Rutland's first McDonald's will be opening at 11am this coming Wednesday.

The restaurant at the junction of Hackamore Way and Lands' End Way in Oakham, will create 65 new jobs for the local area.

The move follows significant investment from franchisee Glyn Pashley, who with the addition of this restaurant will now own 18 across the Midlands, including Kettering, Corby and Brampton Hut.

The restaurant will be opening with several measures in place to help keep employees and customers safe. These measures include:

â—Social distancing in the kitchens and service areas to help create a safe working environment for restaurant teams

â—Perspex screens at Drive-Thru windows and employees wearing protective equipment, as

well as Perspex screens and floor markings in specific areas in the restaurant and kitchen

â—All McDonald's employees are asked to confirm they are fit and able to work, and contactless thermometers are in use to take employee temperatures on arrival at work for every shift

â—Operating with a smaller than usual team and offering a limited menu

â—Customers are encouraged to pay by contactless payment methods

â—Customers can use the My McDonald's App to browse the menu, order and pay ahead

The safety measures mean that the restaurant will look a little different and things may take a little longer. There will be slightly reduced dine-in seating available to start with, to ensure maximum safety, and outdoor seating is also available on the patio area.

Mr Pashley said: "We are delighted to be opening in Oakham, making this restaurant the first in Rutland, and we're so looking forward to seeing our new and existing local customers at the restaurant. We'd like to thank our customers in advance for their support and patience as we navigate and adapt to these different ways of working."

The new restaurant will boast all the latest innovations from McDonald's, focused on improving and enhancing the restaurant experience for customers. Self-service kiosks mean visitors can order at a speed that suits them, while easily accessing nutritional information and making informed food choices. Table service and digital Drive-Thru menu boards will also be in operation.

The My McDonald's App will be available to use at the restaurant, allowing customers to order and pay for their meal ahead of time. The app sends a notification to the kitchen as soon as customers are within 100m of the restaurant, meaning all orders are prepared fresh on arrival.

Customers can choose to take their meal at the counter, or have it delivered to a table. The nationwide introduction of Table Markers means customers can find a table, order through their phone and have their food delivered straight to where they're sat, available exclusively through the My McDonald's App.

The app also allows customers to save their favourite orders and customise burgers, as well as offering users the chance to collect digital McCafé loyalty points.

To celebrate the opening, franchisee Glyn will host an event with local stakeholders including the Mayor of Oakham, Coun David Romney, who will officially open the restaurant on 4th November.