John Oram's photos with the keyword: McDonald's

Former McDonald's, 57-59 High Street, Gosport. It is nearly eight years since I started documenting the state of retail and commercial business in Gosport. I have visited High Street, Gosport from time to time, not always taking photographs and it has wearied me. Businesses there have not fared well. This is representative of the uphill struggle faced by Gosport. The large McDonald's, of all businesses, closed in November 2018. One might imagine McDonald's to be nearly omnipresent but, inexplicably in my opinion, the company decided that the opening, also in November 2018, of their 24hr restaurant at Gosport's Brockhurst Gate Retail Park was sufficient reason to close the town centre location. I would argue that there is a clear case for both as there is some distance between the two, the closed restaurant in a pedestrian zone and the new site more easily accessed by car. The result is that Gosport's dreary High Street has to endure another stark facade for more than one year. TZ70_P1010652CE

The McDonald's at Speedfields Park, Fareham closed in late January 2017 for a major refurbishment of the whole site. Although well patronised, this branch had suffered from limited parking (although there are other car parks nearby) and an awkwardly placed drive thru, the queue for which could affect local traffic movement and access to parking. The enlarged restaurant opened, as planned, on 7 March with expanded parking and a much improved drive thru. The building has a smart new roof and extensive glazing which contributes to a bright, airy look. 200_2_P1150272

The McDonald's at Speedfields Park, Fareham closed in late January 2017 for a major refurbishment of the whole site. Although well patronised, this branch had suffered from limited parking (although there are other car parks nearby) and an awkwardly placed drive thru, the queue for which could affect local traffic movement and access to parking. The enlarged restaurant opened, as planned, on 7 March with expanded parking and a much improved drive thru. Collection is from one of the three windows shown here. 200_2_P1150268C

The McDonald's at Speedfields Park, Fareham closed in late January 2017 for a major refurbishment of the whole site. Although well patronised, this branch had suffered from limited parking (although there are other car parks nearby) and an awkwardly placed drive thru, the queue for which could affect local traffic movement and access to parking. The enlarged restaurant opened, as planned, on 7 March with expanded parking and a much improved drive thru with orders placed on the north side of the building and collected from one of three windows on the other side. A new roof and glazing make the building quite attractive for the type and the outside seating area has a slightly continental look. Photograph by John Oram Photoshop (blur) by Gregory Halse 200_2_P1150273_PS

The McDonald's at Speedfields Park, Fareham closed in late January 2017 for a major refurbishment of the whole site. Although well patronised, this branch had suffered from limited parking (although there are other car parks nearby) and an awkwardly placed drive thru, the queue for which could affect local traffic movement and access to parking. My series documenting the changes hitherto has been titled 'Build A Better Burger' [qv]. With the planned date of 7 March for re-opening of the extended restaurant approaching, the work on the site was focused mainly on interior fitting and staff familiarisation. The revised car parking and drive thru arrangements are now clear and the surface markings are in place. 200_2_P1150260E

The McDonald's at Speedfields Park, Fareham closed in late January 2017 for a major refurbishment of the whole site. Although well patronised, this branch had suffered from limited parking (although there are other car parks nearby) and an awkwardly placed drive thru, the queue for which could affect local traffic movement and access to parking. My series documenting the changes hitherto has been titled 'Build A Better Burger' [qv]. With the planned date of 7 March for re-opening of the extended restaurant approaching, the work on the site was focused mainly on interior fitting and staff familiarisation. The revised car parking and drive thru arrangements are now clear and the surface markings are in place. 200_2_P1150259C

The McDonald's at Speedfields Park, Fareham closed in late January 2017 for a major refurbishment of the whole site. Although well patronised, this branch had suffered from limited parking (although there are other car parks nearby) and an awkwardly placed drive thru, the queue for which could affect local traffic movement and access to parking. My series documenting the changes hitherto has been titled 'Build A Better Burger' [qv]. With the planned date of 7 March for re-opening of the extended restaurant approaching, the work on the site was focused mainly on interior fitting and staff familiarisation. The revised car parking and drive thru arrangements are now clear and the surface markings are in place. A view from the rear of the building shows the drive thru collection points on the left. Customers will drive round the building clockwise, paying on the right in this view. 200_2_P1150263C

The McDonald's at Speedfields Park, Fareham closed in late January 2017 for a major refurbishment of the whole site. Although well patronised, this branch had suffered from limited parking (although there are other car parks nearby) and an awkwardly placed drive thru, the queue for which could affect local traffic movement and access to parking. By 26 February, with a little over a week to go to the planned re-opening, considerable progress had been made with glazing in place and the revised surface arrangements taking shape. The extended drive thru facilities are evident in this picture. Work had continued on a Sunday but there was still a lot to do. 200_2_P1150243E

The McDonald's at Speedfields Park, Fareham closed in late January 2017 for a major refurbishment of the whole site. Although well patronised, this branch had suffered from limited parking (although there are other car parks nearby) and an awkwardly placed drive thru, the queue for which could affect local traffic movement and access to parking. By 26 February, with a little over a week to go to the planned re-opening, considerable progress had been made with glazing in place and the revised surface arrangements taking shape. Work had continued on a Sunday but there was still a lot to do. TZ30_P1040258E

The McDonald's at Speedfields Park, Fareham closed in late January 2017 for a major refurbishment of the whole site. Although well patronised, this branch had suffered from limited parking (although there are other car parks nearby) and an awkwardly placed drive thru, the queue for which could affect local traffic movement and access to parking. By 26 February, with a little over a week to go to the planned re-opening, considerable progress had been made with glazing in place and the revised surface arrangements taking shape. Work had continued on a Sunday but there was still a lot to do. This vehicle is a Manitou MT625H telehandler. Note: this machine is produced as a telehander but does not seem in this case to have all the available fittings. TZ30_P1040257E

The McDonald's at Speedfields Park, Fareham closed in late January 2017 for a major refurbishment of the whole site. Although well patronised, this branch had suffered from limited parking (although there are other car parks nearby) and an awkwardly placed drive thru, the queue for which could affect local traffic movement and access to parking. By 26 February, with a little over a week to go to the planned re-opening, considerable progress had been made with glazing in place and the revised surface arrangements taking shape. Work was continuing on a Sunday but there was still a lot to do. 200_2_P1150241CE

The McDonald's at Speedfields Park, Fareham closed in late January 2017 for a major refurbishment of the whole site. Although well patronised, this branch had suffered from limited parking (although there are other car parks nearby) and an awkwardly placed drive thru, the queue for which could affect local traffic movement and access to parking. By 26 February, with a little over a week to go to the planned re-opening, considerable progress had been made with glazing in place and the revised surface arrangements taking shape. Work was continuing on a Sunday but there was still a lot to do. The purpose of the steelwork to the right of this picture was not obvious. 200_2_P1150237C

The McDonald's at Speedfields Park, Fareham closed in late January 2017 for a major refurbishment of the whole site. Although well patronised, this branch had suffered from limited parking (although there are other car parks nearby) and an awkwardly placed drive thru, the queue for which could affect local traffic movement and access to parking. By 26 February, with a little over a week to go to the planned re-opening, considerable progress had been made with glazing in place and the revised surface arrangements taking shape. Work was continuing on a Sunday but there was still a lot to do. The purpose of the steelwork in the foreground of this picture was not obvious. 200_2_P1150240C

The McDonald's at Speedfields Park, Fareham closed in late January 2017 for a major refurbishment of the whole site. Although well patronised, this branch had suffered from limited parking (although there are other car parks nearby) and an awkwardly placed drive thru, the queue for which could affect local traffic movement and access to parking. Construction pictures, especially those taken mid-project, are diificult to take well and tend to lack the compositional qualities one seeks in most photographs. Nevertheless, they capture the transitional and are thus of some value to those looking back in the perhaps distant future. Two weeks after my last pictures, the site was busy on a Saturday morning and it was becoming clear how the extended building and re-modelled site are designed to cope better with the drive thru business. It is interesting to compare this picture with the similar view from 4 February 2017. 200_2_P1150227C

The McDonald's at Speedfields Park, Fareham closed in late January 2017 for a major refurbishment of the whole site. Although well patronised, this branch had suffered from limited parking (although there are other car parks nearby) and an awkwardly placed drive thru, the queue for which could affect local traffic movement and access to parking. With a planned re-opening of 7 March, today's photographs were taken a little over half way through the project and record sights which will be lost with its completion. The building is now longer than before and the extended drive thru on the south side is evident in this shot. 200_2_P1150232E

The McDonald's at Speedfields Park, Fareham closed in late January 2017 for a major refurbishment of the whole site. Although well patronised, this branch had suffered from limited parking (although there are other car parks nearby) and an awkwardly placed drive thru, the queue for which could affect local traffic movement and access to parking. With a planned re-opening of 7 March, today's photographs were taken a little over half way through the project and record sights which will be lost with its completion. TZ30_P1040253

The McDonald's at Speedfields Park, Fareham closed in late January 2017 for a major refurbishment of the whole site. Although well patronised, this branch had suffered from limited parking (although there are other car parks nearby) and an awkwardly placed drive thru, the queue for which could affect local traffic movement and access to parking. With a planned re-opening of 7 March, today's photographs were taken a little over half way through the project and record sights which will be lost with its completion. The building is now longer than before and the extended drive thru on the south side is evident in this shot. 200_2_P1150236E

The McDonald's at Speedfields Park, Fareham closed in late January 2017 for a major refurbishment of the whole site. Although well patronised, this branch had suffered from limited parking (although there are other car parks nearby) and an awkwardly placed drive thru, the queue for which could affect local traffic movement and access to parking. Construction pictures, especially those taken mid-project, are diificult to take well and tend to lack the compositional qualities one seeks in most photographs. Nevertheless, they capture the transitional and are thus of some value to those looking back in the perhaps distant future. Two weeks after my last pictures, the site was busy on a Saturday morning and it was becoming clear how the extended building and re-modelled site are designed to cope better with the drive thru business. It is interesting to compare this picture with the views from 1 February and 4 February 2017. 200_2_P1150225C