Animate Cinema and Leisure Scheme news

20 December 2024: Over 100 new jobs will be created for local people at the brand new Animate complex, when it opens in spring 2025. Register your interest and find that hot new exciting career!

19 December 2024: We talk to the Centre Manager at Hollywood Bowl in Preston, Radu Solomon about the centre joining the Animate complex.

27 November 2024: Days after the completion of Preston City Council's Animate leisure scheme, Maple Grove Developments (MGD) has announced the final restaurant letting to Taco Bell franchisee, Soul Foods Group.

2 August 2024: Preston City Council has agreed a 15-year lease with the Northern Lights Group (NLG) for a new food hall at Animate, the £45+ million entertainment and leisure complex, which is being delivered by Maple Grove Developments.

28 June 2024: Brian Gilligan, director of ARC Cinema - picked Preston as its first location in the North West for the fast-growing cinema brand.

1 May 2024: A local artist's homage to the history and culture of Preston has been completed at the city's £45m-plus Animate leisure complex, one of six major projects planned under the Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme.

18 March 2024: A topping out ceremony has been held to mark the highest point of the build at Preston's Animate leisure complex, the latest milestone in the £45 million+ scheme, one of six major projects planned under Preston's Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme.

14 February 2024: Invest Preston enjoyed a walkaround behind the scenes at the Animate Preston construction project recently, and we spoke with two young staff members from Eric Wright Group who are currently working onsite during the development phase.

5 October 2023: Preston's Animate leisure complex, one of six major projects planned under the Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme, is to pay homage to the City's history and culture of the Harris Quarter.

19 September 2023: To mark the progress of Preston's £45m+ Animate leisure complex, two ceremonial coins were added to the construction project's steelwork being built by the Eric Wright Group.

4 July 2023: Steelwork is being installed at Preston's Animate leisure complex, the latest milestone in the £45 million+ scheme, one of six major projects planned under Preston's Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme.

12 April 2023: Piling work has started on Preston's Animate leisure complex. The £45 million+ scheme is one of six major projects planned under Preston's Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme.