11 things you'll remember from McDonald's that you don't see now

Today marks 50 years since McDonald’s opened its first branch in the UK. On this day in 1974, the very first restaurant opened in Woolwich, London - and from there the brand has welcomed generations through its dooers across the country.

A number of best-selling menu items from 1974 - McDonald's fries, Big Mac and cheeseburger - have remained on the menu and are still loved nationwide today. Alistair Macrow, CEO of McDonald’s UK, said: "We’re delighted to be celebrating our 50th birthday in the UK today – and more importantly celebrating five decades of serving happy customers.

"Since opening our first restaurant in Woolwich in 1974, McDonald's has grown and evolved alongside the nation, and are proud to have been adopted by Brits in communities the length and breadth of the country. Everyone has their favourite McDonald’s memory – and that is something we are incredibly proud of."

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For decades, people across the city and beyond have headed to their local McDonald's branch to enjoy everything from a Happy Meal to a McFlurry, with the first Liverpool McDonald's opening on Lord Street in November 1985. From its branding and décor to menu items, many of us have fond memories of what McDonald's was like and what we loved most about it in the 80s and 90s, the ECHO previously reported.

As McDonald's celebrates its 50th birthday in the UK, we take another look back at 11 things you would always see at McDonald's in years gone by that you don't now. This list isn't intended to be comprehensive, but see what you remember in our list below.

11. McDonald's Pizza

McDonald's did sell pizzas for a limited period in some restaurants in the mid 1990s as part of a sales and product test. As part of the test the restaurant trialled three flavours - Cheese, Cheese & Pepperoni and the Deluxe (cheese, green pepper, onion, peperoni and more).

Each pizza was eight inches across and cut into four slices. But if you're salivating at the thought of getting your hands on a McDonald's pizza you're in for a disappointment. On their website McDonald's have said they have no plans to reintroduce pizza to their menu at this time.

10. Polystyrene burger boxes

Now seeing this packaging is a blast from the past. These clamshell beauties were good for sauce lovers but were also an environmentalist's worst nightmare. However, breaking them up after the meal was also immensely satisfying.

In 1990, McDonald’s agreed to stop using foam for their burger packaging. However, they continued to use it in other items, like cups, for years to come. It wasn’t until 2018 that they made the promise to eliminate it from their global markets.

9. McDonald's Playgrounds

Some lucky places were not only provided with a McDonald's restaurant but also came with a playground outside. Some people even claim to remember there being a McDonald's ball-pit.

The reason you don't see them these days is apparently because McDonald's franchises favour more seating and lower land costs. However, McDonald's has built playgrounds in the grounds of various Ronald McDonald Houses in the UK, made from recycled materials, for families to enjoy while taking care of their seriously ill children.

8. Ronald McDonald and Friends

Ronald McDonald is the chain's clown mascot who inhabits the fictional world of McDonaldland. Once a staple on British TV adverts in the '80s and '90s, these days your rarely see the clown with his friends Mayor McCheese, the Hamburglar, Grimace, Birdie the Early Bird and The Fry Kids.

Today you're more likely to seen an appearance by Ronald McDonald at a special event or entertaining children at Ronald McDonald House. However, in 2011, a group of 500 doctors and other health professionals took out newspaper ads saying a fast-food clown mascot that targets children was unethical and should be retired.

7. Ronald McDonald benches

Some branches in the UK were said to have benches outside where you could sit next to the not at all creepy statue of Ronald McDonald with his arm around you. Personally, in this Instagram age, I think it's something that needs to be brought back.

6. When McDonald's restaurants were red, yellow and white

There was a time in the 1980s and 1990s when the dominant colours adorning the outside of the restaurant were red, yellow, and white. These days, however, in Europe it's more usual to see the more muted green and yellow branding outside the restaurants, supposedly to reflect the company's commitment to the environment.

One thing that hasn't changed though are the golden arches which are the instantly recognisable symbol of the brand.

5. Having a birthday party in the children's area

Not really something you see these days, but back in the 1980s and 1990s, the decor in parts of McDonald's restaurants seemed to be geared more towards children. But if you were the kid who was inviting your friends to your birthday at a McDonald's then you'd be sure to be talk of the school.

4. Classic McDonald's menu

Although many of the items on this classic McDonald's menu are still staple elements of the menu today, there's no getting away from those prices. I mean, 89p for a big Mac, and another 12p off if you eat it outside.

It's also worth noting that McDonald's breakfast items were not introduced to the UK until 1982 and you could order your eggs scrambled.

3. 1990s Happy Meals

Although Happy Meals had been introduced to the US restaurants in 1979, it took them until 1986 to appear in the UK. Aimed at children, now many of the Happy Meal packaging and toys from the '80s and '90s have become much sought-after collectors items.

Many McDonald's Happy Meals are in collaboration with big name movies or toys offering themed merchandise such as Star Wars, Lego, and Toy Story.

2. Classic McDonald's uniforms

Unlike the modern polo shirt and baseball caps sported by today's McDonald's employees, uniforms back in the 1980s featured striped shirts and ties for men and neck bows for female staff. Go back to the early '80s and many McDonald's staff wore small sharply cornered hats, reminiscent of what you see in a classic American diner.

1. McDonald's ashtrays

Until the indoor smoking ban for pubs, shops and restaurants came into force in the UK in 2006, you would likely see one of these ashtrays at every table in your local McDonald's. Some were made of aluminium while others were made of glass.