McDonald’s ‘flagship’ store confirms huge change to opening hours and fans slam ‘this is an outrage’

MCDONALD’S is introducing a significant change to its opening hours at one of its most popular locations. Customers will be able to grab their favourites all day every day at the flagship location joining a number of other restaurants offering the same service. The Leicester Square McDonald’s will become 24/7 despite police concerns Credit: Getty The Leicester Square McDonald’s store will soon be open 24/7 rather than closing at 2:45am, as it currently stands. In July, the Westminster Police Licensing Team penned a letter to the Westminster Licensing Team raising concerns that the extension in hours would “likely contribute to an increase in crime” in an area that is “already saturated with late-night licensed venues”. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! However, Capital Arches Group (CAG), which operates roughly 40 McDonald’s restaurants in London, was given an exception to Westminster’s Cumulative Impact Policy after proving it had made significant contributions to improving public safety. Westminster City Council found that there was “no evidence” that McDonald’s is a crime driver for the area and ultimately argued against the police’s claim. The new hours will mean the store will not close after 2:45am and reopen around 5am, as previously. This change has sparked a debate on Reddit, with some raising concerns about the store becoming 24/7 and others welcoming the change. One social media user wrote: “This is an outrage. I moved to Leicester Square for a peaceful life and now this happens?” Another wrote: “I worked in Leicester Square in 2011- It was closed about 2 hours then, I used to work nights and walk past it when it was closed, that’s when they cleaned it. Most read in Money “Was a hive of activity. They’re literally going to get rid of their one opportunity to clean the place.” Those in support of this move argued it would mean there would be at least one location to grab food after nights out in the capital. One supporter wrote: “[This] would’ve been a lifesaver if it had been open 24/7 before, used to work late in a cinema and connect to my bus home right outside it when nothing was open for food.” Another commented: “Getting back to London at like 2am, [McDonalds] being 24 hours is a life saver.” Comment now