McDonald’s Ballymena reopens after £1.1m makeover — and it’s bigger, faster and built for the delivery era

McDonald’s Ballymena

Ballymena’s McDonald’s restaurant is set to reopen tomorrow following a major £1.1 million transformation that has expanded the site, modernised operations and created 20 new jobs in the town.

The popular restaurant at Braidwater Retail Park has been closed for six weeks while builders moved in for an extensive refurbishment designed to tackle one very modern fast-food problem — too many delivery drivers, too little space, and customers wondering where exactly their order disappeared to.

The investment brings the total workforce at the Ballymena restaurant to 150 employees, with McDonald’s saying most crew members live locally.

Big changes behind the counter

One of the biggest changes customers will notice is the addition of a completely separate McDelivery collection area, including a dedicated courier entrance and waiting space.

With delivery demand continuing to surge, the restaurant has effectively split its operations in two — aiming to reduce congestion inside while helping delivery drivers collect orders more efficiently.

For regular customers, that should mean fewer crowds around collection points and a smoother experience whether grabbing a quick coffee, sitting in for lunch or making a late-night burger run.

The restaurant has also been fitted with a redesigned kitchen and a significantly larger order assembly area to increase capacity during busy periods.

Inside, the customer seating area has been expanded to accommodate 75 diners.

Investment creates 20 new jobs in Ballymena

McDonald’s franchisee Paddy Cusack

The refurbishment has also delivered an employment boost, with 20 additional jobs created as part of the investment.

McDonald’s franchisee Paddy Cusack — who operates the Ballymena, Antrim, Larne and Magherafelt restaurants — said the aim was to improve the experience for customers, delivery partners and staff alike.

“At McDonald’s, we are passionate about feeding and fostering the communities we serve, and we are looking forward to welcoming our customers back to the new and improved Ballymena restaurant so they can experience the new changes first-hand,” he said.

“Our job is to ensure that every experience is a great one for customers, delivery partners and crew. These upgrades will help us to deliver a quicker, more seamless and more convenient experience for all.”

He added:

“As a local business owner, creating opportunities for people in the local area and sustaining jobs within the community is one of my top priorities.

“This investment ensures we can continue providing a modern, welcoming restaurant for our customers while supporting employment and skills development for our crew members, most of whom live locally.”

The Ballymena branch will officially reopen on Wednesday 10 June, with customers returning to a restaurant designed not only for sit-in meals and takeaway orders, but for the growing reality of app-based fast food culture — where the queue at the counter can sometimes be rivalled only by the line of delivery scooters outside.