A Harold Hill McDonald's has reopened after a refurbishment lasting more than a month.

The McDonald's branch in Straight Road - owned by local franchisee Gerry Byrne - reopens today (November 14) after undergoing a Convenience of the Future redesign to enhance customer experience.

This initiative aims to meet increasing demand for speed, efficiency and choice, according to McDonald's.

The revamped restaurant, which shut on October 2, features a new layout and technology to streamline the ordering process.

Gerry, who manages seven McDonald's restaurants in east London and Essex, said: "I'm proud to reinvest in our Harold Hill restaurant - especially as McDonald's celebrates its 50th anniversary in the UK this year.

"The dining area is more contemporary, and we now have separate facilities for our dine-in customers and our couriers, leading to a better experience for everyone.

"It's exciting to see the fresh new look and feel of our Harold Hill restaurant and I'm confident the changes will not only benefit our customers but also our staff as they will help make their jobs a little easier."

The refurbishment also includes improvements for the restaurant crew, with the crew room redesigned to provide a more "relaxing and comfortable space" for breaks.

READ MORE: Post Office 'considering future' of Harold Hill branch

The Harold Hill branch will still have its traditional walk-in and drive-thru options, but the dining areas have been redesigned with more of a focus on digital sales channels and the McDonald's app.

A redesigned front counter, with specific areas for different sales channels, has been put in place with the aim of reducing congestion around touchscreens and shortening queues.

A dedicated courier waiting area and entrance have also been added to better accommodate delivery needs and reduce congestion in the dining area.

The new kitchen design includes a larger order assembly area and dedicated areas for preparing dine-in orders, to help the crew serve more quickly, efficiently, and accurately.