To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
There are more than 1,400 McDonald’s restaurants across the UK, which serve everything from McNuggets to cheeseburgers and milkshakes.
But there’s only one that serves fast food items which aren’t available to the general public, ahead of their launch on the menu. And what’s even better is that all of the food in the restaurant is completely free to customers eating there.
The catch is, not everyone can dine at the little-known McDonald’s location, as you need special access to get inside, and as such few fans will have been there.
Thomas O’Neill, the head of menu at McDonald’s UK, gave Metro the lowdown on the ‘incredible’ restaurant, which can be found inside the chain’s headquarters in East Finchley, London.
‘I’ve worked at McDonald’s for 15 years and a lot of that has been spent at the HQ building,’ he explains.
‘It’s an inspirational place and there are different things going on every day. We have a university on-site where crew members can learn and develop, and we also have a restaurant.
‘The restaurant is what most people are interested in and it really is incredible as it looks and sounds like any other McDonald’s restaurant, but the great thing about it is that we know all the staff and customers as they’re our friends and colleagues.
‘We order at a kiosk, but it sometimes takes a bit longer to order my food as I’ll be busy talking.’
The inside of McDonald’s HQ is quite secretive, and only staff and select guests are allowed inside the main office building, so we weren’t able to get a look at the mysterious restaurant.
However, Thomas did reveal a few more details about it, sharing that it’s used as the staff canteen, so many employees will grab breakfast or lunch there during the day, and it’s especially popular as food is free for those who work at McDonald’s HQ.
The other great thing about it is that you’ll likely find food on the menu there that isn’t available yet in ‘the real world’.
‘We put a lot of different things onto the staff restaurant menu, whether that’s potential new things that we’re putting on our menu here in the UK, or it could be something that’s worked elsewhere so it’s quite an exciting place to go and have lunch,’ he added.
As well as off-menu items, staff are also able to enjoy new menu launches ahead of time. So while McDonald’s customers across the UK are still eating the Christmas menu, with the Big Tasty and Terry’s Chocolate Orange pie, those working at HQ might already be tucking into the items launching in January 2025.
The new menu was recently unveiled and will feature three never before sold items and some returning favourites.
First up, for those who still miss the Katsu Curry Chicken Nuggets, which launched in the UK in 2021, your prayers have been answered… well, kind of. McDonald’s has put a twist on the beloved menu item, launching a Chicken Katsu Wrap which will cost just £1.99 when purchased on a Wednesday.
For burger lovers, there’s a new BBQ Ranch Stack, but if you prefer chicken to beef, then you’ll be thrilled to hear the McCrispy BBQ Smokehouse is coming back as well, giving you even more choice.
If these menu changes weren’t enough, you can go all out and order a side of Mozzarella Dippers to pair with your wrap or burger, as these are also returning with a tomato salsa dip in January.
The whole meal can be rounded off with the brand new Milky Way McFlurry, a sweet treat that sees soft dairy ice cream swirled with milk chocolate stars and malt flavoured pieces topped with a chocolate sauce.
All of these new items will be available for six weeks from January 6, except for the McCrispy BBQ Smokehouse which will sticking around a little longer, as it’s available until May 6. Similarly, the Mozzarella Dippers will remain on the menu until 25th March as a 3 piece collection or 9 piece sharebox.
This article was first published on December 26.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
