McDonald’s opens today in Martlesham Heath near Ipswich

A McDonald’s restaurant has welcomed its first customers today in a Suffolk village.

The fast food chain opened its doors at 11am in Spenhill Retail Park in Martlesham Heath, near Ipswich and Kesgrave, creating 100 new jobs in the area.

The 120-seat restaurant is now open for 24 hours seven days a week, and offers dine-in, takeaway and Click & Serve options with McDelivery starting on June 27.

The two storey building, equipped with a lift for full accessibility, is the 20th McDonald's in Norfolk and Suffolk owned by franchisee Carol Rogerson.

She said: “We are delighted to be opening another brand-new McDonald’s restaurant in Ipswich, especially as McDonald’s celebrates it 50th year in the UK.

“We can’t wait to see local customers enjoying the services we offer – people are at the heart of our business, and we look forward to welcoming new employees with the jobs our restaurant will create.

“We’re committed to investing in opportunities for a mix of all ages, life stages and backgrounds, promoting flexibility and equality.”

The plans for the restaurant received nine objections during the planning process, including an objection from Suffolk Police which voiced concerns over noise, pollution, and anti-social behaviour.

However, McDonald’s agreed to several conditions including improvements to CCTV cameras, automatic number plate recognition, and ongoing discussions with the police and licensing team to address anti-social behaviour concerns.