Rutland finally succumbs to lure of the Golden Arches: England’s last county to not have a McDonald’s opens its first branch

McDonald’s has today opened a branch in the last county in England without a branch of the fast food chain.

The restaurant has opened on the outskirts of Oakham, in Rutland and will move to a drive-thru only tomorrow as the country enters a second lockdown.

Until now, the East Midlands town had proudly boasted being the last English county to have avoided bowing to the fast food giant.  

Residents had voiced fears the ‘unsightly’ development would increase litter, impact local businesses and undermine ‘The Rutland Brand’.

The Duchess of Rutland complained the chain ‘does not serve local food’ and said she would only eat there if ‘the junk food outlet started serving pheasant.’

The Mayor of Oakham, Councillor David Romney, officially opened the restaurant at 11am today.

A planning application for the branch north of Oakham town centre had triggered more than 50 objections, before it was approved in January.

Some locals had opposed to the drive-thru, which creates around 65 jobs, fearing it would increase anti-social behaviour and devalue local houses.

McDonald’s staged a consultation event in Oakham in May last year, which was attended by almost 400 people. 

The council had 23 letters supporting the plan from residents who said it would add to the dining choices available in England’s smallest county, which is landlocked by Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire. 

The restaurant is owned and operated by McDonald’s franchisee Glyn Pashley. 

He said: ‘We are delighted to be opening in Oakham, making this restaurant the first in Rutland, and we’re so looking forward to seeing our new and existing local customers at the restaurant. 

‘We’d like to thank our customers in advance for their support and patience as we navigate and adapt to these different ways of working.’   

It comes after Emma Manners, the Duchess of Rutland complained the chain ‘does not serve local food’, telling Good Morning Britain in January: ‘They should serve up pheasant burgers and nuggets. A pheasant is the cheapest food at all. 

‘If you bought a pheasant off me it would cost you nothing, I would give it to you.

‘If McDonald’s served pheasants I would be happy with the junk food outlet as long as they use county side people.’ 

Local David Taylor, 39, said: ‘For years we’ve proudly boasted that we’re the only county in England without a McDonald’s.

‘It a shame the council have bowed to the big corporations. It doesn’t suit our town and our way of living.

‘I guarantee once it opens, we’ll have a KFC and a Burger King next. I worry for our children’s health as a result.’

Robert Kent, also of Oakham, said: ‘I think in an area of outstanding natural beauty and a traditional market town adopting the banality of the golden arches would be a sad day.

‘Fast food of poor quality leading to inevitable litter in the surrounding area is not what we need. Even if it creates a few jobs for school kids.’

A third – called Miss M Brookes – added: ‘Rutland is the only county that doesn’t have any main brand fast food restaurants. And I honestly think that’s one of loveliest facts about our county.

‘Our high street has been noticeably struggling recently and with the introduction of a McDonald’s I strongly believe that this would cause further hospitality collapses around the town.

‘Within the younger generations, McDonald’s is a widely known meeting place for modified cars to then go on and perform street races and the location is almost perfect for it.’