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Preston’s new Animate cinema and leisure complex has been officially opened by Preston legend Nick Park – who also unveiled a new four-foot-high statue of Feathers McGraw.
The £45m development opened for the first time today (20 February) with the multi-award winning, and Honorary Freeman of Preston, Nick Park called in to help and hundreds in attendance.
The scheme, years in the making, is built on the former indoor market and car park site and is owned by Preston City Council. It will feature an eight-screen cinema – provided by The Arc Cinema and open from today – along with a number of restaurant chains.
Read more: Preston’s Animate cinema and leisure complex car park – prices, entry and more
Argento Lounge and Taco Bell are now open with Ask Italian to follow in early April. Opening dates are not yet confirmed for Mad Giant Food Hall, Cosmo or Las Iguanas.
The 16-lane Hollywood Bowl will open in March.
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 Park CBE 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 though, to have 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.”
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