Taco Bell will open its doors for the first time this Thursday, coinciding with the official launch of the new Animate cinema and leisure complex in Preston. This marks the second eatery at the £45.8 million development, which is a key project by Preston City Council.
The grand opening will be celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Nick Park, the creator of Wallace and Gromit and a proud Preston native. Park’s visit comes just days after he won two BAFTA awards for his latest Wallace and Gromit film, Vengeance Most Fowl, which is their first outing in 16 years.
Chet Patel, Chief Marketing Officer for Taco Bell UK & Europe, expressed excitement about the new location, saying, “At Taco Bell, we’re world-famous for our unique and craveable menu, flavor explosion, and bold experiences. We’re thrilled to bring our distinct brand culture to Preston.”
As part of the opening celebrations, Park will unveil a secret piece of artwork around 3 p.m. before declaring the flagship Arc Cinema officially open during its VIP launch. The cinema will open to the public the following day.
Animate will open in phases, with full operations expected to be underway by May. While Argento Lounge, the first of the nine units, opened earlier this month, Thursday’s launch will see the cinema and Taco Bell opening their doors, marking a third of the complex operational on launch day.
The Hollywood Bowl is expected to open by early March, followed by Ask Italian in April. Mad Giant Food Hall, featuring a range of street food businesses, will open towards the end of April, and the Cosmo World Buffet is slated for an early May debut. The opening of the Las Iguanas restaurant remains undated.
Preston City Council is also in talks to find a tenant for a unit dedicated to competitive social activities, such as an escape room.
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