A Swiss appeals court has overturned the building permit for a planned McDonald's restaurant on the Limmatquai (a historic riverside promenade in Zurich's old town), ruling that ventilation chimneys on the building would visually disrupt the protected roofline of the medieval quarter. Neighbours had fought the plans for nearly a year, gathering over 2,200 petition signatures — reportedly including British actress Emma Thompson, who was staying at a nearby hotel — citing concerns about noise, littering, and late-night opening hours stretching to 5 a.m. on weekends. McDonald's said it was surprised by the ruling and has 30 days to decide whether to appeal.