[youtube=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Br_9DA3QibU]
By Alexander Lawrie
A YOUNG mum turned up to a pre-booked party at her local McDonald’s with 13 kids in tow only to find it closed for refurbishment
The disappointed toddlers – one as young as four-months-old – were left in tears as they were stranded outside the restaurant.
Toni Cunningham, 19, from Hill of Beath, Fife, was left embarrassed and upset after finding the Dunfermline branch of the fast food restaurant closed.
The mum-of-two had booked the outlet to celebrate her daughter Kady-Ann’s second birthday and was looking forward to the lunch on September 20.
Toni said: “I had phoned McDonald’s to book the party two weeks before and thought everything was going to be all right.
“But when we turned up on the day I was left totally embarrassed and upset because the place was full of work men.
“It wasn’t their fault but they took the brunt of our anger.
After being turned away from the restaurant, the disappointed party decided to buy sandwiches and cakes from a nearby bakers.
The group of ten adults and thirteen kids then held an impromptu outdoor birthday party in the town’s Pittencrieff Park instead.
Toni said: “The kids were all so disappointed, it is a disgrace because we were left standing not knowing what to do.
“Luckily it was a nice day so we decided to get food from the bakery and head to the park.
“No thanks to McDonald’s we had a great time.”
The following day Toni’s angry mum, Pam Cunningham, telephoned the chain’s head office to demand an explanation.
But things went from bad to worse as the company failed to return her call.
The outraged gran said: “I am disgusted by the way we have been treated by McDonald’s.
“We had 13 disappointed children all dressed up and nowhere to go. Surely when this was booked they knew they were going to be closed for refurbishment.”
Adam Buchanan-Smith, McDonald’s franchisee said: “I am very sorry for this mistake and I have launched an investigation to find out how this miscommunication happened.
“It is always upsetting to be let down and I apologise that we took a party booking for the period when we were closed for refurbishment.
“It was a genuine mistake and we are very sorry.”
