Wagamama to open at Animate Preston

Asian-inspired Japanese restaurant Wagamama is to open its doors at Preston’s newly launched £45m 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. 

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 is hard at work training for our opening, and we can’t wait to welcome our locals to enjoy their fresh favourites on our benches.”

Cllr Wise at Preston City Council added: “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.”