McDonald’s has come up against opposition in response to its plans to open around the clock at its Leicester Square branch, its largest premises in the capital.
The fast food giant has applied to keep selling its burgers and fries through the night at London’s largest restaurant, situated opposite a film premiere hosting cinema as well as in the vicinity of the West End’s Theatreland, where it currently must close by 3am.
However the plans have been met with resistance from authorities, over concerns more late night trading will contribute to crime rates and encourage
McDonald’s Leicester Square franchisee Capital Arches said the proposed extended hours were not targeted at creating a ‘new late-night destination’ but serving existing visitors and overnight workers seeking an ‘affordable meal’ in the early hours of the day.
The Leicester Square branch currently serves 2.8million customers annually, of which more one million used the restaurant between 11pm and 3am.
But in its objection, Met Police said the extended hours were not consistent with licensing objectives designed to tackle anti-social behaviour and disorder, which it said was a concern in the immediate vicinity of the restaurant.
‘The late-night hours are a concern to the police as there are issues surrounding both crime and anti-social behaviour in the direct vicinity of the premises’, PC Steve Muldoon said.
Mr Muldoon added that while McDonald’s itself was not a generator of crime, CCTV images showed large amounts of rubbish left on pavements in the area near the restaurant overnight.
Any extension to the fast food branch’s trading hours would likely further stretch police resources and add to the cumulative impact of crime in the vicinity, he concluded.
Capital Arches, which operates 38 McDonald’s restaurants in London, said it would mitigate the impact of 24-hour trading with round the clock security teams as well as street cleaning and litter collection procedures.
It added that the premises would participate in the council’s ‘safe haven’ scheme at night, providing a space for people to sit down, connect to wifi and make calls.
However the Environment Health Service suggested the proposed conditions would not be sufficient to address concerns over public nuisance and preventing children from harm.
McDonald’s has also met resistance to extending its hours on Edgware Road, where it now wishes to remain open until 2.30am, two-and-a-half hours later than its current closing time of midnight.
Met Police said in relation to this application the proposed late night hours would risk increasing crime in the area, where there have recently been several violence-related incidents.
One woman living in the area said she felt unsafe walking around at night, adding that anti-social behaviour, drug dealing and fights and littering were issues near the restaurant.
Local ward councillors have also objected to the proposed timings on the basis they would make McDonald’s a ‘destination point’ adding to the cumulative impact on crime and antisocial behaviour.