Drive-thru and service windows
Drive-thru is a specialism, not a sideline. We install new drive-thru booths and service windows, and maintain existing ones, for McDonald's restaurants across the country, and we have been doing it for over 35 years.
Who this is for
- Main contractorsA clear price against the tender scope, agreed interfaces and our own fixing teams on site.
- Architects and specifiersEarly review of elevations and specification with the people who fabricate and install.
- Tender and bid teamsSend the tender package and return date. We return a priced breakdown with our assumptions.
In short
HB Aluminium installs and maintains drive-thru booths and service windows for restaurants across the UK. We have worked with McDonald's for over 35 years, including on new restaurant sites around the country.
New installations
Our team builds and fits drive-thru booths and service windows to specification, coordinating with the main contractor so the work fits the programme. Frames are made in our Leeds workshop and installed by our own people.
Maintenance and repair
Drive-thru windows are used hundreds of times a day, and every minute a window is out of action costs trade. We maintain them so they keep operating smoothly, and we respond when something goes wrong.
Why restaurants and contractors use us
- Over 35 years working for McDonald's
- Quick to respond to issues on site, with practical solutions
- Nationwide coverage and CHAS registered
- A long-serving team who know these sites and systems
- Installation and maintenance from one supplier
Replacement and refurbishment of existing windows
Where an existing drive-thru window is worn or unreliable, we can assess whether it can be repaired or refurbished, or whether replacement is the better option, and plan the work around trading hours.
For contractors on new restaurant sites
On new sites we work as a subcontractor to the main contractor, pricing from the drawings and fitting the booths and windows to the build programme. Our McDonald's work covers new restaurants across the country, not just the area around Leeds.
General guidance. Specific systems, performance and test evidence are confirmed for each project.
Project evidence
Full portfolio
McDonald's Abbey Lane, LeicesterRecent
Drive-thru booth and service windows at McDonald's Abbey Lane, Leicester.
McDonald's new sites, CountrywideRecent
Drive-thru booths and service windows on new McDonald's restaurant sites across the country. Pictured: the drive-thru window at McDonald's Knowsley.
Questions and answers
Do you only work for McDonald's?
McDonald's is where most of our drive-thru experience comes from, but we are happy to discuss drive-thru and service windows for other operators.
Can you work with our main contractor on a new site?
Yes. New booths and windows are coordinated with the main contractor so they fit the build programme.
What is the difference between a drive-thru booth and a service window?
The service window is the opening used for payment or collection. A booth is the surrounding enclosure, which can include framing, glazing and that window. The drawings should identify whether the tender covers the window alone or the complete booth, and how it meets the restaurant building.
Can an existing drive-thru window be repaired rather than replaced?
Sometimes. The condition of the frame, moving parts, seals and hardware determines whether repair, refurbishment or replacement is sensible. Send the restaurant address, photographs and a description of the fault, including whether the window is secure. Attendance, scope and costs are agreed for the enquiry.
What should a contractor send for a drive-thru quotation?
Send the booth or window drawings, specification, restaurant address, main contractor details, programme and tender return date. Identify the scope of framing and glazing, interfaces with adjacent finishes, and any access or trading restrictions. For an existing window, include photographs and known system details.
Further reading
Sectors we provide this for
Talk to us about your project
Send the location, scope and programme, with drawings if you have them. We offer a free computer-aided estimating service.