Second anchor tenant announced for Preston’s Animate

Arc Cinema has taken 29,500 sq ft at the £40m leisure complex.

The cinema operator is the second anchor tenant to sign on after Hollywood Bowl took 20,300 sq ft in November.

Arc Cinema will operate eight screens at Animate, which is being delivered by Maple Grove Developments for Preston City Council. The 168,000 sq ft Animate received planning permission in March.

“It couldn’t be better news to have a cinema operator join the tenant lineup at Animate,” said Andrew Dewhurst, development director at Maple Grove Developments.

“With planning now secured, working with Preston City Council, we now have the confidence to press on with the detailed design in readiness for a construction start,” Dewhurst continued.

In addition to a bowling alley and cinema, the Leach Rhodes Walker-designed Animate will also boast a series of restaurants, bars, a food hall and public realm.

Four of the restaurant spaces are under offer, according to Dewhurst. He anticipated announcing more soon.

The lettings agents for Animate are Bradys and CBRE, who advised Maple Grove on the deal with The Arc Cinema. Barker Proudlove acted for the cinema company.

Construction on Animate is slated to start in October. Maple Grove hopes to reach practical completion on the site in summer 2024.

The project team for Animate includes contract administrator Eric Wright, landscape architect Planit-IE, and planning consultant CBRE.

Waterman, Civic Engineers, and Warrington Fire are providing structural, highways, and fire engineering services respectively. GIA is the wind mitigation consultant and Gleeds is handling cost management services.

When complete, Animate will be located on the site of the old Preston indoor market. That site is situated at Earl Street and Tenterfield Street, within the city’s Harris Quarter.