New Portsmouth McDonald's kitchen could open to 'meet the demand' for orders

The fast food chain has confirmed it is looking to set up a new premises - that will not be open to the public - around the corner from its popular Fratton restaurant and drive-through in the Pompey Centre.

If it goes ahead the site will be located in an empty unit in Partnership Park, in Rodney Road, and it will be used to support nearby restaurants with their orders.

A McDonald’s spokesman said: 'It’s important that our offer reflects the needs of the people in the local area, and the Fratton delivery kitchen is opening to help nearby restaurants meet the demand from McDelivery orders.

'The opening will ensure that restaurants in the surrounding area can continue to provide the service and convenience that our customers expect, while ensuring that McDelivery customers have a great experience.

'The Fratton delivery kitchen is not open to the public, but the kitchen looks and feels exactly the same as all of our other kitchens up and down the country, and will deliver the same great tasting food our customers expect, prepared by our people to exactly the same standards.'

It comes after large tailbacks were caused by cars queuing to get to the Fratton McDonald's in June last year when it re-opened after the first lockdown.

Videos taken at the time showed cars stretching back to the B&Q car park.

There were also reports of heavy traffic around the other McDonald's sites in the city.

SEE ALSO: Pubs with beer gardens that are open in Portsmouth

So far no planning application has been submitted to the local authority to open the new kitchen.

Ian Maguire, Portsmouth City Council's assistant director of planning and economic growth, said: 'The council would need to discuss the nature of the proposed use with McDonald's to establish whether there is a material change in the use of the proposed new site and therefore whether planning permission is needed.'

There are currently five McDonald's restaurants in Portsmouth including in Commercial Road in the city centre, Copnor, North Harbour and Cosham.

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