In 1974, the American hamburger chain McDonald’s opened its first UK branch in Powis Street, Woolwich.
Approaching 50 years later and there are more than 1,270 branches in the country, making it a brand as recognisable as any British institution.
For more than 40 years the UK operation has been headquartered in north London, just the other side of East Finchley station from The Bishops Avenue, known as ‘Billionaires’ Row’.
McDonald’s was founded in 1940, when Dick and Mac McDonald opened McDonald’s Bar-B-Q restaurant in San Bernardino, California, with an extensive menu. But it was 75 years ago, in 1948, that the remodelled the business, making it a self-service drive-in, with a 15-cent burger at the heart of a nine item menu.
The golden arches, along with red and white branding, first appeared in 1955.
In the UK these days, pass a McDonald’s restaurant in the evening evening, or ask any Deliveroo rider what people order most often, and you’ll have no doubt that the brand’s popularity is as strong as ever.
But the company has had its ups and downs, scandals, and protests over animal welfare and workers’ rights concerns. Here we look back at some moments, and key images.
1. 1976 - New restaurant
This is the Seven Sisters Road branch shortly after it opened in 1976, which was also the year the UK’s first McDonald’s television adverts were broadcast. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) | Getty Images
2. 1978 - Workers and tourists
A McDonald’s shop near Charing Cross Station in 1978, the year that the head office was moved to Edgware Road. (Photo by Allan/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) | Getty Images
3. 1985 - Food preparation
Bow Street magistrate Ronald Bartle visits a local McDonalds kitchen in January 1985. By this point the head office was at its current location in East Finchley and, more importantly, McNuggets were on the menu. (Photo by Harry Dempster/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) | Getty Images
4. 1996 - Mad cow disease
By 1996 hundreds of McDonald’s had opened across the country, but there was trouble ahead. In March, signs nformed Londoners that the chain would not be offering products made with British beef because of the health scare over mad cow disease (BSE) in Britain. (Photo JOHNNY EGGITT/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images