An opening date has been announced for a new McDonald's in Oxford.

Last month it emerged that the American fast food giant is to launch a new restaurant in Cornmarket in the unit previously occupied by health food diner Leon.

The Leon chain sells "nutritional fast food", has about 70 outlets in the UK, and opened its Cornmarket Street branch in 2016.

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But after it closed contractors working on site confirmed McDonald's has taken over the Leon unit and a member of staff said work was now taking place to redesign the interior. 

While the chain's head office has yet to confirm the move, it is understood that the existing restaurant near Carfax will close when the new restaurant opens.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) Contractors have been stripping out the Leon decor, and rebuilding the interior.

Yesterday they told the Oxford Mail they were working towards completion of the work before an opening date of January 25.

"There's a lot of work to be done - that's why it is taking so long," said one of the builders.

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"It's a four-storey building - the kitchen will be in the basement, the restaurant on the ground floor and the first floor, and the floor above will be used as a staff room and offices.

"The other McDonald's will definitely close when this one opens."

The contractor added that the new restaurant would have a separate entrance for staff collecting online orders from companies like Deliveroo.

"They will go in through a separate entrance, so it won't feel so congested," he added.

A member of staff at McDonald's near Carfax said earlier its restaurant was expected to close once the new one opened in the same street.

He added: "We haven't been told anything officially but the managers are all saying we will shut here once the new one opens."

The existing McDonald's restaurant in Cornmarket does have upstairs seating, but it is mostly standing room only downstairs and the former Leon site appears to be a larger unit.

As recently as March Leon applied to the city council for longer opening hours, so it could open from 6am to 3am seven days a week.

The application also requested a change of use from mixed use retail and restaurant or cafe to commercial, business and service, and or hot food takeaway, which may have been a sign that the chain was preparing to leave.

HSBC Bank at Carfax is scheduled to be moving from its current premises to the new Jesus College building in Cornmarket, which also accommodates Cosy Club.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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