McDonald's franchisee unveils plans for major investment

The owner of the busiest McDonald’s franchise in Northern Ireland is to invest £600,000 refurbishing the Lisburn restaurant.

Co Antrim businessman John McCollum revealed that his Sprucefield store, which employs 170 people, will close for three weeks next month while work is carried out on a major revamp project.

The McDonald’s restaurant at Sprucefield is set to get a £600,000 makeover.

As part of the McDonald’s ‘Experience of the Future’ initiative, the restaurant is to get a stylish new wood and stone interior, touch screen kiosks for placing orders and table service.

Other improvements will include new kitchen equipment and an upgraded ‘drive thru’ – already the busiest in the UK.

“We have big plans for Sprucefield,” Mr McCollum revealed.

“Our whole emphasis is this ‘Experience of the Future’, so we are closing Sprucefield for approximately three weeks from November 6, reopening with a bit of a splash on November 30.”

The 59-year-old former sales and marketing executive said that customers will notice “a big difference” in terms of the overall restaurant experience following the refurbishment.

Mr McCollum, who joined the McDonald’s Corporation in the early 1990s and opened the Sprucefield store in 1993, is also pushing ahead with a multi-million pound investment in a new restaurant at The Outlet, Banbridge.

The new 24-hour eatery on the busy A1 corridor is scheduled to open on Wednesday, October 19 and will create more than 100 new jobs.

“I’m sure there will be some impact on Sprucefield, but hopefully it will be minimal.

It is giving the customer another option and it’s all about accessibility and affordability and that’s what we’re doing,” Mr McCollum added.

The Birmingham-born businessman is also due to take over the franchise at McDonald’s, Newry and has ambitious plans for the Damolly Retail Park restaurant.