When McDonald’s introduced the Big Mac in 1965, it quickly became one of the brand’s most famous burgers. Priced at less than 50 cents, the Big Mac made its debut in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, as a response to the popular Big Boy Burger from Big Boy Restaurants. Since then, it has achieved global fame.
Known for its two beef patties, pickles, and signature Big Mac sauce, approximately 900 million Big Macs are sold each year worldwide, averaging over 2.4 million per day.
The first McDonald’s restaurant in the UK opened its doors in 1974, where the Big Mac was priced at just 45p. Located in Woolwich, southeast London, this historic location welcomed eager customers in the autumn of that year, marking its 50th anniversary.
The Woolwich branch was the 3,000th McDonald’s worldwide and remains operational today, although it has undergone changes over the years. Unlike the modern stores that often feature tablets and drive-thrus, the original Woolwich restaurant had simple wooden seating and provided ashtrays on every table, as indoor smoking wasn’t banned until 2007.
The menu at the time was far simpler than today’s offerings. It included the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Quarter Pounder with cheese, the McMariner (the original filet-o-fish), the “United Tastes of America” meal deal (which included a hamburger, fries, and a milkshake), and the classic apple pie.
Pricing for menu items was as follows: a hamburger cost just 15p, made from 100% pure beef and garnished with pickles, mustard, and ketchup. The cheeseburger was priced at 21p, while the Big Mac and Quarter Pounder cost 45p each. The McMariner was priced at 30p. Fries were 12p for a small portion and 15p for a large. The best deal was the “United Tastes of America” meal, which also totaled 45p, offering fries and a milkshake for the same price as a Big Mac.
In the same year as the Woolwich opening, McDonald’s established its UK headquarters in Hampstead. The first UK advertisement appeared in cinemas in 1975, followed by the first television ad in 1976. The famous McDonald’s breakfast menu didn’t launch until 1982, despite the first McMuffin being introduced in the U.S. in 1972.
Although the UK market was slow to adapt, McDonald’s continued to grow, opening its 200th UK restaurant in Ipswich by 1986. Today, there are over 1,270 McDonald’s locations across the UK, proving that the brand remains as popular as ever.
Related topics:
- KFC Launches Satirical Campaign to Promote New Chicken Tenders
- Burger King to Open New Restaurant in Seven Hills
- Rebel Foods Launches 160th Wendy’s Restaurant in Bengaluru