McDonald’s rules for every tier in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland explained
MCDONALD'S fans who've woken up today under tighter Covid restrictions might be wondering how the rules affect their local restaurants.
Three quarters of England are now living in Tier 4 restrictions, and millions more have been upgraded to Tier 3. No areas are in Tier 2 now.
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Only 2,000 people living on the Isles of Scilly will remain in Tier 1.
To help, the restaurant chain has outlined all of the rules for every tier in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The devolved governments decide what lockdown rules to apply to stop the spread of Covid-19.
The restrictions affect pubs, restaurants and cafes, from whether customers can sit inside to eat to who can sit together.
Mainland Scotland was from Boxing Day, while Wales is under a nationwide level four lockdown.
Northern Ireland is in a new six-week lockdown.
Regardless of where the restaurant is though, all customers must wear a face mask when inside a McDonald's which can be removed when eating and drinking.
There are around 1,300 Maccies branches in the UK. You can find your nearest one using the .
Here are the rules for McDonald's branches in different parts of the UK:
Rules for McDonald's restaurants in England
Here's how the tier system affects McDonald's branches.
Tier 4
Restaurants in England are only allowed to serve takeaway food under Tier 4 restrictions, so you can't sit in to eat.
Restaurants can keep their drive-thrus open, but only until 11pm.
Tier 3
McDonald's restaurants are also closed to customers in Tier 3 who wish to dine-in. The seating areas outside also remain closed.
Branches are open for walk-in takeaway orders until 11pm, while drive-thrus and McDelivery will continue to operate normal hours.
Tier 2
Although no areas in England are now in Tier 2, here's what the rules were for restaurants in these areas.
On top of the rules outlined for Tier 3, branches which were in Tier 2 were open for customers to dine-in until 10pm - but it was table service only.
Only diners from the same household or support bubble could sit together at the same table though.
The rule of six - where six people from different households can mix - applied to those sitting outside.
Tier 1
Apart from the Isles of Scilly, there are now no Tier 1 areas in England, but here were the rules for restaurants in these areas:
In the lowest risk areas, branches opened for diners to sit-in until 10pm, as long as they used table service.
The rule of six applied to customers sitting at the same table indoors and outdoors.
Takeaway and McDelivery remained the same as in Tiers 2 and 3.
Rules for McDonald's restaurants in Scotland
Scotland has implemented a four-tier system to control the spread of Covid-19.
All of Scotland is now in Level 4 - meaning everyone is under the tightest restrictions.
This means that restaurants only remain open for walk-in takeaways, McDelivery and drive-thrus. They will continue to operate normal hours.
Here's what the restrictions were for levels 1 to 3:
Level 3
In addition to takeaways, McDelivery and drive-thrus, customers could dine-in with table service between 6am and 5pm.
The rule of six applied to diners indoors and outdoors.
Level 2
Diners could eat in, with table service, between 6am and 7pm and the rule of six applied inside and outside restaurants.
Branches continued to operate drive-thru, takeaway and McDelivery like normal.
Level 1
Branches in areas deemed least at risk could welcome diners between 6am and 10:30pm with table service.
The rule of six - which in Scotland allows a maximum of six people from two households to meet together - applied when eating indoors.
The rule of eight applied to groups sitting together outdoors.
Children under the age of 12 didn't count in the limits.
Rules for McDonald's restaurants in Wales
Non-essential retail, close contact services, gyms and leisure centres and hospitality will close in Wales as part of new restrictions.
This means that restaurants must close, except for takeaway and delivery.
Across Wales, McDonald's restaurants are open for takeaways, McDeliveries and drive-thru.
Rules for McDonald's restaurants in Northern Ireland
Hospitality has closed under new restrictions, meaning McDonald's restaurants in Northern Ireland are currently closed to dine-in customers.
They are only open for walk-in takeaways, McDelivery and drive thru.
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