New Hollywood Bowl to open at multi-million pound cinema and leisure complex

Animate who specialise in operating large, bowling centres, will open the new entertainment venue, which will feature 16 fully computerised lanes with plush seating, a bar and diner and an amusement area. This will be located on the site of the former indoor market in Preston.

Animate will also include a cinema, new restaurants and bars, a car park, and new public square.

The scheme will bring growth and development to the city centre as well as bringing in over £7m of extra economic activity every year while creating 140 full time equivalent jobs.

Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader of Preston City Council, said: “Welcoming Hollywood Bowl on-board the Animate scheme is a really positive step forward in our plans to bring this exciting city owned development to Preston for the whole community to benefit from.

"As well as bringing investment and jobs to the people of Preston, this key anchor operator will help support the regeneration of our city centre. This major family attraction is a first for the city centre and will complement our existing leisure offer. It will bring people into Preston and further support our strongly established small business community.”

Laurence Keen, Chief Financial Officer of Hollywood Bowl Group, said: “We are pleased to have secured another prime, high footfall destination to enable us to continue to execute on our new centre opening strategy. We’re delighted to be bringing the Hollywood Bowl brand to Preston and to be a part of the exciting development of the Animate leisure complex.” Andrew Dewhurst, Director of Maple Grove Developments, said: “We’re delighted to have secured Hollywood Bowl as the first named operator for Animate. This exciting news contributes massively to Preston’s goal of creating a thriving, sustainable city centre with an outstanding leisure and entertainment offer.

"We recently submitted a new planning application for the Animate scheme with Preston City Council and expect to be able to announce further lettings over the winter months.”