McDonalds to retain 24 hour license

A popular city centre fast food outlet has won its battle to remain open late into the night, after a challenge by residents failed on technical grounds.

Student favourite McDonalds, on Blake Street, had initially been ordered to reduce it’s opening hours by City of York Council, after its 24 hour license had been revoked, meaning that the establishment would have to close at midnight on weekdays and at 1am on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.

McDonalds however appealed against the decision, and after taking legal advice, the council backed down on their decision, as a result of flaws in their case against McDonalds, partly since only one resident signed the application on behalf of the others.

YUSU President Kallum Taylor told Vision: “Even though I’m more of an Oki’s man myself, I’m sure the masses of students who end their night at McDonalds, won’t be aware of just how happy they’ll be that those doors aren’t locked when they turn up.”

The development, which will allow the restaurant to continue to open into the early hours of the morning and all night if the restaurant so chooses, has been welcomed by students who regularly use the fast food outlet after nights out.

One regular visitor of McDonalds, Second Year Maths and Finance student Dylan Chambers, told Vision: “In my opinion it was an absolute travesty that McDonalds would get its license taken away, and I’m extremely glad to hear it has been allowed to continue to be open  24 hours-a-day. For all the freshers out there, the best nights end in McDonalds.”

Another second year student, who asked to remain anonymous, added: “You can’t beat a trip to McDonalds after a night out in York. I love it and always go there. It’s great that it will stay open late.”

Not everyone was so excited about the news though, as McDonalds is just one of many fast food outlets and takeaways open for students late at night. First Year Biochemistry student Tiffany Deans Green said: “Obviously they wouldn’t go as far as keeping their license if people didn’t use it. I’m not sure anyone I know would be bothered to walk there from Willow though.”

It had been reported that a total of 122 incidents have been linked to the Blake Street restaurant over a space of 17 months, although that claim has been refuted by McDonalds’ Chief Executive Jill McDonald, who told the council at a licensing hearing that “many of those who cause disruption in the evening are not our clients.”