Outgoing Mad Giant trader slams costs and organisation at Animate’s food hall

An outgoing trader at the city’s Mad Giant Food Hall has raised her concerns about how it operated.

Marzena Kucha ran Cove and Crumb from December until this month within the independent food and drink hall which is part of the Animate leisure and entertainment complex.

This week it was confirmed all the original food vendors had left and the Mad Giant is undergoing a revamp ahead of reopening next week with a new line-up of food kiosks.

Marzena, who continues to operate at Dine and Dessert in Kirkham which is a separate business, told Blog Preston about how concerns had been raised about the set up within the food hall.

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She said: “We made the decision to cease trading at Mad Giant as the cost of operating, relative to the level of trade, was unfortunately too high for our business to remain sustainable.

“We also observed challenges in customer experience and overall footfall, with many visitors not staying long within the venue. From feedback received, some aspects of the entertainment offering did not always align with customer expectations, which at times impacted the overall atmosphere and dwell time.

“From our perspective, stronger on-site management, clearer direction, and a more consistent approach to customer engagement would have made a significant difference.

“As independent traders, open communication is essential. It was disappointing that concerns raised by vendors were not fully addressed, and opportunities for open discussion were limited. More regular dialogue, shared planning, and collaboration would have helped create a stronger and more sustainable environment for everyone involved.

“We’re incredibly proud of what we created with Cove and Crumb and grateful to everyone who supported us during our time there.”

Asked to explain the issues with the entertainment within the venue, Marzena said they sometimes saw live music taking place during football matches and other entertainment which overlapped – and this was disruptive according to feedback she had received from customers. She also said there were issues with noise levels in the venue during live entertainment or events which meant customers had struggled to have conversations.

Her concerns were put to the Mad Giant Food Hall, which is operated by the Northern Lights Group, and they refuted any suggestion there was an issue with the entertainment or experience within the venue.

A statement on behalf of the Mad Giant management said: “We strongly dispute this account, which does not reflect the venue.

“Mad Giant is a high-energy, multi-offer destination where live sport and entertainment are intentionally integrated.

“We don’t like to pass comment on others business proficiency as it’s not very professional, but there is a reason we are changing this food trader for the good of the business.

“Our focus remains on working with partners who align with the venue’s direction and consistently deliver for customers.”

Mad Giant is due to re-open on Tuesday 21 April with a new line-up of food traders.

The unit is within the council-owned Animate complex and was badged as being a celebration of local independent food traders when the food hall opened in October.

Popular chicken and gravy outlet Different Gravy departed after two months, with pizza outlet Crust + Co leaving in early 2026 and the remaining two Cove and Crumb and Eat Like A Greek halted trading on Sunday 13 April when Mad Giant closed the doors for the revamp.

A spokesperson for Preston City Council – who own the Animate complex – said: “We are aware of the situation at Mad Giant Foodhall and are working closely with the Northern Lights Group, who operate the premises. We remain in regular dialogue with them to understand their plans to acquire future food vendors.”

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