Megatron (building)

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Photograph of the derelict Megatron building taken in 2006 Alconbury Propeller - geograph.org.uk - 246660.jpg
Photograph of the derelict Megatron building taken in 2006

The Megatron was a building just outside the village of Alconbury in Cambridgeshire, UK. It was notable for its flying saucer design and was an example of mimetic architecture. The building was constructed in 1990 and operated as a restaurant until the early 2000s. It was demolished in 2008 despite attempts to have it listed as a significant building. [1]

Contents

History

The Megatron was conceived by local businessman Danny Blundell, who developed the idea from 1987 to 1990. He originally planned for it to be the first of a chain of restaurants. [2] The building was designed by Graham Campbell, an architect from Godmanchester, [3] and included innovations such as touchscreen ordering. [4]

When the venue first opened in 1990 local residents reportedly thought it was a genuine UFO. Several people reported it to the police, who attended the scene to investigate. [5] The following morning the restaurant was formally opened with TV presenter Andy Crane in attendance. [6]

The building's design and fast food menu were intended to appeal to American airmen at RAF Alconbury, an airbase adjacent to the Megatron. Customers were able to pay in both British pounds and US dollars. [7]

Due to high operating costs the venue closed in 1992. Some local people wanted the building to be demolished, believing it to be an eyesore. [8] Instead it was taken over by McDonald's, who removed much of the original decor and reopened in 1993. [9] It was thought to be the world's only spaceship McDonald's until another opened in Roswell, New Mexico, in 2005. [10]

The McDonald's later closed and the building lay derelict for several years. Huntingdonshire District Council tried to have the building preserved, but this was unsuccessful and it was demolished in 2008. [1]

Influence

The Megatron was notable both as an example of mimetic architecture and as a novelty McDonald's. The Megatron has appeared in various contexts in media.

References

  1. 1 2 "'Flying saucer' is demolished". Hunts Post. 11 June 2008.
  2. "Touch-down at Alconbury" (PDF). Acorn Newsletter. Christmas 1990. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  3. Henman, Tom (9 August 2021). "Do you remember the old Megatron spaceship restaurant?". Hunts Post. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  4. Turner, Benjamin (7 March 2021). "McDonald's worker's 6 secrets from the UFO spaceship restaurant at Alconbury". Cambridgeshire Live. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  5. "Locals put police on alert for green men". Cambridge Daily News. 27 March 1990.
  6. "Planet sweet". St Ives & Huntingdon Town Crier. 31 March 1990.
  7. Conn, Tony (February 2024). "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe: The Megatron Story". Fortean Times (441): 30–37.
  8. "More to my taste!". Hunts Post. 22 July 1993.
  9. Strange, Dawn (23 September 1993). "Fast-food outlet gets quick refit". Hunts Post.
  10. Kamerick, Megan (7 March 2005). "Roswell McDonald's: Little green men, hold the pickle". New Mexico Business Weekly. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  11. "Take a look inside 'the weirdest McDonald's in the world' from UFO to creepy castle". Ammon News. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  12. Hoover, Quinton (April 21, 2021). "Max Krieger Interview (Nonstandard McDonald's admin, CROSSNIQ+, more)" (video). youtube.com. Quinton Re2s.
  13. Darville, Jordan (17 September 2020). "Travis Scott's new McDonald's merch drop looks exactly like you think it does". The Fader. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  14. "Megatron". Disappointed Tourist. 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  15. Valente, Catherynne M. (2024). Space Oddity. Corsair. ISBN   9781472160027.