December 26th 2024.
If you're a fan of McDonald's, you may already know that there are over 1,400 locations across the UK serving up all the classic fast food favorites like McNuggets, cheeseburgers, and milkshakes. But did you know that there's actually one McDonald's restaurant that offers items that aren't available to the general public yet? And the best part? All the food there is completely free for customers.
Of course, not just anyone can go to this special McDonald's location. You need special access to get inside, so it's not a place that many fans have been able to visit. Thomas O'Neill, the head of menu at McDonald's UK, recently shared some insider information about this "incredible" restaurant, which is actually located inside the chain's headquarters in East Finchley, London.
"I've been with McDonald's for 15 years, and a lot of that time has been spent at our HQ building," Thomas explains. "It's such an inspiring place, with something new and exciting happening every day. We even have our own university where our crew members can learn and grow. But the most interesting part for most people is the restaurant, which looks and feels just like any other McDonald's, except we know all the staff and customers because they're our friends and colleagues."
Even though they order their food at a self-service kiosk, Thomas admits that it can sometimes take him a bit longer to get his meal because he often gets caught up chatting with his coworkers. That's because this particular McDonald's is actually the staff canteen, so it's only open to employees and visitors to the offices. But for those lucky enough to work at McDonald's HQ, they have the added perk of getting all their meals for free.
Unfortunately, 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 peek at the mysterious restaurant. But Thomas did share a few more details, like how it's used as the staff canteen and is especially popular for breakfast and lunch. And the best part? The menu often features items that aren't available to the public yet, giving employees a sneak peek at potential new menu items.
"We're always trying out new things on the staff restaurant menu, whether it's something we're considering adding to our menu in the future, or something that's been successful in other countries," Thomas reveals. "So it's a really exciting place to grab lunch."
But it's not just about trying out new items before anyone else. Staff at McDonald's HQ also get to enjoy new menu launches ahead of time. While customers across the UK are still enjoying the Christmas menu, with items like the Big Tasty and Terry's Chocolate Orange pie, HQ employees may already be indulging in the items launching in January 2025.
Speaking of new menu items, McDonald's recently unveiled their latest menu, which includes three never-before-sold items and some returning favorites. For those who miss the Katsu Curry Chicken Nuggets from 2021, you'll be happy to hear that McDonald's has put a twist on them with a new Chicken Katsu Wrap, priced at just £1.99 on Wednesdays. And for burger lovers, there's a new BBQ Ranch Stack, while fans of the McCrispy BBQ Smokehouse will be thrilled to hear that it's making a comeback as well.
But that's not all, as the menu will also feature the return of Mozzarella Dippers with a tomato salsa dip, and a new Milky Way McFlurry with soft dairy ice cream, milk chocolate stars, malt flavored pieces, and a chocolate sauce. These new items will be available for six weeks starting January 8, with some sticking around a little longer. So if you're a fan of McDonald's, keep an eye out for these exciting new additions to the menu.
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