London's first McDonald's with ashtrays on every table and burgers for 37p

London's first ever McDonald's, complete with 50p hamburgers and ashtrays on every table, is a far cry from the fast food giant we know today.

Many of us hold fond memories of the golden arches from our childhood - the excitement of Happy Meal toys and the indulgence of a Big Mac and milkshake.

Since the 1970s, branches of this popular chain have been popping up all over London and the rest of the UK, with the menu evolving to include everything from classic burgers to wraps, baked cheese and plant-based options.

READ MORE: Brilliant old photos show London Eye hanging directly over boats on the Thames

But when did London first succumb to the allure of Ronald McDonald?

The first UK McDonald's restaurant opened its doors in Woolwich, South East London, back in October 1974.

On its opening day, eager crowds gathered outside the gleaming new fast food establishment. Inside, they were greeted by wooden seats, an ashtray on every table, and some of the most affordable meals Brits had ever seen.

The interior was decked out in a rather grim brown and cream colour scheme, adorned with large, unappealing photo portraits on the walls. However, the delicious hamburger - "made with 100% pure beef, topped with pickles, mustard and ketchup, served in a freshly toasted bun" - was a steal at just 15p.

A cheeseburger, simply enhanced with some "mellow cheese", cost 21p, while those with a larger appetite could opt for a Quarter Pounder with Cheese or a Big Mac for 45p. Ian, who worked at the inaugural Woolwich store, shared his candid experiences with MyLondon.

He had no choice but to work at McDonald's since his dad cut him off financially after he started at Thames Polytechnic. At 18, he was juggling over 50 hours of work weekly with his studies just to get by, relying heavily on the free meals provided by the fast-food giant.

"It was a very different place then. It wasn't quite the arse end of London but it was pretty average. In fact that's why McDonald's chose it because they wanted the most average place in the UK as a test to see how well it would do," he said with a chuckle.

"Woolwich was a bit like a dystopian apocalyptic nightmare back then. There was a pub, a department store, quite a grotty market and a station and that was about it. Interestingly compared to how it is now the staff was very un-diverse.

"There was one older Asian bloke but the rest were basically white London townies. Every part of the store was stainless steel and you had to clean almost every square inch of it every single day.

"It was an absolute nightmare.

"It wasn't quite as hygienic as it is now. There was this backyard where everyone would go out to smoke and it was about four inches deep in slurry of various kinds. When people came back in they'd tread it in with their feet. They'd get you to go and clean the toilets and then put you straight to work on the grill."

Ian revealed some unsettling practices at the fast-food joint where he used to work, saying: "There were little numbers in the rows of burgers which were little timings of when they had to be used by otherwise they would have to be thrown away. But if the manager had cocked up, you'd just move the cards a little bit so the food you were serving was considerably older than it was supposed to be."

He also mentioned the questionable five-second rule that was in place: "If you dropped something on the floor it was classified as 'a good catch' and would go back on sale. But if you were getting your own food for break time you'd watch every single bit of it being cooked to make sure it was right!"

Talking about the gruelling hours and the diet provided, Ian said: "You sometimes worked 16-hour shifts but you got a break every four hours and free food that was basically a diet of salt and sugar. It was kind of OK because I was young and fairly healthy but I do remember getting these strange cravings and not really knowing what it was about."

Reflecting on changes over time, Ian noted: "Things have definitely improved with regards to the hygiene. When the riots blew up in 1981 the rioters were being shipped in from elsewhere. They were at one end of the high street and the SPG (police squads) were hidden down an alleyway waiting to pounce on them, getting fired up. You could see all hell was going to break loose."

"My manager insisted we would stay open, 'even rioters have to eat'. But as the rioters began to advance down the high street towards the waiting police, he shouted 'right we're closed! ' We were sent out the front door and people went scampering away along alleyways and up lampposts!

"I was stood there in my brown McDonald's uniform with this huge mob charging towards me. Luckily a police car screeched past and the officer said: 'Get in the back son!'"

The uniforms certainly weren't sexy. "We had these brown polyester shirts and brown trousers and a paper hat and you'd get a new hat every day I do remember," Ian laughs.

But as a good looking young student that didn't stop him getting "plenty of female company" from the girls who worked the grills. Despite and perhaps because of all this Ian says his student years in Woolwich were "fantastic" and working at McDonald's taught him some of the most valuable lessons of his life.

"You could get into London in 20 minutes for virtually no money. The pubs were cheap and you could get a three-course meal for about £2," he says.

"The camaraderie among the staff was really strong. I was this student parachuted in from the countryside into a demographically very poor area of London but no-one dissed me for it. I've got bizarrely fond memories of it - apart from when I got home and had a bath at night and had to wash off a layer of grease.

"Then I'd have to start on my studies! Everyone did their best and there were people there who really wanted those five stars or to be a team leader who wanted jobs there for life."

One day the manager came up to me and said: 'Have you considered a career at McDonald's?

' I casually said 'no' and he responded: 'You should. I earn £11,000 and I drive a Datsun Sunny!'

"That's quite hilarious now but actually in reality the money wasn't bad and they were way ahead of a lot of other companies I worked for later in terms of their training and how they managed staff. Those days still shine in my memory and I wouldn't ever hear a bad word said about McDonald's or Woolwich or Thames Poly.

"It taught me not to judge a book by its cover and not to be a snob. If you're going to be a burger flipper, be the best burger flipper you can be.

It certainly worked for Ian. Treating people fairly regardless of their class or background has seen him go on to have a fantastic family and a very successful career in advertising.

Don't miss out on the biggest South London news. Sign up to our MySouthLondon newsletter HERE for all the latest daily news and more.