McDonald's explain why Leeds drive-thru restaurants have not reopened today as full list revealed

However, many Leeds residents took to social media to complain that the selected eateries were all in the south of England.

The sites, primarily in south-east England, opened at from 11am on Wednesday and are offering a limited menu with orders capped at £25 per car, the fast food chain said.

Now, McDonald's has clarified why the 39 restaurants were reopened first.

In a statement released on Twitter, McDonald's said: " We are reopening 39 Drive Thru lanes across the UK and ROI.

"These Drive Thru pilot restaurants were all chosen as they are close to one of our distribution centres as we continue to prepare our supply chain for reopening."

Peterborough tops the list with six open for drive-through business, Ipswich has four and Luton has three.

Staff will be temperature checked before each shift and the number of workers on each site will be reduced to ensure social distancing, bosses added.

Perspex screens are installed at all drive-through windows and staff will be given protective equipment, the company said.

It comes after rival Subway reopened all 600 stores in the UK for delivery and takeaway last week, along with openings from Burger King, Pret A Manger and Wagamama, among others.

McDonald’s previously called for customers to be “patient and supportive” of staff as sites reopen, warning that service “will not be as quick as you might be used to” as workers adjust to the changes.

Bosses hope to reopen all drive-through operations over the next month.

On Tuesday, Wagamama revealed plans to reopen 67 restaurants for deliveries by the end of next month.

The pan-Asian restaurant chain launched a trial at five delivery kitchens earlier this month after being forced to shut its doors to customers due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It said it will rapidly expand its delivery service after “successful” trials in London and Leeds.

Pizza Express said it plans for 13 sites across London to offer delivery services from next week.

McDonald’s restaurant reopening list

Drive-Through Only:

Ipswich – Ranelagh Road

Ipswich – Ravenswood

Ipswich – Whitehouse

Chelmsford – Regiment Business Park

Hounslow – Travellers Friend

Sutton – Oldfields Road

North Cheam – Worcester Park

Strood – Commercial Road

Rochester – Medway Valley Park

Herfordshire – Bushey

Staines – Two Rivers Retail Park

Staines – London Road

Peterborough – Bourges Boulevard

Peterborough – Boongate

Peterborough – Hampton

Peterborough – Morrisons, Lincoln Road

Peterborough – Eye Green

Peterborough – Glinton

Rochester – Medway City Estate

Bobbing – Sheppey Way

Dunstable – Luton Road

Luton Retail Park Gipsy Lane

Watford – Garston

Delivery And Drive-Through:

Chelmsford – Riverside

Chelmsford – Westway

Ipswich – Cardinal Park

Boreham Interchange

Luton – Leagrave

Watford – Hertfordshire Arms

Luton – Chaul End Lane

Beechings Way

Sittingbourne Retail Park

Gillingham – Bowaters

Still Open For Delivery:

Tooting

Dalston

Welling

Harrow

Luton – George Street

Drive-Through Reopenings in Ireland (all Dublin):

Nutgrove

Kylemore Road

East Wall

Artaine

Malahide Road

Tallaght

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