McDonald's Leicester Square granted 24-hour operating license

Westminster Council has granted permission for the McDonald's in Leicester Square, London, to operate 24 hours a day. The decision allows the branch, which is one of the city's largest, to remove its current early-morning closure period.

The approval was granted to franchisee Capital Arches Group (CAG) despite objections from the Metropolitan Police, the Licensing Authority, and Environmental Health officers. Police officials expressed concerns that the area is already saturated with late-night venues and that extended hours could contribute to increased crime. However, the council's licensing committee stated there was no evidence linking the restaurant's current hours to local crime rates.

To mitigate potential issues, the council imposed several conditions on the license. These include employing at least one door staff member from 8pm onwards, increasing to two staff members between 10:30pm and 5:30am from Thursday to Saturday, implementing child safeguarding measures, and conducting half-hourly litter picks outside the venue. Additionally, no deliveries are permitted between 11pm and 8am.