The battle for a Burger King! Fast food chain is mobbed by delivery drivers as it opens for online sales only – but one mother tries her luck in queue… only to be sent away empty handed
- Burger King has reopened four restaurants across UK with a pared-down menu
- Staff will wear masks and gloves and will be trained to run delivery-only kitchens
- It will be also be donating 1,000 meals week to staff working at NHS hospitals
Burger King was mobbed by customers trying to get served at a drive-thru today – despite stores only being open for delivery.
Furious customers were turned away by a restaurant in Coventry as they attempted to order food – before being told only delivery drivers were allowed on site.
The fast food giant has reopened four restaurants including two in Bristol, one in Coventry, and one in Swindon.
Despite only offering 30 per cent of the regular menu, the chain is already doing a roaring trade with one branch doing a week’s worth of orders in just four days.
Delivery drivers collect orders from Burger King at Central 6 Retail Park, Coventry at lunchtime today
The news has come as a shot in the arm to people self-isolating at home who have taken to social media to share their excitement
A Burger King employee holds up takeaway meals outside the store today – which has seen orders skyrocket
The fast food giant has reopened four restaurants including two in Bristol, one in Coventry, and one in Swindon
Burger King is operating with a pared-down menu and offering delivery on the apps JustEat and Deliveroo.
Staff will wear masks and gloves and will be trained in running delivery-only kitchens hygienically, the company said.
It will be also be donating 1,000 meals week to staff working at NHS hospitals in the vicinity of the restaurants.
Restaurant manager at the Burger King branch in Coventry, David Gobey, 54, said: ‘We have been extremely busy. Yesterday there were 20-30 cars queuing back to the car park barriers.
‘We’ve got seven staff on, we can have more than that due to social distancing.
‘Normally we have 15. We’re open from 12pm to 10pm but are only doing 30% of the menu. It’s all the main call items like whoopers and bacon XL.
‘Last week we were open for four days and did a week’s business. All the staff wear masks and gloves, as do the delivery drivers.
‘They wait at the intercom, give their order number, then collect it at the booth where there’s an extra plastic panel between them and the staff.’
The news has come as a shot in the arm to people self-isolating at home who have taken to social media to share their excitement.
A deliveroo driver collecting an order from Burger King at Central 6 Retail Park, Coventry
People have taken to social media, begging the fast food giant to open more stores
Writing on Twitter, one customer wrote: ‘My youngest now wants to move to Swindon, Bath or Bristol purely cos KFC and Burger King are opening for deliveries there.’
However some beleaguered fans have pointed out that prices appear to have hiked.
Items including the Whopper and Chicken Royale are more expensive per item on food delivery apps than in branch.
A double Whopper meal for delivery in Coventry costs £8.29 when ordered via JustEat.
In store, the same meal would cost £7.49.
A triple Whopper meal comes in at £9.29 online, compared to £8.49 in store.
Burger King has been contacted for comment.
The Burger King stores currently offering delivery are; Coventry, Central 6 Retail Park; Swindon, Queen’s Drive; Bristol, Bath Road; Bristol, Eastgate.