The fast-food chain is showing its faith in the Big Mac with its largest expansion programme for more than 20 years.
The growth plan is driven by a £1bn investment by the chain and its franchisees.
McDonald’s Irish business currently has about 95 restaurants and 1,435 outlets in the UK, with around four-fifths owned and operated by franchisees.
McDonald’s has a target of building 10,000 more restaurants globally by 2027
The hospitality firm, which currently employs more than 170,000 workers, said the expansion will involve a renewed focus on high street outlets.
It said it will test new restaurant formats as part of the rollout, including trials for additional smaller site formats and the recent launch of “drive to” restaurant sites.
The new openings come after McDonald’s revealed a target of building 10,000 more restaurants globally by 2027.
Alistair Macrow, chief executive officer of McDonald’s UK&I, said: “We have come a long way since we first opened our doors 50 years ago.
“We have become an important part of communities and I’m delighted that in this milestone year we are able to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to growth, and announce the creation of new jobs as we plan to open over 200 new restaurants over the next four years.
“It’s a moment to celebrate and also to look ahead to what’s next.
“Whether that’s continuing to provide the best value for our customers, investing in our restaurants, supporting our suppliers or launching new initiatives for young people where our communities need them most.”
News of the planned expansion by the fast-food giant comes after management at the Dominos pizza chain indicated their growth plans.
Bosses at London-listed Domino’s Pizza Group told investors earlier this month that a newly expanded supply chain centre here will allow it to serve 130 stores.
That’s almost a third more than the 99 outlets the business operates across the island of Ireland currently. It is understood the supply centre is scheduled to reopen in September.
The pizza business has 1,344 sites across Ireland and the UK. Group revenues dropped 1.8pc to £326.8m for the six months to June 30, compared with the same period a year earlier.
