Nick Park unveils statue of Feathers McGraw at Animate, Preston

Nick Park, four-time Academy Award-winner and Preston-born creator of Wallace & Gromit, has officially opened the city’s £45m+ Animate entertainment and leisure destination.

The Honorary Freeman of Preston and multi award-winning filmmaker, unveiled a four-foot-high bronze statue of Feathers McGraw, the villainous penguin character in the Wallace & Gromit animated films, to mark the opening, close by to the existing famous Wallace & Gromit bench at Preston Markets.

Joining Nick at the unveiling were the Mayor of Preston councillor Philip Crowe, Chris Butler and Chris Jones, owners and directors of Castle Fine Arts Foundry, which created the statue, and Merlin Crossingham, Bafta award-winning creative co-director of Wallace & Gromit at Aardman Animations.

 Nick and Merlin are executive directors and creative directors, respectively, at Bristol-based independent studio Aardman, makers of the Wallace & Gromit films and other beloved brands, including Shaun the Sheep, Creature Comforts, Chicken Run, and Morph.

 Nick Park said: “As a proud Prestonian, I couldn’t be more ‘egg-cited’ to see our infamous Feathers McGraw joining Wallace and Gromit in my hometown.

 “I’m not sure how happy Wallace and Gromit will be, though, to have their arch nemesis clutching the limelight.”

 Councillor Matthew Brown, leader at Preston City Council said: “To have Nick Park officially opening our flagship regeneration scheme, Animate, is a genuine honour and landmark moment for the Council and the city.

"In addition, the new Feathers McGraw statue is a fantastic complement to the Wallace and Gromit bench, which has drawn so many visitors to Preston – its popularity has blown us away.

 “Today heralds a new era for Preston, providing an unrivalled multi-tenanted entertainment and leisure complex for residents and visitors from the wider region in the ownership of our city.”

 Chris Jones, director at Castle Fine Arts Foundry added: “It was such an honour for us all at the Foundry to be given the opportunity to depict the deliciously malign Feathers McGraw in bronze, having enjoyed creating Wallace & Gromit a couple of years ago.

 “We had felt Feathers ‘wee beady eyes’ upon us in the workshop for a good few months since we completed him, so it was both a relief and a joy to put him where he truly belongs, alongside his arch nemeses in Preston.”

 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, alongside leading family 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, part of Preston-based contractor Eric Wright Group, on behalf of Preston City Council. Commercial property agents Sanderson Weatherall are the estate managers.

 Built on the former indoor market and car park site, Animate is fully owned by Preston City Council and is one of six major projects in Preston's Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme, a £200m programme including £20.9m of funding by UK Government to support several regeneration projects.

 The leisure scheme supports the council’s commitment to Community Wealth Building – a fair, inclusive and ethical approach to fostering sustainable economic development and prosperity for all in Preston - via measures including using locally based businesses and the creation of approximately 300 full and part-time jobs when fully open and 105 apprenticeship weeks worked throughout the construction period to date.

 Opening dates at Animate:

• Argento Lounge – Open
• Taco Bell – Open
• The Arc Cinema – Open
• Hollywood Bowl – opening March
• Ask Italian – opening early April 
• Mad Giant Food Hall – coming soon
• Cosmo – coming soon

Councillor Martyn Rawlinson, deputy leader at Preston City Council and Cabinet Member for Resources said: "As the cornerstone project of our ambitious and transformative Harris Quarter regeneration programme, city Council-owned Animate has been delivered, wherever possible, by local contractors and enhanced the skills and learning of young people with invaluable on-the-job experience. 

“This landmark leisure development cements the Council's cast-iron commitment to Community Wealth Building, creating a resilient and inclusive economy to benefit the whole area by offering an opportunity for local people to get involved and work with local institutions.” 

 Brian Gilligan, director of The Arc Cinema said: “We are incredibly grateful to Nick Park for agreeing to officially launch both the Animate scheme and The Arc Cinema, as well as organising a special screening of Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl to mark the occasion.

“It’s an honour for The Arc Cinema to be opening within Animate in the heart of Preston city centre, and we’re excited to become an integral part of this vibrant community. Our team can’t wait to welcome our first customers on Friday, 21 February.”

 Andrew Dewhurst, director at Maple Grove Developments commented: “Successfully delivering Animate and attracting a great line-up of leisure operators to the scheme is a fantastic achievement and a career highlight for the team here at Maple Grove and the Eric Wright Group.

 “The working relationship we have with Preston City Council has been extremely positive. I would like to thank all those involved who have pulled together to make Animate a reality, creating a place where the people of Preston and visitors from far and wide can come and enjoy themselves with their family and friends, now and in the years to come.”

 John Chesworth, chair of Preston Towns Fund Strategic Board added: “The much-anticipated official opening of Animate by Nick Park is a tremendous honour for us all, heralding a new era for Preston, transforming the city’s retail and leisure offering and boosting the economy by creating hundreds of jobs for local people.

 “Our Wallace & Gromit bench has proven to be a hugely popular attraction for fans of the films and the eye-catching sculpture of Feathers McGraw will encourage more aficionados to beat a path to Preston.”

 Matthew Lawrence, head of Property Management at Sanderson Weatherall said: “Sanderson Weatherall is extremely excited to be working with Preston City Council on the Animate scheme and it’s all systems go for the grand opening and beyond!

 “Our locally recruited Facilities Management team have fostered excellent working relationships with all occupiers, and we are all working towards the same goal, to ensure this premier entertainment destination provides sustainable leisure opportunities for the wider community and is a place where everyone can always come and enjoy the amenities available.”

 Councillor Aidy Riggott, cabinet member for economic development and growth at Lancashire County Council said: "Animate is a key regeneration project within the city centre. Lancashire County Council has provided funding of £800k towards public realm and lighting improvements between the bus station and the Harris Quarter.

"These enhancements will help make the Animate leisure complex a welcoming and accessible destination for locals and visitors."