McDonald’s is testing a new restaurant look in the UK, with a strong focus on ‘family,’ after a similar effort launched in France last year. The concept restaurant with new design, which incorporates the latest technology facilities, was opened in Milton Keynes, and if successful, the new visual approach will be taken to other 1,200 McDonald’s venues across the country.

Photo: McDonald’s concept venue in the UK, www.marketingmagazine.co.uk

With the new concept, the fast food chain is offering more to its younger customers—at the trial McDonald’s location there’s children’s eating area and children’s menu, as usual, plus iPads, digitally projected games, children’s play areas and a mini climbing wall. “This restaurant is only a pilot. It represents the evolution of the eating-out experience for the family, which is very important to us as we are a very family orientated organization,» commented a spokesperson for McDonald’s, according to www.marketingmagazine.co.uk.

The new move follows the recent announcement about McDonald’s intention to create at least 2,500 new jobs across the UK this year (an estimated 30% of the new jobs will be provided for first-time workers, and over a half will go to people under the age of 25)—with this addition, the a total UK workforce will be 90,000.

“Despite these difficult economic conditions our continued emphasis on good quality food at affordable prices and improving the experience for our customers and our people, has meant that we are able to continue to invest in the business and create jobs. Today’s job market is particularly tough for young people so it remains vital that these jobs continue to offer great training programmes that teach the valued, transferable skills that will give them a solid footing on the career ladder and help them to progress their careers with us or other employers,” stated Jill McDonald, CEO, McDonald’s UK.