonald’s locations in the U.K. is the latest in a series of measures the company has taken to help combat the spread of the virus. The company has implemented a number of safety measures, including contactless ordering and delivery, and has also introduced a new “McDelivery” service.
McDonald’s said that it hopes the closure will provide an opportunity for people to take a moment to reflect on the past year and to consider the lessons that have been learned. The company said that it hopes the closure will also provide an opportunity for people to come together and show their support for those affected by the pandemic.
McDonald’s Golden Arches may be synonymous with Americana, but on Monday, September 19, the fast-food giant will be paying respect to Her Majesty The Queen.
All of the chain’s United Kingdom locations will be closed on Monday until 5 p.m. for The Queen’s funeral, according to the chain’s UK Twitter account. There are roughly 1,200 McDonald’s restaurants currently operating in the United Kingdom.
The tweet reads: “All of our UK restaurants will be closed on Monday until 5pm, to allow everyone at McDonald’s to pay their respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Operating hours and services may vary after 5 pm, so please check our app before travelling.”
McDonald’s is far from the only major brand closing its U.K. locations for the occasion. Numerous restaurant chains and stores such as Primark, Harrods, Asda, Marks and Spencer, Greggs, John Lewis, and Pizza Express, will all either be completely closed or working a reduced schedule.
Monday will also be the last day of national mourning in the United Kingdom, so London’s financial markets and banks will be closed as well.
The passing of Queen Elizabeth II has been headline news all week long across the globe, but Her Majesty’s death truly marks the end of an era for the United Kingdom. The past week has seen an unbelievable domestic outpouring of support for The Queen and Royal Family, as thousands have come out to send well-wishes with flowers, cards, and memorials.
Queen Elizabeth II passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8. From there, her coffin was transported to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on September 11. The next day a procession followed closely by her four children carried Queen Elizabeth’s coffin to St Giles’ Cathedral.
At just St Giles’ Cathedral alone, The Queen’s coffin was visited by roughly 33,000 mourners. Her Majesty took her final journey on September 13, flying from Edinburgh to London on a military transport plane.
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The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will be held on Monday and take place in London, but many of the specifics are yet to be revealed. It is known that The Queen’s coffin will travel to Westminster Abbey for an early morning funeral service and then be moved to St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, for burial. As many as a hundred thousand people are expected to visit her coffin and pay their final respects.
John Anderer