McDonald's confirms 800 of its stores will stay open past 10pm due to curfew loophole

Fast food chain states that it ‘can continue to safely provide that overnight service’ from its drive-thrus

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McDonald's has confirmed that some of its stores will remain open past 10pm due to a loophole in the new curfew rules in England.

From Thursday, all pubs and restaurants in England will be forced to close at 10pm in order to curb the latest rise of coronavirus infections.

However, fast food chains such as McDonald's are able to remain open because they can offer food through delivery or drive-thru.

The new measures, announced by Boris Johnson on Tuesday, state: "Businesses and venues selling food for consumption off the premises, can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service or drive-thru."

In light of this, McDonald’s UK and Ireland CEO Paul Pomroy has confirmed that many of its restaurants will be able to continue serving food 24/7.

“With thanks to our delivery partners Uber Eats and Just Eat, more than 800 restaurants will also be offering McDelivery past 10pm,” he said.

However, Mr Pomroy added that they will be keeping an eye on local lockdown restrictions and may have to close some restaurants depending on the number of coronavirus infections in the area.

"We will be guided by local and national government regulations," he said.

Industry group UK Hospitality has criticised the new restrictions on its industry, stating that the future of the hospitality sector is "still very much in the balance".

“The additional restrictions announced this week place even further burdens on a sector that is operating with razor-thin margins and needs all the help it can get. It is vital that these restrictions are reviewed regularly," said Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality.

“We need comprehensive financial support so that those businesses that survive the winter can begin to rebuild next year, starting with a package of measures to support short time working. 

"The VAT cut for hospitality must be extended through 2021, as must the business rates holiday. We also need the government to step in now and help to deal with the rent debt that has built up over months of enforced lockdown.”