McDonalds

The KnuckleHeadz may just be the thing to save America’s youth. They’re categorized too neatly as a punk band from Whittier, but they’re actually a movement: Southern California’s most raucous self-help program and hardcore band. The members are built like dockworkers and dressed like a deleted scene from “The Warriors”: black-and-green leather vests with a spiky-haired skull back patch. They are also the driving force behind the Punk Rock Fight Club, a Southern California-based organization dedicated to improving young men’s lives through fitness and structure. The rules are as strict as they are simple, and in this topsy-turvy world, truly radical: no hard drugs, no crime, no racists, no abusers. Respect yourself, your brothers and your community.

The KnuckleHeadz achieved a moment of internet fame after hosting a completely unsanctioned show in an unsuspecting McDonald’s for a hundred people. The viral clip of the show is the convenient entry point, but it sells short what the gentlemen have built. Onstage, the KnuckleHeadz are all sweat and spectacle: profanity-laced breakdowns, fans crowd surfing on boogie boards riding a human tide, and the green-and-black army in the pit pulling strangers upright. The absurdity of a fast-food slam pit, bodies and burgers briefly airborne — suggests anarchy. Look closer and you see choreography: Men catching falls, clearing space and enforcing a code. Punk has always promised salvation by noise. The KnuckleHeadz add a footnote: Salvation requires reps, rules and someone mean enough to care. Offstage, they run an infrastructure for staying alive.

The KnuckleHeadz in Whittier

(Dick Slaughter)

Founded in June 2021 by frontman Thomas Telles of Whittier, better known as Knucklehead Tom, and with the help of guitarist and tattooer Steven Arceo, aka Saus, of El Monte, the Punk Rock Fight Club (PRFC) has grown in a few years to six chapters and more than 200 members across Southern California. What started as a tight circle around a band hardened into a movement: discipline for kids who never got it, structure for men who need it, and a community without substance abuse . Prospects earn their way through mornings, sweat and commitment before they’re trusted with the skull back patch. The rules read like a brick wall and function like a doorway.

“I started the club because I wanted to do good in the scene,” Knucklehead Tom said “I wanted to create a tribe where we all supported each other, a family for people from all walks of life, especially those who came from broken homes. I wanted people to know they have somewhere to go and a family they can count on.”

Knucklehead Tom of The KnuckleHeadz puts his mic in to the crowd while performing with the band from Whittier.

(Dick Slaughter)

I first ran into the KnuckleHeadz and a few club members by accident three years ago in a London train station en route to the Rebellion Punk Rock Music Festival in Blackpool, a yearly event featuring more than 300 veteran and emerging bands. They were impossible to miss — part wolf pack, part brotherhood, pure energy. That year the KnuckleHeadz struck a chord with me, not just through their all-in, no-holds-barred performances, but also through their message, their obvious love for one another and their mission to better their community. Since then, I have taken a hard look inside both the band and the club; I visited their gym and attended many of their shows. I have met and talked with families and those the KnuckleHeadz and the club have helped. They have indeed, in many cases, worked miracles. But the guys don’t call them miracles. They call it Tuesday.

“Since we founded Punk Rock Fight Club, we paved way for what we knew was the movement and lifestyle many people in our scene needed,” Arceo said. “We’ve changed so many lives and with that our lives changed as well. We made a family built on brotherhood, loyalty with the camaraderie that can only be achieved through martial arts and punk rock. That’s something many of us grew up without. So to be able to bring this into the world is worth every sacrifice. We’re going on five years strong and will keep going till the day we die.”

The band’s ascent mirrors the spread of the club: a steady climb from underground slots to punk’s biggest stages. They earned a place on the final NOFX show and graduated from Rebellion’s side stage to the festival’s main stage. They’ve organized benefits for causes that don’t trend and for people who can’t afford to be causes. The Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas recently added a piece of PRFC memorabilia, one of the club’s cuts — a leather vest with the skull back patch — to its collection, a true museum piece that still smells faintly of sweat. Next, KnuckleHeadz prepare for a U.S. run with punk legends GBH, the sort of tour that turns rumor into résumé.

Saus, co-founder of the KnuckleHeadz, wearing the band’s signature vest.

The Whittier dojo, KnuckleHead Martial Arts, is where the KnuckleHeadz code gets practical. It’s where guys run martial arts drills and where the mats serve double duty as community center flooring. During the band’s “F Cancer” benefit for 17-year-old Cesar “Little Cesar” Lopez II, the driveway became an impromptu slam pit. Inside, kids tumbled on the mats while guitars shook the walls. Families brought food, local businesses donated services, and more than $6,000 went toward treatments. In the carnival-like atmosphere outside, Little Cesar grinned and hyped the pit from the sideline, proving that joy, like violence, can be contagious.

One member, Bernard Schindler, 55, of La Mirada, came in after a life of ricochets: rehab, prison, relapse, repeat. The club gave him a schedule first and a future second, and now with the support of the club, he’s been clean and sober for more than two years.

Saus performing with the KnuckleHeadz during a Punk Rock Fight Club benefit show outside the KnuckleHeadz gym in Whittier.

(Dick Slaughter)

“Tom and the Punk Rock Fight Club completely turned my life around,” Schindler said. “It gave me purpose, discipline and a new family of brothers that push me to be better. I went from being a broken down drug addict to the healthiest I’ve ever been mentally, physically and emotionally in the 55 years I’ve been alive.”

Since getting involved with the KnuckleHeadz nearly three years ago, Schindler says he’s gotten closer to his family, including his three sons and his girlfriend, in addition to staying sober. “I can honestly say that I couldn’t have done it without Tom and our God-given club, the Punk Rock Fight Club,” he said.

The bassist known as Knucklehead Randy performs while riding on the shoulders of a fellow club member at a benefit show in Whittier.

(Dick Slaughter)

The PRFC trophy case is full of medals and awards, sure, but the real accomplishments are much quieter and miraculous. There are pay stubs where rap sheets used to be, text threads that start with the question “You good?” at 3:17 a.m., and apartment keys handed over when a kid can’t go home.

Hip-hop synth-punk artist N8NOFACE, now a fixture on lineups from the annual L.A. festival Cruel World tours with Limp Bizkit and Corey Feldman, calls Tom “my brother” and credits that code with keeping him aligned. “I was getting clean, and I’ve always believed that if you follow the right people, it helps you stay on your path,” N8 says. “Tom was about health, about not getting all messed up, about being a fighter and a warrior and taking care of your body first. To find that in punk was very different.”

When asked about his hopes for the future of the band, Tom says, “I just want to keep having fun. We love doing it and are grateful for all the love and support.“ The band is currently playing shows across SoCal with gutter punk legends GBH, including a show Friday at the Ventura Music Hall.

“With the club, I want to keep changing lives. It makes me happy to know that my son Nieko has an army of goodhearted uncles if anything were to happen to me. The righteous men in this club make me so proud.”

That’s the trick. That’s the point. In the noise between those truths, a lot of young men hear something they’ve never believed before: a future they’re allowed to keep.

Slaughter is a photographer and writer who has covered music and culture for countless outlets, including the OC Weekly and L.A. Times. He is a founding member of In Spite Magazine.

IF you ski down through the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise.

Especially when you are in Hundfjallet — one of four ski areas in the Swedish mountain resort Salen.

A magical beginner slope winds through a Troll Forest where dozens of wooden statues protrude from the snow, singing and telling folk tales.

My young kids liken this enchanted realm to the lands of Elsa and Anna in Disney movie Frozen.

And there’s even a ski-thru McDonald’s too — see right.

It is the first time I’ve taken my family skiing and the children are spellbound from the get-go.

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Making their way through the mythical woods of Trollskogen, they look in wonder.

The only things that stop them begging to return immediately to the top of the run are a log cabin serving hot chocolate near an open fire — and an open-air theatre with a dance show featuring the resort’s mascot, Snowman Valle.

Aside from it being wonderfully child-friendly, one of the best things about Salen is how quickly you can get there.

The resort, in west-central Sweden, near the Norwegian border, is just a two-hour flight from the UK then a ten-minute transfer.

Within an hour of landing at the airport, we had dumped our bags, got completely kitted out — including with ski pass, part of our deal from operator Sunweb — and were gliding down the pistes.

All of this was made even easier by our 4H “ski in and ski out” SkiStar Lodge apartment hotel, which has everything you could wish for within a short walk, from ski school, ski rental and sledging hill, to luxury spa, restaurants, playroom, creche and supermarket.

Salen is generally suited more to beginner and intermediate skiiers. But with 101 runs, including some nice off-piste, back-country routes, and a 45-degree black run called The Wall, there is enough to keep even the most advanced occupied.

If you are looking for an alternative to downhill skiing or boarding, the area also offers dog-sled rides, Ski-Doo snowmobile trails, and superb cross-country skiing.

After a tiring day on the mountain you can simply slide back to the hotel — which has a vast storage room for all your gear — and head to the bar for authentic Swedish apres ski.

Yes, that means Abba songs, as well as lots of sing-along tunes for the kids — while they energise on their slush puppies with marshmallows, and the adults relax with a beer and bowls of hot, salty chips.

Another great way to unwind after all that exertion on the mountain is the on-site Frost Spa, where you can look at the ski slopes from a steaming outdoor pool, relax in two tingling-hot Jacuzzis, melt away in the sauna and steam rooms, and get a Swedish massage — before a drink at the bar.

Salen also comprises the busier Lindvallen ski area — 20 minutes away on the free bus — where you can grab a burger and chips in the world’s one and only ski-thru McDonald’s.

Lindvallen also has a ten-pin bowling alley, arcade and the SkiStar Experium fun pool with surf simulator and two exciting waterslides for the kids to go wild in.

At day’s end, back at the hotel, the children can also enjoy free table tennis, pool and shuffleboard until they are ready to drop.

And when they are finally tucked up in bed, adults can settle down in front of the apartments’ giant TVs  and watch Frozen or listen to Abba songs.

Just Gimme, gimme, gimme another Swedish ski holiday.

AS I look down into the valley below, I spot the unmistakable outline of the Golden Arches gleaming in the snow.

Peeling off my gloves, I unlock my phone screen and hit the McDonald’s app, ordering two Happy Meals, a Big Mac and a McChicken sandwich.

I’ve never seen my children ski as quickly as they did to the hatch to collect our order.

The world’s only McSki in Sweden’s Lindvallen, is decked out like an Alpine chalet with stone and wood features and can seat up to 170 people.

It offers all the same menu items that can be found in other McDonald’s around the world and the prices are comparable to back home in England – with main meals costing around £7.

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This means you can get a pretty cheap lunch compared to other mountain restaurant options.

Who can say no to that?

A 20-YEAR-OLD mother has revealed how she really spends her Universal Credit payments. 

Skye Byrne, a young mum from the UK, claimed that not only has she treated herself to a holiday, but she even splashed the cash in Sainsbury’s on a huge homeware haul.

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And as well as stocking up her daughter’s wardrobe, she also indulged with a McDonald’s takeaway.

Posting on social media, the content creator who lives in a council house, revealed a typical day in her life. 

She said: “What I spend in a day, UC Benefit Britain Edition.”

Skye kicked off her morning with a Universal Credit appointment and was quick to clap at trolls who have criticised her for booking a trip abroad.

She said: “For everyone that said, ‘you shouldn’t be going on holiday when you’re on UC,’ well, I told my work coach and she cried, she actually cried because she knows how much I’ve been wanting so badly to take my daughter on a holiday and she was so happy and thrilled for us, so, yeah, suck on that, everyone.”

Following this, Skye then headed to her local supermarket and stocked up on homeware buys and clothes for her daughter.

She added: “I went into Sainsbury’s and picked up these little bits and bobs for the house – I got three pillows and a blanket.”

As well as this, Skye also nabbed some tea towels and place mats, bringing her interior purchases to a total cost of £48.

However, Skye then picked up two pairs of £3.50 leggings and a pair of £7 jeggings for her child.

Following this, she also nabbed a pair of beige trousers and a PAW Patrol bottle, but was lost for words when she went to the till and saw the total cost of her haul.

The benefits recipient shared: “Honestly, I almost had a heart attack when I saw the price – this all came to £88, I was stunned.”

But the money spending clearly didn’t stop there, as Skye ended her day with a takeaway.

So glad my taxes are being spent wisely

TikTok user

Although Skye didn’t splurge masses on her fast food as it cost her just £2.99. 

“Then went into Maccas cause I was quite hungry, so I picked up a triple cheeseburger,” she concluded.

Social media users react

Skye’s TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @skyebyrnex, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 32,100 views. 

But social media users were fuming by how Skye spent her money and many raced to the comments to express this. 

One person said: “So glad my taxes are being spent wisely.” 

I am allowed a nice home for my daughter to live in. I’m also allowed to take my daughter on holidays and enjoy her childhood

Skye Byrne

Another added: “How can you afford to shop in Sainsbury’s on UC? I’m lucky if I can afford Primark nowadays.” 

A third commented: “Workshy and diet shy.”

To this, Skye responded and alongside a kiss emoji, cheekily wrote: “Don’t be jelly.” 

At the same time, one user questioned: “Isn’t UC designed to help you survive when you aren’t working? Not for pillows? And apparently a holiday.” 

In response, Skye shared: “1. I am allowed a nice home for my daughter to live in. 2. I’m also allowed to take my daughter on holidays and enjoy her childhood.” 

Meanwhile, someone else asked: “How on earth do you afford to go on holiday?”

Setting the record straight, Skye wrote back and confirmed: “I save. I make sure I can do these things for my daughter.” 

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club

MCDONALD’S has made a major change to its breakfast menu and customers have been left devastated.

The fast food giant has axed its long-time favourite Breakfast Roll from the menu.

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The Breakfast Roll first arrived on menus in 2020 and has remained on there since then.

But a McDonald’s spokesperson confirmed to The Sun the breakfast item was quietly axed earlier this month.

The Breakfast Roll had included smoky bacon, a juicy sausage patty, melted cheese and a free-range egg, all served in a warm white roll.

You could then choose to have it with either ketchup or brown sauce.

McDonald’s fans on Reddit said they’d been left gutted by the move.

One wrote: “Removing the breakfast bagel? An act of aggression. Removing the triple cheeseburger? A show of power.

“But now removing the breakfast roll… this is surely an act of war?”

Another replied: “What, there getting rid of the breakfast roll? Nooooo (sic).”

A third added: “It’s gone! I realised this morning when I popped into one. So sad.”

A fourth replier joked: “This country is ruined……”

A McDonald’s spokesperson said: “We’re always evolving our menu with our customers in mind to keep things fresh and exciting.”

However, there is a brand new item that has replaced the Breakfast Roll.

Now Maccas fans can get hold of the Sausage Sandwich, which has been added to menus nationwide after a trial in the North of England.

The morning meal comes with a pork patty and melted cheese, and can be topped with either ketchup or brown sauce.

It will cost £1.99, although you can get a selected drink with the sandwich as a bundle deal for £2.99.

The new item will be on the Saver Menu alongside six other breakfast choices including hash browns (£1.59), porridge pots (£1.69) and apple slices (79p).

Other items on the list include a cheesy bacon flatbread for £1.99 and apple or orange Tropicana juice for £1.89.

Remember, if you want to try the new sandwich you’ll need to head to your local McDonald’s before 11am as that’s when breakfast is served until.

The fast food chain has made plenty of changes to its breakfast menu in the past.

Last year, it brought back the popular Breakfast Wrap after it was axed in January 2022.

Luckily for fast food fans, it’s still on the menu for now.

More menu changes

Maccas changes its menu every few weeks to keep things fresh for customers.

Its latest menu drop was on September 10, when it brought back favourites including the Philly Cheese Stack and Mozzarella Dippers.

Plus, the Chicken Big Mac was added to the menu.

But other items were axed, including the Chilli Cheese Bites, Steakhouse Stack, Big Tasty and Spicy Chicken McNuggets.

Meanwhile the Loaded Caramel McFlurry was added to the menu – but was quickly taken off again just days later.

A McDonald’s spokesperson said at the time the ice cream dessert was removed because of a “quality control issue”.

It came after some social media users claimed they had cracked their teeth on hard pieces inside the dessert.

The Loaded Caramel McFlurry was quickly replaced by the Toffee Crisp McFlurry – a returning favourite,

Sun that it’s been replaced by a returning favourite.

McDonald’s (MCD -0.85%) is one of history’s most successful restaurant chains. What started as a hamburger restaurant in Southern California has grown into a global chain with over 44,000 locations in more than 100 countries.

While such growth bodes well for long-term investors, it could bring uncertainty to future growth plans. That complicates the prospects for turning $10,000 in McDonald’s stock into $50,000 over the next five years. Here’s why.

Image source: Getty Images.

Achieving fivefold growth

Unfortunately for McDonald’s stock bulls, its recent history does not point to fivefold gains over five years. If one had invested $10,000 five years ago, that position would be worth less than $14,600 today. If including dividend income, which has risen every year since 1976, that grows to less than $16,400.

MCD data by YCharts.

This is not to say McDonald’s is a poor choice. Its business model revolves around 95% of its locations operating as franchises. After paying a franchising fee, franchisees must rent the properties from McDonald’s and pay a royalty fee amounting to 4% or 5% of sales. Since the fixed expenses define most of this arrangement, it makes the company’s business model highly recession resistant.

Nonetheless, its financial growth may not inspire fivefold gains over the next five-year period. In the first six months of 2025, revenue of $12.8 billion grew by only 1% yearly. While it kept cost and expense increases in check, the $4.1 billion in net income in the first half of the year was only a 4% yearly gain.

Moreover, its 27 P/E ratio is slightly under the S&P 500 (^GSPC -0.32%) average of 30. That gives its stock an average valuation, decreasing the likelihood that an expanding earnings multiple would drive it dramatically higher.

As a company, McDonald’s should continue to benefit from revenue from its franchisees and rising dividends. Although that should bring positive returns to the company, its financial growth will likely not turn a $10,000 investment into $50,000 over the next five years.

ON ‘P***head Corner’, a group of worse-for-wear locals tuck into cans of cheap beer while commuters hurry past on their way to work.

Charity shops, boarded up stores and nail salons dominate the high street, while drug deals take place in broad daylight and drunks brazenly swig from bottles of spirits. 

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Yet this scene of deprivation is just yards from the picturesque seafront of South Shields, with a stunning stretch of golden sands and a recently regenerated promenade.

This weekend 60,000 athletes will cross the finish line of the Great North Run, running a mile along the coastline at Sandhaven Beach, after competing the gruelling race from Newcastle. 

But beyond the funfair, restaurants and elegant Victorian park close to sands, the rundown streets tell a story of years of neglect and residents speak of a dark underbelly of crime, alcoholism and drug taking. 

Steven Smith was once a successful painter and decorator but is now a self-confessed alcoholic desperately trying to get sober. 

We speak to him at the town’s transport interchange, dubbed “P***head Corner” due to its popularity among drinkers.

The 42-year-old said: “Having the Great North Run is all well and good but the crime rate is diabolical.

“I got beat up just last night. It was for no reason at all. I was walking through the row of shops in the centre and I ended up in hospital. I woke up there. 

“There were three lads and they jumped me for nothing. They were probably trying to steal from me but it knocked me out.

“I’m walking and talking and that’s the main thing, but it’s not nice. They did it because they are a***holes, and it didn’t surprise me to be honest. 

“South Shields is getting worse for it. The town was given some money a while ago but it hasn’t been spent wisely.

“I don’t take drugs but I’m an alcoholic trying to ween myself off.

“The other day I walked around the corner and saw someone smoking a crack pipe in front of kids.”

Steven believes the town’s younger population are at risk of falling into the same trap.

The other day I walked around the corner and saw someone smoking a crack pipe in front of kids

Steven Smith

He added: “I had some kids ask me last week to go in the shop for them to buy drink. They couldn’t have been older than 13 or 14.

“I told them I wasn’t going to do it. I don’t want to encourage anyone to drink. It ruins lives.”

Addiction crisis

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Damning data from the Office of National Statistics speaks of an alcohol crisis engulfing the town and the surrounding area. 

Across 2022 to 2023, 777 per 100,000 people in South Tyneside were admitted to hospital for an alcohol-related reason. The figure was sky high compared to the rate of 475 across England as a whole. 

During the same time period, 62 per 100,000 under 18s were admitted as a result of consuming booze, while the England rate stood at just 26.

The number of people suffering from alcoholic liver disease in South Tyneside was also nearly double the national rate. There were 304 per 100,000 in the region, compared to 156 in England.

By mid-morning, groups of men and women eagerly waited outside the town’s pubs ahead of opening time. 

Meanwhile, a gaunt couple were handed a package by a furtive-looking man before rushing from the bustle of the interchange. 

People are always on drugs giving you abuse when you walk past. Even if you have a child with you, they do it all the time.

Ex-McDonald’s worker Chloe Mycock

Ex-McDonald’s worker Chloe Mycock used to dread taking breaks during shifts at the nearby fast food restaurant due to unsavoury characters loitering outside.

Chloe, now 21, said: “Alcoholism is a major issue. People are always on drugs giving you abuse when you walk past.

“Even if you have a child with you, they do it all the time. Groups of kids go through the bus station on bikes and they will harass you without a care.

“One hundred per cent it makes me wary of going outside on my own.

“I used to work at McDonald’s and I would come and sit outside on my breaks to get some fresh air. But there would be crowds of people outside and it made me feel unsafe.

“This was during the day so I definitely would not feel safe coming out at night-time.

“I think a lot of these people come from certain parts on the outskirts of the town and they congregate together in the centre.”

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Retired police officer Dave Binding, 81, added: “The place is dirty, although it is the same as anywhere else these days.

“People used to come home after work, get changed, and go for a night out.

“But now they might have a quick drink and then go home and stay there, perhaps due to fear of walking the streets.

“There are places around here that are no-go areas, which common sense dictates you stay away from.

People used to come home after work, get changed, and go for a night out. But now they might have a quick drink and then go home and stay there, perhaps due to fear of walking the streets

Retired police officer Dave Binding

“But I ask, what more can you do? We have a country that we deserve now, not one that we want.

“I’m seeing the problem happen more often with drinks in South Shields. I feel sorry for the staff at A&E because it must be like a conveyer belt.

“They must tell each other ‘I saw him yesterday’ but what more can they do?

“This place suffers from the same rash – the same nail bars, the same barbers and second-hand shops.”

Child poverty

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A recent BBC study ranked a third of the neighbourhoods in South Tyneside among the most deprived in the country.

The child poverty crisis was deemed so severe the council recently announced a four-point plan in a desperate bid to reduce levels.

In 2020 to 2021, around 39 per cent of children in the South Tyneside area were living in poverty according to council data.

Hundreds of thousands of spectators will flock to the town to watch the competitors finish the 42nd Great North Run, which was founded in 1981, when just 12K took part. 

The event was masterminded by former Olympic medallist Brendan Foster who wanted to create a fun run in his home region. Mo Farah dubbed the 2013 race his favourite ever, despite not winning, due to the tremendous support from the sidelines. 

One woman, who didn’t want to be named, said: “The Great North Run is great for the area but people only ever see the nicer part of South Shields at the coast when it’s on TV.

“I don’t think the people who come here for the run will to rush to return.

“People used to come to this area to live but now they try and get out because there’s nothing here.

“Kids these days hang around on their bikes outside of McDonald’s and people don’t feel safe.

I don’t venture out in the town when it’s dark because people are up to no good on their bikes

Anonymous

“Child poverty is definitely an issue in the town. A lot of the younger generation don’t go on to higher education.

“If they’re not lucky enough to grow up in a nicer area, they often get stuck in a poverty cycle.

“There aren’t many jobs and people have to travel elsewhere.

“The foodbank in nearby Hebburn gets really busy.

“I don’t venture out in the town when it’s dark because people are up to no good on their bikes.”

Intoxicated groups

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Sarah Wytcherley, a 40-year-old warehouse worker, said: “Crowds of intoxicated people gather in the town all of the time.

“They sit outside the bus interchange and that’s not what people want to see when they’re visiting the town for the first time.

“It has always been a problem with Shields as far as I’m aware. It doesn’t look very nice.”

One worker at the interchange believes police have been making an effort to move on the hoards of drunks.

He said: “It has been bad. It is has gone downhill as a whole. You see them spiced out of their heads and it puts fear into people.

“There was an incident not long ago where a kid on a bike hurt a disabled guy. It doesn’t look good for town at all.”

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Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council told The Sun: “The Great North Run showcases the beauty and spirit of our borough.

“But behind the scenes, we’re working every day to make sure that spirit is felt in every neighbourhood – tackling inequality, improving safety, and creating opportunity for all.

“We’ve never shied away from the challenges some of our communities face and we have worked hard to tackle them head on, targeting our support to make things fairer across the borough and redress inequalities.

“We know that issues like child poverty and alcohol-related harm have a real impact on people’s lives, and that’s why we’ve taken bold, proactive steps to address them.

“We’ve launched the North East’s first Child Poverty Strategy, bringing together partners across the region to take coordinated action — from working closely with schools and providing baby boxes to new parents to helping parents with the costs of school uniforms, school meals and holiday activities.

“We’re also refreshing our Alcohol Strategy to confront the borough’s high rates of alcohol-related deaths. This includes improving access to support services, challenging cultural norms around drinking, and tackling health inequalities head-on.

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“To tackle long-term challenges, we’re investing in both our places and our people. Our regeneration plans go beyond the seafront — they’re about creating opportunity across the borough.

“The relocation of South Tyneside College into the town centre, backed by millions in external funding, will breathe new life into South Shields.

“Through the Community Regeneration Partnership, we’re also delivering real improvements in Hebburn, Jarrow and beyond. Programmes like South Tyneside Works and regional skills initiatives are helping residents access training and support.

“And by attracting major employers, we’re creating jobs and helping local people step into them.”

Superintendent Lisa Laverick, of Northumbria Police, said: “Alongside our partner organisations, we strive to make South Tyneside as safe as possible a place for people to live, work and visit.

“As a Force, we fully understand the detrimental impact that crime can have on the lives of residents and always aim to tackle these issues head on using a range of tactics.

“We carry out a number of proactive operations during each year, including Project Shield patrols which aim to reduce anti-social behaviour and serious violence incidents while also engaging with our communities to retain and build their trust in us.

“We also run the Safer Transport Northumbria initiative which allows commuters to raise any issues while using public transport with us, while our dedicated Metro Unit regularly patrols the Metro network to identify any criminality and take the appropriate action.

“This has helped us to achieve a 19 per cent fall in the number of recorded ASB incidents in South Tyneside in the past year, and our focus remains on improving this even further.

“Our teams do their utmost to build on our ever-growing intelligence picture so that we can target offenders and get them before the courts to face justice.

“As ever, we rely on the support and assistance of our community so please continue to work with us by providing information on crime or suspicious activity if you become aware of it in your neighbourhood.

“Together, we can keep South Tyneside the welcoming borough it is.”

MOST holidaymakers love a tipple, and one destination in Europe has been crowned the best for boozy breaks.

The Telegraph declared Portugal to be the best destination for drinking as it’s not only “amongst the higher per capita drinkers of wine in the world, they also have some of the cheapest prices”.

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Weighing up the stats like annual alcohol consumption, cheapest capitals for pints and cities with the most bars per capita, Portugal came out on top.

In particular, the country landed in second place when it came to the annual consumption of wine – which was 52.3 litres per person.

Writer Lauren Clark who has relocated to Lisbon added that you can get a glass of wine “for the price of a UK coffee” in the country’s capital.

And the reason that wine is so affordable is because Portugal is covered in vineyards – around 4,700 of them.

Portugal is widely known for producing its very own Port wine in the Douro Valley.

It’s a sweet wine typically served with dessert, and has a high alcohol content usually ranging between 19 and 22 per cent.

When it comes to bagging affordable booze, Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, is especially well-known for it.

According to HikersBay, the price for a domestic beer in the city is €3 (£2.61) and a glass of wine at the table might set you back €5.50 (£4.78).

If anyone decides to pop into McDonald’s for a bite to eat, you can even order a can of Sagres beer to have with your burger and it’s priced just over €2 (£1.74).

Earlier this year, Drinks Merchants even revealed Portugal to be the cheapest place to buy a bottle of wine.

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The average bottle of wine is just £3.91 with the cheapest being as little as £2.53 – in the UK buying a bottle of wine in the supermarket averages £9.36.

You can regularly find cheap bottles of wine in Portugal for under €5 (£4.35) at the supermarket, including Esteva, Evel, and Porca de Murça.

Around the country, there are even attractions dedicated to telling the story of its alcohol production, in Porto, the World of Wine museum even holds free tastings.

The venue has seven museums, 12 restaurants, a bar and café, a wine school and shops.

The seven themed museums in the Wine Experience take guests on an “extraordinary journey from grape to bottle”.

And a new addition called the Pink Palace immerses visitors in the concept of rosé wine.

Time Out described World of Wine as ” basically a big theme park for those who like a tipple (or three)”.

A few years ago, Lisbon was named the best ‘party city’ in Europe thanks to its plentiful number of bars and pubs.

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One of the most famous in the capital is ‘Bar A Parodia’, one of the oldest cocktail bars in Lisbon which visitors have described as “a real treasure”.

Another unique bar in the city is well-known for its live shows and events – and it used to be a brothel.

The bar is called Pensão Amor and is found on one of Lisbon’s promenades and is tucked inside an 18th century building spanning across five floors.

It’s decorated with vintage posters from burlesque shows and punters can enjoy a drink on velvet sofas and armchairs.

It regularly holds events like burlesque presentations, themed parties and even poetry meetings.

Cocktails include a Pornstar Martini which is priced at €11 (£9.57).

Of course, Portuguese pubs and restaurants outside major tourist destinations like Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve will be generally cheaper.

One example of this is Silves in Portugal that used to the be capital of the Algarve.

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Last year, it was revealed as being the most affordable spot in Portugal with the average price of a hotel was around £73, while a beer costs as little as £2.50.

Flights from the UK were under £50, on average – and it’s very pretty too with cobbled streets, cafes and independent shops selling handcrafted gifts and ceramics.

As for getting to Portugal, it’s not that expensive, Sun Travel found return flights to Lisbon from £38 in October – and the flight time is two hours 50 minutes.

A trip to Porto takes even less time at two hours 20 minutes – and you can fly directly from Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, London and Edinburgh.

Plus, here’s more on an underrated Portuguese city an hour from Lisbon – and it’s known for its amazing wine.

And discover the secret side to Portugal crowned one of the best places in Europe to visit this year.

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Dedicated fans of McDonald’s have been racing to Italy where the fast food chain has begun a new promotion. Many are heading overseas to be a part of it and posting the results online

Whilst many fans of McDonald’s collect the fast food chain’s merchandise – most commonly Happy Meal toys – occasionally the company embarks on other promotions to attract customers. For some, that’s meant travelling to Italy just to get their hands on some new ‘Maccies’ goods.

Just as it did last year, McDonald’s in Italy has launched a new adult meal campaign where the toy has been replaced by something much different – a beach towel. One person who travelled across Europe especially took to TikTok to document her adventure. “POV [point of view] You go to Italy to get the McDonald’s towel,” Leonie penned in a caption alongside her video.

After entering the restaurant, Leonie could be seen heading straight to the touchscreen ordering system, where she picked out the “nuovi teli mare” [new beach towels] option.

“Hoping for the ice cream or the burger,” she continued. Indeed the McDonald’s Italy website reveals there are four towels in the range, featuring a Big Mac, a drink, fries and a McFlurry ice cream.

However, after opening her paper bag, she was disappointed to realise she’d been given the drink version. “Not the freaking soda,” she exclaimed. Despite her modest following of just 228 on the social media platform, 1.4 million TikTok users tuned in.

Elsewhere, a second McDonald’s fan from Australia made the mammoth trip to Europe to get her hands on the coveted merch. “I travelled all the way to Italy to secure a McDonald’s beach towel,” confirmed Ana in a clip, which has also been viewed 1.4 million times.

Her grand reveal saw her become the proud owner of the fries design, meanwhile, as she Ana pointed out she was actually in Sardinia rather than the Italian mainland.

Writing in response, one TikTok user quipped: “This is actually really dangerous because now we’ve all had to book flights to Italy to get a McDonald’s beach towel.”

A second replied: “What! I’m going to Italy on Monday. I’m gonna go to McDonald’s.”

A third person praised: “I literally told my parents all about it and we are in Italy right now and we drove to McDonald’s and my parents are getting me one.”

Whilst a fourth joked: “The only thing my six-year old enjoyed in Italy.”

And in response to questions from other intrigued McDonald’s lovers, Ana explained: “You have to order specific meals! There is an option at those kiosks that tell you which ones you need to order to get the towel.”

If you’re tempted to travel to Italy to snap one up for yourself, be wary that McDonald’s Italia says of the promotion: “Offer valid at participating McDonald’s locations. While supplies last. Purchase of a Large McMenu or Happy Meal includes a Beach Towel.

“Check prices at participating McDonald’s locations. Beach towels cannot be sold separately. You cannot choose the design of your beach towel.”

While you might think McDonald’s restaurants are not fancy, this chain in a popular holiday spot begs to differ – it is inside a beautiful building where DJs play until 4am and there are light shows

People have been left gobsmacked and saying “where has this been all my life” after discovering a unique McDonald’s in a popular European party spot. When we travel abroad, many of us like to try out the local cuisine and avoid food spots that we can easily get at home. But, often, some of our favourite brands offer different menus we wouldn’t be able to try at home. Plus, if you’re partying all night and get the munchies you know you can relay on McDonald’s at the end of the night.

While we all know what McDonald’s restaurants looks like, the menus vary by location to reflect local tastes and traditions – and there are a few which look nothing like the other eateries, such as the biggest McDonald’s restaurant is in Orlando, Florida.

In New Zealand, there is also a McDonald’s where food is served from an abandoned aeroplane, plus there is a floating McDonald’s service in Germany. Plus recently, fans discovered a rather spectacular McDonald’s in Goshen, Indiana, located in what looks like an entire Medieval castle.

Holiday experts at Travel Republic say that there are many more unique McDonald’s eateries that many are unaware of – and look completely different to a typical McDonald’s. One viral TikTok with almost 128,000 views shows the fast-food chain in Budapest transforming after 10pm with a DJ set and lights.

READ MORE: ‘Trolls want me banned from flying due to my size – I refuse to book a second seat’

The burger joint is called McDonald’s Nygati and it is close to Budapest train station. It first opened in 1990 and even then was said to be one of the most beautiful chains in the world. Some have compared it to a “five star hotel”, reports the New York Post.

In 2024 the spot was closed for eight months of renovations, said to have cost over £3.6million. Old features inside have been resorted, touch screen tills have been added plus a new outside area. It boasts antique lamps, painted stucco ceilings, huge glass windows, and large terrace area to enjoy meals outside.

Recently a video went viral of one customer, named Elena, showing off the beauty of the McDonald’s following a first time visit. The clip showed the eatery looking like a nightclub after 10pm.

On Friday and Saturday nights you can order a Big Mac and boogie on down as the immersive events see the grand ceiling inside the restaurant transform into a light show. You will see everything from a journey through space, fish swimming in the ocean or the jungle.

Plus, there are also DJs spinning live decks between 10am and 4am. There are even special food options, including the Goosey Gustav burger, which has foie gras on top, and gluten-free buns. Food can be seen moving through the restaurant on conveyer belts, Elena showed in her video.

On Trip Advisor, one individual said: “Worth a visit if you’re nearby. It;s situated beside the train station in a beautiful building unlike any other McDonald’s I’ve been too. Service was quick.”

Another wrote: “The most elegant McDonald’s in Europe, on Fridays and Saturdays you dance from 9pm onwards is on the roof are projected lights and animations. Characteristic is the building adjacent to the Budapest train station.”

MCDONALD’S fans are demanding the return of a much-loved breakfast deal that fans called “a lifesaver”.

The fast food chain has withdrawn its £2.99 breakfast consisting of a Sausage and Egg McMuffin with a hot drink, leaving customers angrily vowing to breakfast elsewhere.

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One said on Reddit.com: “The only thing I would get from McDonald’s recently would be the £2.99 sausage and egg McMuffin and a drink deal.

“Now that’s disappeared from my local, I can’t justify the prices on anything else!” 

Another said on X.com, formerly known as Twitter: “McMuffin and Hot Drinks deal needs to be brought back.

“It was a lifesaver for people who are tight on money. 

“I went to Lichfield this morning and was shocked to see it’s no longer there. Went to @GreggsOfficial instead.”

A third added: “What’s happened to your breakfast McMuffin and hot drink deal? Really disappointed it disappeared from the menu.

“It just sends me and others to @GreggsOfficial who do an amazing breakfast deal.”

Meanwhile, a fourth fan fumed: “Shame on you for taking £2.99 sausage egg McMuffin & hot drink deal off!! 

“Do you know how many struggling UK citizens relied on this for a substantial breakfast? Now at £5, it’s out of their range.”

Another said: “Rip McMuffin and coffee breakfast deal, you will be missed.”

It’s understood the deal was a limited offer in participating stores, meaning it wasn’t a permanent menu fixture.

Last year, the same items were available for £2.79, but the 20p price rise didn’t put fans off.

Buying the same items would now cost around £4.80, with a sausage and egg McMuffin priced at £3.39 and a regular white coffee is £1.39.

McDonald’s is currently offering its Breakfast Saver Menu, which in some branches includes a separate £2.99 deal for a Saver Bacon Roll and a drink.

A McDonald’s spokesperson told The Sun: “We know how much our customers enjoy our iconic breakfast offerings and it was great to [see] the popularity of that Breakfast Deal.

“We’re always evolving our menu to keep things fresh and exciting for our customers, and we regularly review our Saver Menu to ensure it offers choice for all.”

In comparison, Greggs offers a breakfast roll meal deal for £2.85.

This includes a breakfast roll with one filling as well as a regular hot drink or a 250ml bottle of orange juice.

Other McDonald’s news

It comes as McDonald’s fans were devastated after the chain stopped selling its triple cheeseburger.

McDonald’s also axed several items last week to make way for the new menu offering.

Among them were the Cheesy Garlic Bread Dippers, Lotus Biscoff McFlurry, Steakhouse Stack and McSpicy x Frank’s RedHot.

The menu update comes after the fast food chain discontinued the Chicken Bacon Caesar Wrap last month.

McDonald’s said it was part of a “rotation” of its wrap offering.

The wrap, which combined chicken breast strips, crispy onions, rashers of bacon and lettuce, was first launched in summer 2023.

Meanwhile, Tesco has axed its Pink and Cloudy Lemonade in a blow to fizzy drink fans.

Tesco’s Cloudy Lemonade is also being replaced with a new product called Lemon Zero.

A woman bought a McDonald’s meal while she was on holiday in Turkey but she was totally floored by price. She couldn’t believe how much money the meal set her back

A woman who jetted off to Turkey on holiday was left floored when she bought a McDonald’s meal. The holidaymaker, known as Emzie, said she was gobsmacked when she was handed the bill after she snapped up a meal at the airport.

She said the price of a McDonald’s meal is “ridiculous” at Antalya Airport, as it was “nothing speical” when compared to offerings at UK stores. Emzie posted about the incident on TikTok as she couldn’t believe how much money it cost her to purchase a few burgers, and many people agreed that the prices seemed to be more expensive than you’d expect.

In the clip, she said: “What can I say? McDonald’s at Antalya Airport – crazy prices. They want €20, which is roughly about £18, for a Big Mac meal – that’s a regular size.

“We got two triple cheese burgers, a medium Coke and a medium Fanta, and in total in English that was £37.00. There’s nothing special about it.”

Emzie said she didn’t think the meal was worth the hefty price tag, and people shared their personal views in the comments too. Many couldn’t believe their eyes after they saw the receipt, and the video prompted hundreds to comment.

One person said: “We paid £94.” Another wrote: “I spent €85 there for me and my two kids.”

A third also replied: “Omg – they are disgusting prices.” Meanwhile, a fourth also commented: “How can anyone afford to pay that or want to pay that? It’s actually insane.”

However, despite people sharing similar experiences, others were quick to point out that they didn’t think she should have bought the food if she considered it too expensive.

Someone else chimed in with: “Can’t buy it and the complain. You saw the prices before buying.” Another added: “Just don’t buy them?”

One more also wrote: “Don’t buy it then. Eat before you leave the hotel. Most drivers in Turkey stop on the way to the airport at a diner or shop.”

Even though people had varied views, some have been raisng concerns about rising prices in Turkey lately. There are reasons why inflation has hit the popular holiday destination, according to reports.

Why is Turkey becoming so expensive?

There are a few reasons why prices are said to have shot up in Turkey. Statista shared some advice.

The website reads: “Domestic producer price indices have been continuously rising, which has directly resulted in a price increase in all consumer goods and services. Accordingly, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in all commodity groups increased extremely since 2022.

“In the same year, the food and non-alcoholic beverages category had one of the highest inflation rates in the CPI. This particularly affected Turkish consumers, as these products accounted for the highest share of household expenditure in 2023.

“Since 2020, food prices have increased significantly around the world, and Turkey is no exception. Although inflation has started to slow down recently, food prices in Turkey continue to go up steadily, increasing by 48.6 percent in November 2024 compared to the same month in the previous year.

“It is not surprising that food inflation has not simmered down, as the producer price index (PPI) of agricultural products followed a constant increasing trend in the country over the past few years.”

However, it’s noted the country is also taking steps to help boost tourism, including addressing rising prices, making tourist offerings more diverse and investing in infrastructure. The Government is said to be working to reduce inflation, and some people are also promoting niche tourism areas like spas and health care.

McDonald’s has been asked to comment.

A woman and property expert recently shared her experience after visiting a McDonald’s eatery in Monaco – and was surprised by how different it is compared to the UK

A woman from Yorkshire has given us a glimpse into what it is like to visit McDonald’s in one of the world’s poshest countries – and how the menu differs. When we jet off abroad, most of us are keen to sample the local grub and steer clear of eateries we can easily find back home, but it is always intriguing to see how our favourite big brands adapt their menus to cater to local tastes and traditions. Monaco is synonymous with luxury – think swanky restaurants, the Grand Prix, yachts and being the priciest city globally for property. Despite the lack of fast food giants in the country, there are two McDonald’s outlets – one in Monte-Carlo and the other in Monaco-Ville.

Property guru and entrepreneur, Abi Hookway, enjoys giving her Instagram followers a peek into how the other half live and sharing money-saving tips on her page @abi_hookway, where she has an impressive following of 475,000. Recently, she took us inside the McDonald’s in Monaco-Ville.

As she walked in, she remarked: “This looks like we could be in the UK,” but she quickly spotted some notable differences on the menu.

Abi was taken aback as she explored the fast food joint and noticed a bakery cabinet at the front of the counter, brimming with mouth-watering baked treats like donuts, cheesecake, muffins, cookies and macarons.

“My McDonald’s in Yorkshire doesn’t have this does it, wow,” Abi exclaimed. She was chuffed with the meal deal offering three burgers, chips and a drink for just six euros, but felt the rest of the menu didn’t live up to her high expectations.

“I was expecting like millionaire, gold…it’s letting me down a bit,” she reflected. Nonetheless, she was over the moon with being able to order macarons in a branded box, an iced coffee with a dollop of cream which arrived in a recyclable plastic cup and cherished being able to sit outdoors courtesy of the substantial seating area.

Upon sampling the potato wedges, Abi declared: “We need to have these in the UK.”

Intrigued by Abi’s video, one viewer pointed out: “Also the same food in Portugal with the dessert cabinets.”

Echoing the sentiment, someone else posted: “They have these desert cabinets all over Germany McCafé.”

Another person commented, expressing their affinity for the crockery: “I love the cups and bowls. Would be great to reuse at home. I wish the UK had the same.”

There exists a smattering of unique McDonald’s locations around the globe, with the “most beautiful” one sitting pretty in Rome, Italy.

Just minutes away from the iconic Spanish Steps, this particular McDonald’s greets visitors with what appears to be a sculpture of Venus herself.

The world’s largest McDonald’s eatery is in Orlando, Florida. There is also what’s deemed the “poshest” outlet in Long Island.

Furthermore, New Zealand’s got a McDonald’s that serves up its food from a retired airliner, while, in Germany, you can even grab a McDonald’s meal from a floating restaurant.

A POPULAR burger branch has finally reopened its doors after nearly two years – and locals couldn’t be happier to see it back.

Wimpy has returned to Tufton Street in Ashford, Kent, after shutting in late 2023 when the previous franchisee stepped down following 30 years in charge.

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The iconic burger spot was originally expected to reopen at the start of 2024, but a series of delays, including unforeseen issues before Christmas, left customers fearing the restaurant might never return.

Now, to the delight of fans, the branch is back in business, with customers already queuing up for their fix of Wimpy classics.

The company, famous for menu staples like the Bender in a Bun and thick shakes, confirmed: “Wimpy Ashford is now open under new ownership with a fresh team and great vibe.

“We will still be serving your favourite Wimpy burgers, chips and thick shakes.”

News of the reopening has spread quickly among locals, with many taking to social media to share their excitement and memories of the eatery.

Several residents said the restaurant had been a regular haunt in their youth, and they were eager to return with their own children.

One customer wrote: “So glad Wimpy is back! Nothing beats a proper burger and chips with that classic taste. We’ve really missed it.”

Another added: “Ashford just hasn’t been the same without it. It’s not just the food, it’s the memories that come with it.”

Wimpy, once a major player on the UK’s fast-food scene, has been undergoing a gradual revival in recent years, with several branches refurbished or reopened under new management.

The Ashford branch’s relaunch is seen as a positive step for the town centre, which has faced a number of retail closures in recent years.

The new owners say they’re committed to maintaining the traditional feel of the restaurant while bringing in modern touches to enhance the customer experience.

Early visitors have already praised the updated décor and friendly atmosphere, saying it retains the charm of the old Wimpy while feeling fresh and inviting.

Staff say they’ve been overwhelmed by the warm welcome and steady flow of diners since opening, and hope to build on that momentum in the months ahead.

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May 24 (UPI) — McDonald’s will close all five of its CosMc’s test locations this summer, 18 months after introducing the beverage-focused concept at four restaurants in Texas and one in a Chicago suburb.

The Chicago-based company plans to add the specialty beverages to its 13,637 regular restaurants this summer.

Starting in late June, McDonald’s will close all stand-alone pilot CosMc’s locations on a rolling basis and discontinue the CosMc’s app, the company said in a news release Friday. The program was launched on Dec. 7, 2023, with the first restaurant in Bolingbrook, near Chicago.

The test stores also included food but not McDonald’s signature Quarter Pounder and Big Mac.

The fast-food company said the plan was to test the new drink options.

“The main goal of the CosMc’s test was to create a launchpad for learning for the McDonald’s System — and the insights we’ve gathered have given us a whole new way to get closer to our fans,” the company said.

“Building on the insights gained from the pilot standalone locations, CosMc’s-inspired flavors will be landing at McDonald’s as part of the upcoming U.S. beverage test, seamlessly blending out-of-this-world tastes into the McDonald’s experience.”

The company added “we know we can bring more delicious and innovative drinks to more fans. “

The concept was designed to compete with the drive-thru beverage category dominated by Dutch Bros, Scooters and Swig, as well as Starbucks. Taco Bell is accelerating its in-restaurant drink initiative, Live Mas Caf3.

CosMc’s drinks included shaken expressos, Frappes, cold brew, slushies and lattes, as well as more traditional options like lemonade and blackberry mint green tea.

Soft-serve ice cream also was available.

Food choices at the test market included hash brown and pretzel bites, McPops of apple cinnamon and cookie butter, as well as an egg on brioche sandwich, spicy queso sandwich and creamy avocado tomatillo sandwich.

The smaller stores were designed to “test new, bold flavors and different technologies and processes — without impacting the existing McDonald’s experience for customers and crew.”

“We’ve learned so much, so quickly from the CosMc’s test,” the company said about its Learning Lab.

The name CosMc originated as a McDonaldland character, appearing in McDonald’s advertisements from 1986 to 1992. CosMc is an extraterrestrial who “craves McDonald’s food.”

In another move to drive business, McDonald’s is extending its operating hours at of most of its restaurants until midnight or later. Some restaurants already are open 24 hours a day. Exact hours and menu options are determined by franchises.

“Our fans know there’s no better way to end an unforgettable night than by feasting on your favorite McDonald’s order,” the company wrote in a statement shared with USA Today on Wednesday. “That’s why, as the summer season kicks off, we’re excited to offer up more ways for customers to satisfy their late-night cravings with more choices and expanded hours at more restaurants.”

The company plans to hire 375,000 new employees this summer.

McDonald’s, which has been in business for 70 years, reported first-quarter 2025 U.S. sales decreased 3.6% but included a leap-year day last year. Consolidated operating income dropped 3%.

The company said the decrease was “primarily driven by negative comparable guest counts” in a filing on May 1.

Overall, its first-quarter revenue globally was $5.956 billion with net income $1.868 billion.

BURGER King fans are in for a sizzling treat as the fast food giant unveils its ‘biggest’ menu shake-up in years.

With 526 locations across the UK, Burger King is one of the UK’s most popular fast-food restaurants, known for its fiery grilled burgers.

And now the company has revamped its menu again to spice up – and cool down – the taste buds of food fanatics.

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From May 20, Burger King will be firing up its kitchens with a raft of new additions.

This includes the all-new Kansas BBQ Chicken Fries, alongside returning favourites like the Bacon Caesar Gourmet Kings and the fiery Spicy Mayo range.

Topping the menu shake-up is the Kansas BBQ Chicken Fries — a sweet and smoky twist on the fan-favourite snack.

The new Kansas BBQ King Box, which includes a BBQ Chicken Stacker, four Kansas BBQ Chicken Fries, regular fries and a drink, will be hitting menus for £5.99.

Burger King is also bringing back its Gourmet Kings Bacon Caesar range — packed with posh ingredients and full-on flavour. 

The Spicy Mayo Double Whopper and Spicy Mayo Chicken Royale are also making a saucy return. 

Burger King fans can get BOGOF deals via the BK app too — with the Bacon Caesar burgers going two-for-one between May 20-22, and the Spicy Mayo range following suit from May 27-29.

And fans might remember Burger King gave its most iconic burger a major upgrade.

Back in March, Burger King marked the return of Whopper Day – handing out free Whoppers across the country on March 5.

But it wasn’t just the freebie that had burger lovers buzzing.

The chain confirmed that the Whopper had changed for the first time in years, with juicier beef, a fluffier glazed bun, and fresh-cut tomatoes and onions.

Katie Evans, Chief Marketing Officer at Burger King UK, said at the time: “We know our fans love the Whopper, so we’ve been listening… and making it taste better than ever.”

With new snacks, returning legends and even better burgers, fans will want to act fast — before these tasty deals and limited-edition bites are gone.

The food giant first launched the Gourmet King collection in June 2024.

Fans at the time flocked to Instagram to share their thought about the revamped menu.

One such person said: “Fantas look good.”

Another added: “Can’t wait to try them all.”

A third wrote: “Omg blue raspberry is my fav!!!”, while a fourth said: “All these look banging.”

Earlier this month, rivals McDonald’s launched its first-ever Breakfast Saver Menu.

The bargain meals launched in selected branches across the country with bites starting from as little as 79p.

Breakfast is served from 5am to 11am every day of the week, making it the perfect choice for those early starts.

The fast food is serving up favourites like the Cheesy Bacon Flatbread (£1.99), Saver Bacon Roll (£2.19), and porridge pots (£1.69).

The Breakfast Saver Menu was launched on May 7 across 332 UK restaurants in the North of the country for a short period of time.

The home of the Golden Arches also saw the return of the McSpicy X Frank’s RedHot  on the same day.

How to save money at Burger King

BK offers customers using its app almost 50% off on a range of burgers from Monday to Friday.

Any time between 2pm and 5pm, fans can nab a Whopper, Chicken Royale and Bacon Double Cheeseburger for £3.

Prices vary from branch to branch but you’ll most likely pay £5.99 for any of the three burgers normally.

That’s a saving of almost £3 using the hack.

YourBurgerKing members can get a free Whopper on their birthday.

With the cost of the burger £5.99 in most restaurants, that’s a decent saving as well.

YourBurgerKing is the fast food chain’s reward scheme. You receive 10 points for every £1 spent, as well as a host of other offers.

To sign up, you just have to visit Burger King’s website.

Anyone signed up to the YourBurgerKing scheme will also get 100 points straight away on their first order.

So you can claim your favourite burger and use the points to bag a free portion of fries completely free.

They can cost around £2.50, saving you a few pounds for little effort.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

BRITAIN’S most unhealthy high street sandwiches have now been revealed.

Brits will be shocked to know that most of their favourite lunchtime meal deals have more saturated fat and sugar than fast food and desserts.

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Most of them also have more calories than McDonald’s cheeseburgers and a bar of DairyMilk chocolate.

Leading the list of unhealthy sandwiches, Pret’s Posh Cheddar & Pickle Baguette sandwich contains a whopping 643 calories.

That is more calories than two McDonald’s cheeseburgers combined, which come at 295 calories each.

Even a Big Mac has almost 150 fewer calories than Pret’s flagship lunchtime meal.

Meanewhile, Waitrose‘s No1 The Perfect Ploughman’s Cornish Cheddar Sandwich comes 13.1g of saturated fat – making it one of the unhealthiest items on the list.

This is again more than two McDonald’s Cheeseburgers combined, which come with just 5.4g of fat each, according to a DailyMail analysis.

Next comes M&S’s Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese Ploughman’s sandwich with 11.3g of saturated fat.

To give some context, a Big Mac burger has just 8.8g of fat.

Both these sandwiches contain more than half of the NHS‘s daily saturated fat limit for women, which is 20g.

When it came to unhealthy sugar content, Sainsbury’s Brie Bacon & Chilli Chutney Sandwich topped the charts with 19.7g sugar.

To put that into perspective, one would need to have two KitKat chocolate bars with 10.3g of sugar in each to beat the Sainsbury’s sandwich.

M&S’s All Day Breakfast Sandwich – a popular choice of meal on the go – has almost 10.1g of sugar.

That’s slightly less than a Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Doughnut that comes with 12g of sugar.

NHS recommends that adults only consume a maximum of 30g of sugar each day to lead a healthy life.

Most of the sandwiches sold on Britain’s high streets are also far saltier than fast food.

For instance, Pret’s Ham & Grevé Baguette contained 3.85g of salt, making it saltier than four large portions of McDonald’s fries (0.82g of salt each).

And surprisingly, even M&S’s Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese Ploughman contained 1.78g – slightly more than two large McDonald’s fries.

Adults are advised to consume less than 6g of salt per day, according to the NHS.

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But as most of the supermarket sandwiches are unhealthy options for lunch, Brits can choose to swap them for healthier meals.

For example, a Cheese Ploughman’s sandwich from Boots comes at just 429 calories, making it the healthiest option so far.

And if you feel fancy, you can also try Itsu’s King Prawn Rice Box salad, which comes at just 407 calories.

It’s a filling option thanks to wholegrain brown rice, veggies, prawns and seeds.

Meanwhile, a Tuna Melt Panini from Starbucks packs in an impressive 28g of protein and has just 443 calories.

But if you are really conscious about your health and want to keep things below 400 calories, then Greggs‘ Pesto and Mozzarella Pasta can be your saviour.

This tasty option from Greggs is just  375 calories, even though its packed with cheese.

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While most of us know what the inside of a McDonald’s eatery looks like, there are some beautiful and unique ones around the world – and one impressive chain has left people gobsmacked

People have been wowed by this incredible and unique McDonald’s that looks more like a museum than a fast food chain. When we travel abroad, many of us typically try out the local cuisines and avoid food spots that we can easily get at home. But often some of our favourite big name brands offer different menus in different countries. McDonald’s menus vary by location to reflect local tastes and traditions.

The biggest McDonald’s restaurant is in Orlando, Florida, and there is the “poshest” chain in Long Island. In New Zealand, there is a McDonald’s where food is served from an abandoned aeroplane, plus there is a floating McDonald’s service in Germany.

We know how much the Italians pride themselves on good food, so of course they had to join the list with one of the most beautiful McDonald’s in the world. While visit Rome, you will find a unique chain with hand-carved statues in the entranceway.

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Located near the famous Spanish steps, this McDonald’s has a sculpture in the entranceway that looks like it could be a rendering of the Roman goddess Venus. Further into the restaurant beyond the classic McDonald’s stills, stands a separate section devoted to decadent-looking cakes, tarts, and donuts.

Fans love taking videos and pictures of the spot – and it has gone viral online, with people tourists making sure they add it to their must-do list while visiting the ancient Italian city.

TikTok account @moromatour – a page which shares Roman insights and offers tours around the city – shared a look inside the amazing eatery. The video has raked in 1.8million views and has the caption: “This McDonald’s looks like a museum. Rome, Italy.”

“Proud to say I have been there,” commented one. One other wrote: “No matter where you are, got to try Maccies at least once, totally different menus and vibe! We were at this Maccies on Tuesday and it’s actually massive, proper McCafe with pastries and coffee!”

One other who was shocked after seeing the spot, said: “I remember when I was in Rome and stumbled upon this McDonald’s completely on accident”

“I was there, it’s incredible,” insisted one other. Some observed that due to its uniqueness this eatery can get busy fast.

In other McDonald’s news, a menu shake up has been announced for later this month. Plus, a Brit has been left stunned by the menu items on offer at McDonald’s in Japan following a recent visit – and he cannot believe how different it is to the UK.

Would you rush to visit this McDonald’s? Comment below.

If you have a food related story, get in touch at [email protected].

MCDONALD’S has opened its biggest site in Europe in a major Brit holiday hotspot – and it’s come just in time for the summer holidays.

The fast-food giant has launched a huge location in the airport of sun-drenched Majorca – and it measures up at over 10,000 square feet.

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The big Maccies includes eight digital kiosks, eight production lines as well as table service and McCafé products.

The launch of the massive site marks the company’s largest on the entire continent.

Around 750,000 Brits travel to Majorca every summer, so the chain will be sure to endure its fair share of hungry Brit holidaymakers.

The enormous branch is located at Level P30, Module A Airside of Palma de Mallorca Airport in the Spanish island.

It measures up at a whopping 10,765 square feet.

The terminal has also recently undergone refurbishment work to improve passenger comfort and security, and retail space.

The new site is part of this extraordinary renovation in Module A.

And it is seemingly very exclusive to Brits – as the McDonald’s will only be available to non-Schengen countries, according to What’s The Jam.

This means most European countries won’t be able to access it – paving the way for Brits and other international visitors to raid the kiosks.

The incredible new branch has reportedly created 200 new jobs, on top of the 1,000 workers already employed in the Balearic Islands.

Chief Restaurant Officer of McDonald’s Spain Ángel Castillo said: “This opening represents a new milestone and another example of our commitment to the Balearic Islands.”

He called the region “an area of strategic interest for the company where we already have over 20 restaurants“.

The spokesperson continued: “We are thereby contributing to the Spanish economy and the creation of quality employment, fulfilling our mission of supporting the communities where we operate.”

There are already 43,500 McDonald’s locations in over 100 countries worldwide.

And the biggest McDonald’s on the entire planet is located in Orlando, Florida.

Known as the Epic McD, this behemoth fast-food chain measures in at a whopping 19,000 square feet.

Meanwhile, the UK’s biggest McDonald’s is a “Disneyland for fast food fans” with nearly 300 seats and unique features.

The giant restaurant, in Formby on Merseyside, showcases “the latest innovations from McDonald’s”.

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