COSMO reveals opening date for Preston’s £45m+ Animate entertainment and leisure destination

COSMO, the restaurant chain known for its incredible range of dishes from around the world, is to open on July 27th at Preston’s £45+ million entertainment and leisure destination.

Cosmo’s Preston restaurant will be one of the chain’s biggest locations stretching over 12,000 sq ft and will be employing 60 people.

The restaurant business serves more than 150 dishes cooked fresh every day at its 20-plus chain of eateries around the UK and Ireland.

Inspired by high-end buffet experiences found in luxury hotels across the Far East, it offers a world of flavours and global cuisine in one restaurant.

Supporting the 60-strong team at the Animate location, Cosmo will be welcoming robot waiters Bella and Hola who will help staff serve customers when the world buffet restaurant opens.

The two robot assistants can help serve diners and even sing ‘happy birthday’ when one of the biggest ‘all-you-can-eat' restaurants at the multi-award-winning chain when it opens in July.

 Robots are increasingly being used in restaurants for simple tasks from food preparation to serving tables, improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing the customer experience.

Such robots can perform repetitive tasks, allowing employees to focus on more complex duties.

Suzanne Wink, head of operations at Cosmo, said: “The Preston city centre site within the Animate entertainment complex, really shows off what COSMO is all about: scale, theatre, and impressive variety.

"With more than 150 dishes cooked fresh every day, it’s a feast for the eyes as well as the appetite – not forgetting our robot assistants Bella and Hola who will be able to serve diners and even sing them happy birthday. Our Preston colleagues (and Bella and Hola) look forward to welcoming diners at the end of July.

“Our restaurant at Animate is one of the biggest and boldest in our ever-expanding group. It will show what Cosmo is all about – scale, theatre and variety. Diners will experience a feast for their eyes and their appetites as they enjoy our truly global cuisine.”

Coun Valerie Wise, cabinet member for community wealth building and city regeneration at Preston City Council, said: “Bella and Hola will bring cutting edge service to customers enjoying the world cuisine at Cosmo, adding greatly to the fantastic range of leading leisure and entertainment brands we have attracted to Animate including The Arc Cinema, Taco Bell, Argento Lounge, Hollywood Bowl and Ask Italian.”

Coun Martyn Rawlinson, cabinet member for resources at Preston City Council, added: “As the latest valued addition to the outstanding offering at Animate, the opening of Cosmo will create even greater footfall and encourage visitors from Preston and further afield to stay longer into the evening, helping to make Animate and the wider Harris Quarter a truly ‘go to’ destination.”

Animate attracted national and international media attention this year when Nick Park CBE, six-time Academy Award winner and Preston-born creator of Wallace & Gromit, officially opened the destination, unveiling a four-foot-high bronze statue of Feathers McGraw, the villainous penguin character in the Wallace & Gromit films.

 The Preston City Council-owned scheme is in part funded by the UK Government.

It comes after Lancashire Business View reported that japanese restaurant Wagamama was moving the Animate leisure scheme in May. 

 Positioned between Taco Bell and Mad Giant Food Hall, Wagamama has taken a 4,125 sq ft unit on a 15-year lease.