City gets all Animate-d at leisure scheme complex launch

By Ged Henderson

10 Apr 2025

Nick Park unveilling Feathers McGraw

City council leader Matthew Brown is in no doubt. The opening of the new £45m Animate cinema and leisure complex is proof the city has finally cast off the shadow of the failed Tithebarn regeneration scheme.

Animate, many years in the making, has been built on the former indoor market and car park site and is fully owned by the city council.

Speaking at the official opening of Animate by Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park, Councillor Brown said lessons had been learned
from Tithebarn and a very different approach was now being taken to deliver regeneration.

The collapse of the £700m Tithebarn redevelopment plan in 2011 was seen at the time as a catastrophic blow to Preston’s fortunes.

Tithebarn, which would have seen widescale shopping and leisure facilities and a new bus station built in the city centre, was abandoned
after department store John Lewis pulled out saying it was no longer financially viable.

The bombshell announcement left the city bruised and battered and facing an uncertain future. But what has risen from the ashes of the
failed project is a complete rethink of Preston’s regeneration strategy.

Animate is playing a massive part in that. The flagship scheme is one of six major projects in Preston’s Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme, a £200m programme, including £20.9m of funding by the government to support several regeneration projects.

The leisure scheme supports the council’s commitment to ‘Community Wealth Building’, which it describes as “a fair, inclusive and ethical approach to fostering sustainable economic development and prosperity for all in Preston”.

Measures to deliver that include using locally based businesses and the creation of approximately 300 full and part-time jobs when the complex is fully open.

Pointing out the involvement of “very large corporate developers” in Tithebarn who were “not based in the city”, Coun Brown said: “This is a very different way of doing regeneration, a way in which we can all benefit.

“We are very confident it is going to be a success. As a city authority we have put our money where our mouth is and invested in our community to benefit people.”

He added: “We don’t want to have corporations running the show, we want to do it inclusively.

“It is going to have huge benefits, it is not just about jobs and money, it is about how people feel in the city centre.”

Hundreds of people came to see Animate opened by Preston legend Nick Park – who also unveiled a new four-foot-high statue of one of
his animated characters, ‘Feathers McGraw’.

The Oscar-winning film-maker spoke of his pride in being from the city and added: “It’s so good to have a cinema in the city centre. It makes
the community feel important. It is for us to enjoy and if it inspires people that is great.”

Animate features The Arc Cinema with eight screens, 16-lane Hollywood Bowl bowling alley with gaming zone, public realm, a socialising unit and 164-space basement car park.

It will also be home to restaurant brands Ask Italian, Cosmo, Taco Bell, Argento Lounge and a variety of street food outlets, and a cocktail bar in Mad Giant Food Hall, run by Northern Lights Group.

The scheme was delivered by Maple Grove Developments (MGD), part of Preston-based contractor Eric Wright Group, on behalf of Preston City Council. Commercial property agents Sanderson Weatherall are the estate managers.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Ged Henderson

Latest news

1

PHX Training welcomes new business leader to drive learner success Louise Kirby

PHX Training welcomes new business leader to drive learner success

29 Apr 2025

2

Lidl to invest half a billion pounds in its expansion as it eyes sites in Lancashire Lidl

Lidl to invest half a billion pounds in its expansion as it eyes sites in Lancashire

29 Apr 2025

3

Inspired board reject takeover bid from major shareholder inspired-500x500.png

Inspired board reject takeover bid from major shareholder

29 Apr 2025

4

Pure Leisure Group Expands Portfolio with Acquisition of Twin Lakes Country Club John Morphet at Twin Lakes

Pure Leisure Group Expands Portfolio with Acquisition of Twin Lakes Country Club

29 Apr 2025

5

County’s universities join forces to help business community University of Central Lancashire

County’s universities join forces to help business community

29 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV122 May/June Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
21 May 2025

LBV122 May/June Launch Event

Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 2TY

08:30 - 10:30

Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

People Power: Exclusive Event Series
Stay ahead in 2025.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
29 Apr 2025 - 29 Apr 2025

People Power: Exclusive Event Series

People's History Museum, Manchester, M3 3ER

17:00 - 21:00

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2
EV-land-2025-05B.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships
30478 Skills Bootcamp open day setting.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships

University of Central Lancashire, Preston , PR1 2HE

14:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin