Wagamama come to Preston's Animate

Japanese restaurant Wagamama is to open at its newly launched £45million Animate leisure scheme, which has been delivered by Maple Grove Developments. 

 Positioned between Taco Bell and Mad Giant Food Hall, Wagamama has taken a 4,125 sq ft unit on a 15-year lease. The fit out is due to commence imminently and will be open to customers early this summer.

Open seven days a week, the new restaurant will create 55 new jobs and marks Wagamama’s 167th restaurant in the UK and Ireland and its 59th in the North. The deal means that just one final unit (10,270 sq ft) offering social space on the upper level is now available.

Animate was officially opened in February by Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park, with many of the tenants including Ask Italian, Argento Lounge, Taco Bell Hollywood Bowl and ARC Cinemas now trading.

 Sita Wood, head of brand activation (restaurants) at Wagamama said:  “We’re incredibly excited to be opening our doors in Preston, to meet local demand. our team are hard at work training for our opening, and we can’t wait to welcome our locals to enjoy their fresh favourites on our benches.”

 Coun Wise at Preston City Council said: “Animate has proven to be an in-demand venue for leisure operators and Wagamama deciding to open a restaurant here is a significant vote of confidence in the destination.

"It will prove to be a popular restaurant, stimulating additional footfall in the Harris Quarter, catalysing further investment, and boosting our local economy, central to our Community Wealth Building model.”

 Speaking about the arrival of Wagamama John Brady, at Bradys, joint agents for the scheme with Smith Young, said: “Securing Wagamama is a strong endorsement of Preston’s growing appeal as a vibrant retail and leisure destination.

"The brand brings with it a loyal following and a reputation for quality, which will not only further enhance the visitor experience but also support the wider regeneration of the area by driving increased footfall.”

 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.