McDonald's Ballymena reopens after £1.1 million refurbishment creating 20 new jobs

The McDonald's restaurant in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, has reopened following a £1.1 million six-week refurbishment that has delivered significant operational upgrades and created 20 additional jobs, bringing total employment at the location to 150 people.

MSN reports that the refurbishment has introduced a new kitchen design with an expanded order assembly area, a larger customer seating area accommodating 75 seats, and a dedicated courier waiting area with a separate McDelivery entrance and service seating, reflecting the growing volume of delivery orders across the fast food sector.

The Ballymena restaurant is operated by franchisee Paddy Cusack, who also runs McDonald's locations in Antrim, Larne and Magherafelt across Northern Ireland.

"We are passionate about feeding and fostering the communities we serve, and we are looking forward to welcoming customers back to the new and improved Ballymena restaurant so they can experience the new changes first-hand," said Cusack. "Our job is to ensure that every experience is a great one for customers, delivery partners and crew. These upgrades will help us to deliver a quicker, more seamless and more convenient experience for all."

Cusack cited local employment as a central priority alongside the physical upgrade. "As a local business owner, creating opportunities for people in the local area and sustaining jobs within the community is one of my top priorities. This investment ensures we can continue providing a modern, welcoming restaurant for our customers while supporting employment and skills development for our crew members, most of whom live locally."

There are currently 35 McDonald's restaurants operating across Northern Ireland, supporting approximately 6,600 jobs in the region when both direct and indirect employment is taken into account.

The Ballymena refurbishment reflects a wider pattern of investment by McDonald's franchisees in upgrading existing sites to accommodate evolving consumer behaviours, particularly the sustained growth in delivery demand that has reshaped restaurant fit-out requirements across the hospitality sector.

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