Cafe signs 15-year lease at Animate

Animate, Preston’s city-owned £45m cinema and leisure complex, has a new tenant after national chain Loungers agreed on a 15-year deal.

The café bar has taken a 4,265 sq ft unit, at an initial rent of £100,000 per annum. It joins anchor tenants The Arc Cinema and Hollywood Bowl, as well as other national and regional restaurants and a street food hub.

The deal means only three units remain to be filled: a restaurant, good hub and social space.

Coun David Borrow, cabinet member for planning and regulation at Preston City Council, said: "Loungers is a substantial operator in the UK hospitality sector and the business has proved to be one of the rising stars in the industry over the past three years. Its commitment to Animate is testament to the attractiveness of Preston as a great place to invest in and do business here.”