The first UK McDonald’s didn’t serve breakfast. That didn’t arrive until the 1980s. So no Egg McMuffins for early-morning hangovers. Sorry.
Also, the first store had no cash registers. Well, it did, but they were manual. Staff wrote orders on paper slips and rang them up later. Total chaos.
The manager’s name was Peter Beresford. He wore a short-sleeved shirt and a tie. He had to explain to confused customers that “you don’t need a knife and fork.” Revolutionary.
The 50-Year Journey: From Woolwich to Everywhere
Today, there are over 1,300 McDonald’s in the UK. That’s more than the number of Greggs (unbelievably). The Woolwich store still stands, though it’s been remodeled a dozen times.
McDonald's on what it looks for from contractors as it celebrates 40
But here’s the kicker: that first store still has the original sign. The golden arches are a bit faded. The paint is chipped. It’s a historical artifact—and nobody threw it away.
Quirky fact: the UK was the eighth country to get a McDonald’s. Before us: Canada (1967), Japan (1971), Australia (1971), and Germany (1971). We weren’t early adopters, but we made up for it with enthusiasm.
