I'm not a huge fan of McDonalds but my two children seem to regard it as a treat so we go every once and awhile. History, menus, etc can all be found in other reviews so I would like instead to share with you my most recent, unpleasant and frightening experience.
I arrived at the McDonalds restaurant in the Meole Brace area of Shrewsbury at around 5pm on a Friday before Xmas with my son, then aged 10 yr. and my daughter 4yrs. The restaurant is situated in quite a pleasant retail park about 2 miles from the centre of Shrewsbury. There is ample parking and the surrounding gardens have matured to make the exterior of the restaurant quite attractive.. There are tables outside should you wish to sit in the cold or have a smoke. The exterior of the building itself is of typical McDonalds design - perhaps now rather dated and in need of a revamp.
Inside the decor is looking very tired - the restaurant is around 15 years old and in need of decoration. Some of the bar stools seem to have been removed from the floor in the central island seating area leaving a couple of rusty fixings sticking up to trip the unwary customer. The floors are never clean here and the seats and tables usually have to be carefully inspected before use.
The queue for food was very slow, so my two children went over to a clean table in the far corner of the restaurant to wait for me. After 5 minutes or so my 4yr old daughter came back to me leaving my son seated but within eyeshot. Suddenly a fierce argument broke out between two people on the table next to where my son was sitting. This then broke out into a fight with chairs and food flying. My poor son sat there looking petrified and was actually in danger of being injured. My daughter started to run towards him and I just managed to grab hold of her before a chair went flying in her direction. It all happened so quickly and then the two people involved walked out the door.
What I find so strange is that nobody in the restaurant batted an eyelid. The staff took no notice and the Manager made no attempt to intervene or apologise to the customers or check that everyone was alright. After retrieving my son, now a quivering wreck, I returned to the counter and asked the lad behind it if he had seen what had happened. He said 'happens all the time and security don't come in until 6pm.' Very reassuring!
We left without eating and drove home in rather sombre mood. I am not sure that I ever want to go back there again. This restaurant bears no resemblance what so ever to the jolly advertisements on the television. It seems to have lost its way and the staff seem to be wallowing in a sea of misery, burger buns and happy meals. Happy meal, you must be joking!
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Advantages: Spacious, uses less packaging than McDonald's Disadvantages: Food doesn't taste as nice as at McDonald's, unpleasant staff, see update at top!
KarenUK 05.05.2001 (04.09.2001)
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