Bexleyheath McDonald's will get a £850,000 refurbishment which will create 20 new jobs and see the restaurant undergo a complete refit.

The restaurant in the Broadway Shopping Centre will reopen in mid-march with a new upstairs seating area, kitchen and refurbished toilets.

Restaurant owner Greg Abbott, who took over the franchise 16 years ago after spending several years as a McDonalds employee, said: “We’re having a complete re-fit costing in excess of £850,000 which will bring the store bang up to date.”

“It’s a popular store, constantly busy, but the fact is in its present format the unit has always been too small for the large number of customers who use it.

“We expect to put in an extra 35-40 seats. It’ll involve a complete refurbishment of the dining facilities, kitchen area, and customer restrooms.”

This Is Local London:

Franchisee Greg Abbott in the store which is being refurbished.

The store, which has been in Bexleyheath for 35 years, will also have “digital screen technology” installed and McDonald’s customer service options.

Greg added: “With the addition of an upstairs seating area there will naturally be more customers in our store at any one time so we are employing new staff to cater for the extra numbers.

“We’ll be taking on about 20 people in all. I’m proud that we can help boost local employment in this way.”

Broadway Shopping Centre manager Peter Sedge said: “It’s great to see this long established business continue to thrive after so many years in Bexleyheath.

“With new job opportunities on the horizon and a plush new image this can only be good for the area and we’re all looking forward to seeing the new look restaurant.

“This much-loved branch of McDonalds has long been a place where local families gather to socialise and re-energise while at Broadway Shopping Centre, and I know many people will be eager to be among the first in line when the new look store opens its doors again.”