McDonald's on Orbital Park, Ashford, to reopen after refurbishment work
17:00, 12 October 2022
updated: 23:24, 12 October 2022
Europe's busiest McDonald's drive-thru is set to reopen tomorrow after being closed for almost a month.
The fast-food giant's outlet on Orbital Park, Ashford, closed in September for refurbishment work.
The drive-thru and restaurant, which is the second busiest in the world behind one in China, was shut for just under four weeks.
Franchisee Paul Crocker said the work is one of the first in a country-wide work scheme to allow for better staff quarters and courier care.
This included altering the staff rooms to increase space, and improving the general staff facilities.
There will also be a new, separate courier waiting area with its own counter in order to separate deliveries with in-person customers.
"This will help streamline the main customer desk and prevent overcrowding, as well as looking after the couriers," Mr Crocker explained.
"They will have their own separate waiting area so it will be more pleasant for them, and nicer for the customers as they will have more room."
It is understood the drive-thru and dining areas have been mostly unaffected in appearance by the works.
The closure started at the end of business on Monday, September 19.
A McDonald's spokesman confirmed the reopening was going ahead at the planned time of 11am on Thursday.
"We are really excited to reopen our store and welcome our customers back," he told KentOnline.
It comes amid ongoing roadworks to remove the nearby Orbital Park roundabout, and replace it with traffic lights as part of the 'Bellamy Gurner' scheme.
The hated works on the A2070 Bad Munstereifel Road were originally scheduled to finish next month, having started in May.
However, it was recently announced that they will drag on until Christmas following delays due to Operation Brock and issues at the Port of Dover.
Earlier this year, plans for a fourth McDonald's in Ashford were approved for land off Chart Road, next to the notoriously congested ‘tank roundabout’.
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