Big Macs and parties as McDonald's opened in Hereford

They swiftly spread across the country, and it would be hard to imagine a high street without one now, but locals in Hereford were not too happy to hear that one would be coming to the city four decades ago.

Plans to build a new McDonald's restaurant in Hereford city centre were approved in 1983, despite the fears of locals.

The fast-food giant's application to open a 100-seat restaurant on the old Tesco supermarket site in Commercial Street was approved by seven votes to two at a planning and transport committee meeting in October that year.

The Hereford Times reported at the time that cafe and restaurant owners were dismayed by the decision, fearing that they would be forced out of business by the "Mighty Mac".

McDonald's, Commercial Street. Picture: Google Maps

Morley Smith, solicitor for the opponents of McDonald's, claimed that existing facilities in the area "more than catered for a city the size of Hereford", also claiming that while the fast-food restaurant would employ around 60 people, it would also cause unemployment by causing closures.

Litterpicking team, McDonald's Commercial Street, 1988

The application for the £300,000 project had been strongly supported by others, with Councillor Basil Baldwin telling the Hereford Times that there was nowhere in the city that you could get food at 5pm.

Children get in the holiday mood with Ronald McDonald at McDonald's, Commercial Street, 1986

But despite the early misgivings about the new restaurant, McDonald's was soon a popular addition to the city centre, playing host to diners and parties and taking part in litter picking locally.

By the late 1990s, McDonald's had its sights set on a second city location, snapping up the Belmont Inn site in Belmont Road.

Belmont Inn, Hereford

The pub, which had been owned by Whitbread, had closed its doors after pulling its last pints in January 1999.

Belmont McDonald's under construction in Hereford, 1999

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A spokesperson for McDonald's said it was a "great" site, while Whitbread said the decision to sell was part of their ongoing development programme policy.

McDonald's Belmont manager Sharon Hill with shift managers Les Schofield, Nathania Philipps and Daniel Wiseman

The pub would be replaced by a 90-seater drive-through restaurant employing 40 full and part time staff and, like the Commercial Street branch, remains open to this day.

McDonald's Belmont Road