McDonalds reopens Inverness site to dine-in service following the easing of Covid-19 coronavirus restrictions
BIG MAC fans in Inverness are once again able to tuck into their favourite McDonalds fare while dining in after one of the city sites reopened its sit-in service.
The fast food chain's Inshes Retail Park site welcomed its first dine-in customers since the start of the coronavirus lockdown today.
Its reopening to sit-in custom followed a successful pilot at some of the chain's other locations.
Around 700 of the chain's sites now offer dine-in far alongside their takeaway, drive-thru and delivery options – each of which have already been operating from the Inshes site for the past few weeks.
Although the sit-in service has reopened, social distancing measures will be in effect and, to prevent congestion, it will be limiting the number of customer allowed inside at any one time,
A spokesman said: "When arriving, customers will be asked to use the hand sanitiser provided and follow the safety measures laid out in restaurants to help keep them, other customers and restaurant teams safe.
"Food will be served by table-service only with customers able to order directly to their table via the My McDonald’s App, at the till or kiosk.
"In line with government guidance, McDonald’s will be asking customers that choose to eat-in to leave their contact details by using their smart phone to either scan a QR code taking them to a dedicated webpage or visiting that webpage directly with the URL details provided on each table.
"Customers will be asked to leave the name of the lead member and the number of people within their group, a phone number, the date and time of visit and the restaurant number (identified on each table sticker)."
The measures were on top of existing steps in place to help protect customers, employees and delivery partner couriers. These include:
- Hand sanitiser at the entrance to every restaurant for couriers and dine-in and takeaway customers;
- Clear floor-markings and signposting inside and outside restaurants to help enable social distancing;
- Touchpoints including self-order screens, card readers and doors will be sanitised at least every 30 minutes;
- Perspex screens have been installed in the kitchens, service areas and drive-thru windows and additional protective equipment has been provided for restaurant teams, including disposable gloves for people in customer and courier facing positions and face coverings;
- Fewer people on each shift;
- Customers are asked to use contactless payment methods as much as possible.
Customers can check if their local restaurant is open for dine-in by visiting the McDonald’s restaurant locator.
Reopening the dine-in area will enable some restaurants to take part in the UK Chancellor’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme, offering 50 per cent off dine-in bills, up to £10 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August.
Further details will be shared on the website and via the My McDonald’s app with which restaurants are taking part.