Wallace and Gromit creator set to open multimillion pound complex in Preston
A brand new £45million cinema and leisure complex is opening
Nick Park, the creator of the award-winning characters Wallace and Gromit, will open a £45million entertainment and leisure destination in Preston today (20 February).
After 13 months of construction work, Animate will open in the city's former indoor market area in the Harris Quarter.
The centre includes an eight-screen cinema, bowling alley and street food hub, and a cocktail bar.
The official ceremony starts at 3pm with Nick Park also unveiling a new piece of art.
Wallace and Gromit will also be making a special guest appearance at 1pm - to meet and greet fans.
Their most recent film, Vengeance Most Fowl, picked up two Baftas on Sunday (16 February).
Nick was previously guest of honour in the city in September 2021 when he unveiled the city's iconic Wallace and Gromit bench at Preston Markets.
'Long time in the planning'
Councillor Martyn Rawlinson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources at Preston City Council said:
"We're thrilled to welcome Nick Park CBE and special guests help us celebrate the opening of Animate in partnership with the launch of The Arc Cinema.
"The transformation on the site of the former indoor Preston Market has been a long time in the planning, and seven years almost to the day when the old indoor market shut its doors for the very last time.
"As we celebrate and welcome special guests and our new tenants to Animate, we'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who has been involved in this project over the years, and through their hard work and dedication have made the ideas into a reality that both residents and visitors to Preston can all now enjoy."
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