Preston: Work completed on new £45m Animate entertainment complex

Construction work on Preston’s new £45m cinema and leisure complex has been completed.

Building work started on the Animate scheme last year, located at Preston’s former indoor market area, in the Harris Quarter.

Tenants who have signed up – including an eight-screen cinema, bowling alley and street food hub, and a cocktail bar – can now start fitting out their spaces.

The complex is due to open to the public next year.

Part of the money came from the £20m Preston’s Town Fund, which has been spent on Animate, the Harris Museum and the Grade II-listed Amounderness House in the city.

John Chesworth, chair of Preston’s Towns Fund, said: “All of those projects will be delivered by 2025/6.

“That £20m we hope will realise £200m of investment from it, so a real big catalyst we feel for development in the city centre.”

Councillor Valerie Wise, cabinet member for community wealth building, said: “I think the fact that we’re going to have these restaurants means you’ll come here for a night out.

“We’re well on the way to being complete and I’m absolutely confident we will be.”