Nice blog piece here. The McDonald's in Woolwich was their first ever in the UK. The first 50 customers after 11am today will receive a complimentary medium meal.
I had McDonald’s on the day, it opened. I went with my mates to Saturday morning pictures at the ABC, Ronald McDonald was there giving out vouchers, I had a beef burger, fries & a root beer.
I remember it well. Few people today will give McDonald's credit but they had a huge effect on fast food, prices, cleanliness of restaurants, included condiments, clean toilets etc etc.
I had McDonald’s on the day, it opened. I went with my mates to Saturday morning pictures at the ABC, Ronald McDonald was there giving out vouchers, I had a beef burger, fries & a root beer.
Yes, me too. Being a Woolwich Poly boy it was just around the corner so had to try it out.
I still preferred the Wimpy on the corner of Thomas Street and especially the American Beefburger Bar in Greens End.
Happy days, apart from the reminder that it was 50 fecking years ago!
My first ever visit to McDonald's Woolwich was in 77, in fact it was my first ever visit to any McDonald's as I do not remember one in Stockport at that time. I was back in London visiting family and was on my way back from seeing us in a 1-1 draw at Palace.
Speaking purely personally I think McDonalds is vile, even dangerous chite, only to be had when desperate. They call their establishments ‘restaurants’ and their fodder ‘meals’ for goodness sake, and advertise as if they are in some way wholesome. There was a time not that long ago when some parents of babies just going on to solids would blend their McDonalds leftovers to mush and feed their babies on it! It was a ‘meal’ after all doncha know, and advertised emphasising any lettuce or tomatoes and so therefore ‘wholesome’ they had contracts with ‘British and Irish’ farmers they said to make it seem gently pastoral coming from these green and pleasant islands. Supersize me.
I had McDonald’s on the day, it opened. I went with my mates to Saturday morning pictures at the ABC, Ronald McDonald was there giving out vouchers, I had a beef burger, fries & a root beer.
Yes, me too. Being a Woolwich Poly boy it was just around the corner so had to try it out.
I still preferred the Wimpy on the corner of Thomas Street and especially the American Beefburger Bar in Greens End.
Happy days, apart from the reminder that it was 50 fecking years ago!
The Wimpy is still there too, although I wonder how they stay open as I’ve rarely seen more than two people in there any time I’ve gone past it 🤷🏻♂️
Speaking purely personally I think McDonalds is vile, even dangerous chite, only to be had when desperate. They call their establishments ‘restaurants’ and their fodder ‘meals’ for goodness sake, and advertise as if they are in some way wholesome. There was a time not that long ago when some parents of babies just going on to solids would blend their McDonalds leftovers to mush and feed their babies on it! It was a ‘meal’ after all doncha know, and advertised emphasising any lettuce or tomatoes and so therefore ‘wholesome’ they had contracts with ‘British and Irish’ farmers they said to make it seem gently pastoral coming from these green and pleasant islands. Supersize me.
Bore off . Do you have to ruin ever thread you comment in?
My earliest memory of this is of Bexleyheath McDonald's opening a few years later. I remember @golfaddick coming home and raving about it, particularly the banana milkshakes. So, of course, I badgered our Mum into taking me.
I absolutely loved the thick milkshakes back then. They have massively deteriorated in the last 15 years. One reason for this is that the milkshake beakers were specially heavily waxed before to prevent melting. However they’re justsimply not as thick as before. I remember that they were so thick that you’d having trouble sucking it at all at first.
Speaking purely personally I think McDonalds is vile, even dangerous chite, only to be had when desperate. They call their establishments ‘restaurants’ and their fodder ‘meals’ for goodness sake, and advertise as if they are in some way wholesome. There was a time not that long ago when some parents of babies just going on to solids would blend their McDonalds leftovers to mush and feed their babies on it! It was a ‘meal’ after all doncha know, and advertised emphasising any lettuce or tomatoes and so therefore ‘wholesome’ they had contracts with ‘British and Irish’ farmers they said to make it seem gently pastoral coming from these green and pleasant islands. Supersize me.
Bore off . Do you have to ruin ever thread you comment in?
My earliest memory of this is of Bexleyheath McDonald's opening a few years later. I remember @golfaddick coming home and raving about it, particularly the banana milkshakes. So, of course, I badgered our Mum into taking me.
I absolutely loved the thick milkshakes back then. They have massively deteriorated in the last 15 years. One reason for this is that the milkshake beakers were specially heavily waxed before to prevent melting. However they’re justsimply not as thick as before. I remember that they were so thick that you’d having trouble sucking it at all at first.
Got a free meal for saying 'two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese pickle and onions on a sesame seed bun' in less than 3 seconds I think
Speaking purely personally I think McDonalds is vile, even dangerous chite, only to be had when desperate. They call their establishments ‘restaurants’ and their fodder ‘meals’ for goodness sake, and advertise as if they are in some way wholesome. There was a time not that long ago when some parents of babies just going on to solids would blend their McDonalds leftovers to mush and feed their babies on it! It was a ‘meal’ after all doncha know, and advertised emphasising any lettuce or tomatoes and so therefore ‘wholesome’ they had contracts with ‘British and Irish’ farmers they said to make it seem gently pastoral coming from these green and pleasant islands. Supersize me.
Wimpy for me but McDonald's certainly do a job. On a cold day working outside a bigmac goes down much better than a sandwich.
There are very few Wimpy Bars up t'north. One opened in Shrewsbury a couple of years ago and my wife and I made a 40 mile round trip just to have a Quarter Pounder with Cheese - drove there, parked, went to Wimpy, drove home!
Speaking purely personally I think McDonalds is vile, even dangerous chite, only to be had when desperate. They call their establishments ‘restaurants’ and their fodder ‘meals’ for goodness sake, and advertise as if they are in some way wholesome. There was a time not that long ago when some parents of babies just going on to solids would blend their McDonalds leftovers to mush and feed their babies on it! It was a ‘meal’ after all doncha know, and advertised emphasising any lettuce or tomatoes and so therefore ‘wholesome’ they had contracts with ‘British and Irish’ farmers they said to make it seem gently pastoral coming from these green and pleasant islands. Supersize me.
I had McDonald’s on the day, it opened. I went with my mates to Saturday morning pictures at the ABC, Ronald McDonald was there giving out vouchers, I had a beef burger, fries & a root beer.
Yes, me too. Being a Woolwich Poly boy it was just around the corner so had to try it out.
I still preferred the Wimpy on the corner of Thomas Street and especially the American Beefburger Bar in Greens End.
Happy days, apart from the reminder that it was 50 fecking years ago!
The Wimpy is still there too, although I wonder how they stay open as I’ve rarely seen more than two people in there any time I’ve gone past it 🤷🏻♂️
Do they still do the Knickerbocker Glory's and have the Tomato shaped Ketchup bottles on the tables? Those are my memories of The Wimpy
I had McDonald’s on the day, it opened. I went with my mates to Saturday morning pictures at the ABC, Ronald McDonald was there giving out vouchers, I had a beef burger, fries & a root beer.
Yes, me too. Being a Woolwich Poly boy it was just around the corner so had to try it out.
I still preferred the Wimpy on the corner of Thomas Street and especially the American Beefburger Bar in Greens End.
Happy days, apart from the reminder that it was 50 fecking years ago!
The Wimpy is still there too, although I wonder how they stay open as I’ve rarely seen more than two people in there any time I’ve gone past it 🤷🏻♂️
Do they still do the Knickerbocker Glory's and have the Tomato shaped Ketchup bottles on the tables? Those are my memories of The Wimpy
I had McDonald’s on the day, it opened. I went with my mates to Saturday morning pictures at the ABC, Ronald McDonald was there giving out vouchers, I had a beef burger, fries & a root beer.
Yes, me too. Being a Woolwich Poly boy it was just around the corner so had to try it out.
I still preferred the Wimpy on the corner of Thomas Street and especially the American Beefburger Bar in Greens End.
Happy days, apart from the reminder that it was 50 fecking years ago!
The Wimpy is still there too, although I wonder how they stay open as I’ve rarely seen more than two people in there any time I’ve gone past it 🤷🏻♂️
Do they still do the Knickerbocker Glory's and have the Tomato shaped Ketchup bottles on the tables? Those are my memories of The Wimpy
Wimpy for me but McDonald's certainly do a job. On a cold day working outside a bigmac goes down much better than a sandwich.
There are very few Wimpy Bars up t'north. One opened in Shrewsbury a couple of years ago and my wife and I made a 40 mile round trip just to have a Quarter Pounder with Cheese - drove there, parked, went to Wimpy, drove home!
I worked Wimpy in Dartford 86-88 whilst at school (the fast food one in high street rather than the table service one in Lowfield St)
Always found them superior to McD's mainly because the burgers were properly flame grilled on a broiler, and the buns were also toasted
One year, I was Mr Wimpy in the Lord Mayors Show in London, as our shop was closed for a refurb and Wimpy had a float. we all thought we were going to help out at St Pauls branch for the day, but we were all in the actual parade.
Speaking purely personally I think McDonalds is vile, even dangerous chite, only to be had when desperate. They call their establishments ‘restaurants’ and their fodder ‘meals’ for goodness sake, and advertise as if they are in some way wholesome. There was a time not that long ago when some parents of babies just going on to solids would blend their McDonalds leftovers to mush and feed their babies on it! It was a ‘meal’ after all doncha know, and advertised emphasising any lettuce or tomatoes and so therefore ‘wholesome’ they had contracts with ‘British and Irish’ farmers they said to make it seem gently pastoral coming from these green and pleasant islands. Supersize me.
Tell me Plum, are the British and Irish farmers likely to be affected by Brexit or the border issue in your opinion?
I prefer Burger King to McDonalds and Wimpy anyway.
The best burger though was from the kiosk outside London Bridge station 30 years ago. The egg burgers were lovely but impossible to eat without making a massive mess everywhere
When the first one opened in Woolwich I remember a lad at school, with the surname MacDonald, claimed that his uncle owned it. He was suitably embarrassed when virtually all his classmates were quick to point out that it was a large US chain.
I had McDonald’s on the day, it opened. I went with my mates to Saturday morning pictures at the ABC, Ronald McDonald was there giving out vouchers, I had a beef burger, fries & a root beer.
Don’t want to pee on the parade but 13th November 1974 50 years ago today. Was a Wednesday, not a Saturday. I looked it up , because I was sure I went first day to McDonalds. But, I worked in Woolwich Equitable, which was Monday to Friday job.
Comments
There was a time not that long ago when some parents of babies just going on to solids would blend their McDonalds leftovers to mush and feed their babies on it! It was a ‘meal’ after all doncha know, and advertised emphasising any lettuce or tomatoes and so therefore ‘wholesome’ they had contracts with ‘British and Irish’ farmers they said to make it seem gently pastoral coming from these green and pleasant islands.
Supersize me.
I absolutely loved the thick milkshakes back then. They have massively deteriorated in the last 15 years. One reason for this is that the milkshake beakers were specially heavily waxed before to prevent melting. However they’re justsimply not as thick as before. I remember that they were so thick that you’d having trouble sucking it at all at first.
Got a free meal for saying 'two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese pickle and onions on a sesame seed bun' in less than 3 seconds I think
Wimpy for me but McDonald's certainly do a job. On a cold day working outside a bigmac goes down much better than a sandwich.
https://www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/menu/vegan.html
There are very few Wimpy Bars up t'north. One opened in Shrewsbury a couple of years ago and my wife and I made a 40 mile round trip just to have a Quarter Pounder with Cheese - drove there, parked, went to Wimpy, drove home!
Always found them superior to McD's mainly because the burgers were properly flame grilled on a broiler, and the buns were also toasted
One year, I was Mr Wimpy in the Lord Mayors Show in London, as our shop was closed for a refurb and Wimpy had a float. we all thought we were going to help out at St Pauls branch for the day, but we were all in the actual parade.
I'd be interested in your thoughts.
The best burger though was from the kiosk outside London Bridge station 30 years ago. The egg burgers were lovely but impossible to eat without making a massive mess everywhere