New McDonald's in Christchurch to play classical music to 'scare off' troublemakers

A NEW McDonald’s in Christchurch will play classical music to “scare people away” if they start causing trouble during night-time opening, the company has revealed.

The eatery in Barrack Road was granted planning permission in 2021 but now wants an extended licence to serve refreshments from 11pm to 5am seven nights a week.

Speaking to a BCP Council licensing sub-committee, a legal representative of the fast-food giant said music was a tactic used in other restaurants to deter nuisance customers, after concerns were raised about the potential for antisocial behaviour.

He told councillors: “We have worked out – and it is quite a horrific fact to acknowledge – that if people are being rude inside a restaurant or unfriendly, you just play classical music.

“It is a really sad statement to say that classical music tends to scare people away – that and just turning off the free internet.

“These are small measures that relate to our experience and ensure that we don’t have antisocial behaviour.”

A barrister for the company told the hearing that the practice of playing Beethoven or Bach to stop any trouble from customers was something that had been pioneered by Belfast City Council and had since been adopted by the fast-food chain.

He said: “They found that if they played classical music in public areas, street drinkers would leave.”

His revelation drew a smile from committee chair Cllr Judy Butt who told him: “I’m not sure some of our classicists would be too pleased at your methods.

“I’ve never heard that method before, but it might be something the sub-committee might suggest to other applicants in regard to control anti-social behaviour.

“Its quite sad, as a classical music lover myself – but there you go.”

The McDonald’s representative was answering questions posed by Cllr George Farquhar who said he was concerned about the possibility of nuisance behaviour if the licence was granted, along with noise and pollution problems.

One objection from nearby residents had claimed it was “totally inappropriate in an area which has significant number of residential properties in close proximity”.

They also predicted an “increased risk of resulting anti-social behaviour such opening would no doubt encourage”.

But the McDonald’s representative pointed out that the company had hi-tech CCTV in place, worked closely with police, and trained staff in “conflict management” to ensure their restaurants were “safe, attractive” places.

The sub-committee will announce their decision later.