McDonald's restaurant on the A1 at Colsterworth has opened
Customers are already 'lovin it' at the new McDonald's on the A1 at Colsterworth, which opened earlier today.
The site can be accessed from the A151 and through a drive-thru entrance off the A1 southbound.
The first customer at 10.30am was Daniel Murray of Manchester, a refrigeration contractor who has been working nearby.
"I heard it was opening so I came in for a coffee. It is really good. A few of our lads are also having a burger. I will definitely be back when we are working in the area."
Tucking into his fries was another refrigeration engineer Daniel Atkins, 21, also of Manchester.
Daniel said he had been eating elsewhere at a nearby location, which he was unhappy with, but as he would only be working locally for another week he was unsure he would be back.
He said of his burger and fries: "It's nice and hot."
The Bignell family of South Witham thought 'so far so good' as they waited for their food to arrive.
Hannah, 31, and Ashley, 37, had ordered a Big Mac Meal, a Swiss Stack Meal and two Happy Meals for themselves and four-year-old twins Ronnie and Reuben.
Ashley said: "We only live in South Witham but I travel to Grantham. I will be in here most days for breakfast."
Hannah added: "I will probably come once a week as a treat for the boys."
This latest McDonald's promises the latest technology in serving and ordering food, and Lucy Wallis, 45, was impressed by an 'air phone charger' at the tables.
Lucy, from Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth said the device was fantastic, with it working by people just placing their mobile phone above it.
She said: "Teenagers are always bringing their chargers and this will be a big hit with them."
Daughter Elisha Wallis, 15, said the new venue was great.
"It's going to be a great place to hang out," she added, saying she currently goes to McDonald's in Grantham.
The pair promised they will definitely return.
Operations manager Darren Smith, 49, has been with McDonald's for 26 years, working for Colsterworth franchisee Martin Cuthbert since 1997.
Darren said there is a need for more services on the A1, which was why Martin has invested in the new restaurant, adding to 11 others he has in Peterborough, Grantham and the surrounding area.
Already, Martin employs more than 1,300 people at his franchised restaurants, with this latest one currently employing 80 with numbers due to increase to 100.
Darren said he expected customers would come from surrounding villages, .as well as others travelling southbound on the A1.
The McDonald's is situated across a road from a Burger King, which is currently closed for refurbishment.
Darren continued: "From what I understand there will be a KFC going there as well. It's good for the area. The whole area is going to be developed."
But whether the A1 is to be upgraded to motorway could be a mixed blessing.
Darren added: "We will have to wait and see. There will be better slip road making it safer to get on and off and we become more of a destination. But I think a motorway would both help and hinder."
A McDonalds is proposed at Oakham, which would be the first McDonald's in Rutland.
