The fast food restaurant beat off strong competition from other individual award winners including Malmaison Hotel du Vin, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Ego Restaurants to take the overall prize on Monday night.
McDonald's, who received the Caterer editor Mark Lewis and Steve Di Piazza, managing director at sponsor Peopletree, takes the mantle from last year's joint overall winners, La Tasca and Betty's and Taylors Harrogate.
David Fairhurst, vice president (people) at McDonald's, said: I am thrilled that McDonald's has been recognised in this way, because when you think about what makes a really great workplace it boils down to just three things.
"First and foremost it's people. Secondly it's a company that values and respects its people. And finally it's time. Being one of the best places to work in any sector doesn't happen overnight. For over 30 years in the UK McDonald's has employed great people and invested in those people."