New opening date revealed for McDonald’s in Cornmarket
The American fast food giant is to launch a new restaurant in Cornmarket in the unit previously occupied by health food diner Leon.
Initially it was thought the new diner would open in March but contractors at the site next to NatWest Bank say it is now likely to open in early April.
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One builder at the site said: “We have been told it is going to open in five or six weeks’ time.
“It still looks like there’s a lot to do but inside it’s mostly cosmetic.”
It is understood the existing McDonald’s in Cornmarket near the Clarendon Centre will close when the new restaurant opens.
Last month, the city council refused the burger chain’s plans for extended opening hours at the new restaurant.
It said the proposed extension of opening hours from 6am to midnight to 6am to 3am would result in “unacceptable noise impacts to the potential detriment of the amenity and quality of life of nearby occupiers”.
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A report on the licensing application added: “A 3am closure would generate a level of activity that would be considered harmful to residential amenity in an area of the city centre which includes accommodation where people sleep, including residential flats, The Store hotel, and Jesus College.”
The report said: “The former Burger King (No. 24 Cornmarket Street) and Cosy Club (No. 20 Cornmarket Street) operate until midnight and both have consent for student accommodation above, the latter already in occupation.
“As such, midnight is deemed an acceptable limit on the operation of the use proposed in this location.
“It is noted that whilst McDonald’s, at the current site (No. 57 Cornmarket Street), extended its opening hours in 2004, this relates to the old premises which is not located directly outside residential buildings.”
The new McDonald’s is a four-storey building – the kitchen will be in the basement, the restaurant on the ground floor and the first floor, and the floor above will be used as a staff room and offices.
The restaurant will have a separate entrance for staff collecting online orders from companies like Deliveroo.
The existing McDonald’s restaurant near Carfax does have upstairs seating, but it is mostly standing room only downstairs and the former Leon site appears to be a larger unit.
The chain has not yet provided any comment about the move.
Staff working at the restaurant near Carfax have said they are aware of the ongoing plans.
Contractors at NatWest Bank, next to the new McDonald’s, have been replacing signs outside.
