The story behind this unique McDonald's branch in Dorset

Based on Bridport Road near the A35 Monkey’s Jump roundabout, the McDonald’s serves as the nearest branch for Dorchester and Poundbury residents to get their Maccies fix, or for hungry travellers looking to grab a quick meal on the road.

For some, it is quite an unusual sight given it is what appears to be a countryside pub with McDonald’s logo slapped onto it, yet has a modern restaurant inside.

It even has a pub-style sign with the iconic golden arch opposite the A35, as a knowing reference towards its unique appearance.

Standing for 20 years, a brief look at archive council documents showed there was a bit of a battle to overhaul a once well-known café into a fast-food restaurant.

Here is the story behind one of the country’s most unique McDonald’s restaurants.

What was it before?

Archive sketch of the former Monkey Jump cafe

The building used to be Monkey Jump Café and served as a helpful pit stop for hungry motorists and families.

Some believe the name of the café gave the nearby roundabout its name, but other theories suggest otherwise.

The café closed down in the 1990s much to the disappointment of locals and tourists, with many wondering what could replace the popular business.

At one point, it was due to become a Little Chef branch with granted permission to convert the building into a branded restaurant and car park in the 1990s.

It is not clear from the documents what happened to the plans, but McDonald’s swooped in and submitted their own plans.

• Read more - How an escaped pet may have led to Monkey's Jump roundabout getting its name

How it became a McDonald’s amid residents’ disapproval

The original sketch for the proposed McDonald's in 1999

In 1999, McDonald’s submitted a planning application to the then West Dorset District Council to erect a number of branded signs, no entry signs, disabled parking bay signs and non-illuminated litter signs around the building and car park.

The fast-food giant, which was celebrating its 25th anniversary in the UK, wanted to mark the occasion by expanding its food empire in Dorset.

And where better than being a stone’s throw away from Prince Charles’ town of Poundbury.

The plans wanted to install branded signage around the site and building as well as refit the interior to its usual branded style.

As the planning application went out for public consultation, some residents ‘objected most strongly’ to the plans, with many fearing that nearby trees would be cut down.

One claimed its entrance would be a ‘constant source of danger to traffic to and from Martinstown’ due to vehicles turning into the site while another feared its impact on the Dorset landscape.

The Dorchester Civic Society shared criticism of the McDonald's plans

The Dorchester Civic Society believed that the illuminated signs when lit would ‘compromise the AONB status of the site in its surroundings’.

One figure said: “If development on this scale is allow at this site, it will send a message to all opportunistic national and multinational companies that West Dorset (District Council) are a soft touch for development and very soon we will be inundated with inappropriate scars on our supposed protected landscape.”

He added: “The design of the building is not in keeping with the area, and the illuminated signs have made no concession to the very special situation it is in.

“This company has been persuade to abandon its traditional garish signs in other countries and other sensitive locations.

“I feel we should insist that they impact as little as possible in the countryside.”

Highways England raised no issues and nor did the council, which meant that the plans were approved in September 1999.

What is it like today?

McDonald's as seen off the A35 outside of Dorchester. Picture: Google

The restaurant opened in the early 2000s and was a clear hit. To some, it meant no longer travelling to Weymouth for a quick bite.

The restaurant was blamed for causing litter problems in the area after customers dumped their rubbish around the area and Monkey’s Jump roundabout.

After the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce quipped their staff should clean up the mess, McDonald’s remarked they already carried out litter patrols but admitted ‘there is only so far we can go’ and called upon their customers to clean up their act.

The restaurant has undergone numerous refurbishments in a bid to modernise the branch over the years and continues to stand today.

During the course of the Covid-10 pandemic, the branch shut twice to customers in order to keep staff and customers safe. 

The Bridport Road branch has a three out-of-five rating on Tripadvisor, with a mixture of opinions about the quality of the restaurant and its food.

One review described the restaurant as “clean with friendly staff and nice food served hot unlike some branches” while one disgruntled customer was left “very disappointed” with his visit.