As a sign of respect for Queen Elizabeth II, McDonald’s will be closing all of its UK restaurants on Monday, September 19th.
The fast-food chain has said that all of their 1,300 outlets in the UK will be shut until 5 pm on the day.
A bank holiday across the UK was approved by King Charles III for the day of his mother’s funeral.
Britain’s longest ever reigning monarch, the Queen, died on Thursday at her Scottish estate in Balmoral.
A McDonald’s spokesperson told the BBC that they took the decision to close the restaurants as they “want to allow our people to pay their respects in the way they choose”.
In a statement on Twitter, McDonald’s said: “In honour of HM Queen Elizabeth II and to enable everyone at McDonald’s to pay their respects, our restaurants across the UK will be closed from midnight until 5pm on Monday 19th September.”
Deliveries will also not be available until after 5pm.
The company said that operating hours and services may vary after that time, and advised customers to check before going to one of their restaurants.
Other fast food chains are taking different approaches. Domino’s told the BBC its stores will open at 12pm on Monday, after the ceremony has finished.
The UK government on their website says that although some businesses “may wish to consider closing or postponing events”, there is no statutory entitlement to time off for workers.
Other major businesses that have said they will be shut in the UK on Monday include:
- Aldi
- Argos
- Asda
- B&Q
- Blue Diamond Garden Centres
- Center Parcs
- Curry’s
- Harrods
- Holland & Barrett
- Homebase
- Ikea
- John Lewis
- Lidl
- Morrisons
- Odeon cinemas
- Pets at Home
- Primark
