Two hungry blokes on a horse and cart were turned away from a McDonald's drive-thru after being deemed a health and safety hazard - but weren't left starving as a passerby handed them a burger. Jake Sweet filmed the stand-off between staff and the customers at the Western Links branch of the chain in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset.
The 24-year-old had stopped to enjoy his Chicken Legend Meal with cheeseburger when the horse pulling the cart trotted past him and the men tried to place an order. But the famished duo were apparently turned away due to 'not being in a proper vehicle' and a tense stand-off began when the customers started asking to file a complaint.
Jake claims when they asked to do this, the branch manager threatened to call the police - in what some social media users suggested was a 'mis-carriage of justice'. Admitting defeat, he said the duo apologised to those in the queue behind them and then left looking for a new lunch stop.
Content creator Jake, who was with TikToker girlfriend Shauni, shared the footage on Tiktok to his 10million followers where it's racked up more than 48,000 likes and comments.
Jake, from Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, said: "It's not something you see every day. The horse and cart pulled in and obviously we thought it was really interesting so started filming - it was impeccable timing. They came into the spot next to us and ordered at the tannoy, then a member of staff came out and said 'you can't order here, your vehicle isn't a vehicle'.
"You could clearly tell the two guys were annoyed but they were being reasonable with it and trying to give a valid argument. They were more trying to convince the Mcdonald's staff that the horse and cart is the original vehicle, and I kind of see where they're coming from.
"While the guys were trying to put up a decent argument I think they knew they were getting nowhere. First they were at the ordering window, who were having none of it and shut the window.
"Then they tried the collection window, asked for a complaint form and one of the managers came out. The management threatened to call the police. I don't think they were worked up or anything, it was probably just a scare tactic to get them to move on as quickly as possible.
"Obviously it's pretty uncommon but there are people who take a horse and cart everywhere - I'd have thought that McDonald's would have served them."
Footage taken by Jake shows the duo, one sporting long dreadlocks, on a horse and cart joining the orderly queue of cars. They can be seen being approached by a member of staff and apparently told they would not be served.
When the duo then rode up to the collection window and asked to file a formal complaint, the branch manager told them they would be calling the police if they didn't leave.
Jake said the guys responded 'really well' to the predicament, apologising to others in the queue behind them before driving off. He said: "I honestly think they responded really well. They knew it was heading nowhere and they'd maybe had that situation before.
"Whether the police turn up or not, they're not really going to get their McDonald's either way. They apologised to everyone they were holding up in the queue and then they went off. They were nice enough guys and handled it well.
"It was also really nice to see a horse and cart nowadays. If there were kids in the drive-thru or in the restaurant and a horse and cart comes around and gets served I think they're going to really appreciate that. I know if I saw a horse and cart get served I'd think that was so cool of McDonald's."
When Jake and Shauni were driving home on Winterstoke Road they spotted them, drove alongside them and handed them a spare cheeseburger they picked up.
Jake said: "We were on our way home and saw them ahead. I always get an extra cheeseburger for myself and so we just decided to catch up with them and throw them it.
"It wasn't easy to throw it to him, but it went pretty smoothly actually. I thought afterwards that I could've bought them their whole meal but a cheeseburger's something at least.
"Both of the guys have been in contact with me since and were quite grateful that I'd taken the time to film their experience of it. Personally I'd probably want McDonald's to consider changing their policy, but I don't think this will affect them massively in their day-to-day business - they seem to be doing quite well."
A McDonald's spokesman said: "Our drive-thru lanes are custom built for motor cars, vans, trucks and road-worthy mobility scooters. The health and safety of our customers and employees is our top priority and for this reason we are unable to serve pedestrians, bicycle riders, non road-worthy mobility scooters, horse riders or any horse-drawn vehicles through the Drive-thru lane."
