“Decisions by the city council have helped. It is very pro small business and in giving opportunities to independents.”
Heather McNulty is general manager at the Argento Lounge, one of the new restaurants in the Animate complex. Headquartered in Bristol, the business is expanding at pace nationally and has just opened its 300th outlet.
She says: “Opening in Preston had been on the cards for quite a while. When Animate came about it was decided now was the time.
“We’ve been open six months and we’ve made a lot of progress. It is a new development and we’ve seen people coming into Preston for the first time in a long time and they have been excited by what they see and are coming back for more.
“We’re building up a nice regular trade and numbers coming into the complex are growing. It is really nice to see the other businesses opening up and attracting the whole demographic, from families during the day to couples in the evening.”
We have a lot to offer. Preston
historically is a fantastic city, it has got lots of beautiful buildings, it has got a big population. It is easy to access but it needs more imagination
The University of Lancashire is one of Preston’s anchor institutions and its city centre campus is a major contributor to its economic wellbeing. It has 20,000 students on the campus and employs just under 3,000 staff.
Matthew Guest, its head of local and regional business engagement, says: “The DNA of Preston runs through the place.”
He says that the city’s transport links makes a “massive difference” with a high percentage of its students commuting. Those links are a big advantage when it comes to attracting international students.
“Preston is a gateway not only to Lancashire but other parts of the region and that is part of the pitch,” he explains. So is the size of the city – the ease of getting around it and the fact it is a relatively safe part of the country.
The university also plays a big role in incubating student business start-ups. Matthew says: “That is where future growth is going to come from, being able to harness student talent in the city is one of the big opportunities we have.”
Spotlight
PRESTON’S CULTURAL
RENAISSANCE By Timothy Joel,
Assistant director, head of arts and culture, Preston City Council
Change is in the air and it’s sweeping through Preston. On Sunday September 28, The Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library reopens to the public following a large-scale £19m redevelopment project.
Preston’s celebrated jewel in the crown, the Grade I Listed building proudly stands at the heart of the city and a £200m Harris Quarter Investment Programme.
The Harris is a remarkable example of Victorian craftsmanship, standing proud for 132 years. Meticulous repairs led by local contractor Conlon Construction, and dedicated custodianship by the Harris team, will ensure our iconic building stands for another 132 years and beyond.
Four years have been spent painstakingly preserving the building for future generations, upgrading services, making it watertight and repairing the Victorian external stonework. Visitor facilities are enhanced with a new Changing Places accessible toilet, complimentary Wi-Fi and a new additional public entrance on Lancaster Road.
How The Harris delivers its services has also been transformed. Blending rich collections of fine art, costume, ceramics, social history and historic books, our powerful narratives and exciting visual stories flow throughout the building.
The Harris has successfully recruited 28 new staff to provide an exceptional visitor service. Focusing on community engagement and accessibility, the team will play a vital role in welcoming visitors and ensuring that everyone feels at home traversing the new layout.
Our local communities have been involved right from the start of our transformational journey, helping us shape our stories and selecting exciting exhibitions for our new Gallery Two. By placing communities at the heart of The Harris, it’s a genuine cultural hub, not just for the people of Preston and Lancashire, but also visitors near and far.
Key partners such as Preston City Council, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, UK government and Lancashire County Council to name just a few, are also critical to us and we thank them for their commitment and support.
Heather McNulty Peter Jackson
The Harris is a regionally significant cultural visitor destination with a national reputation, attracting 450,000 visitors a year. We can’t wait to open our doors again and welcome everyone back, so please come and join us.
in association with
NEW CATEGORIES FOR 2026
AI AND TECH INNOVATION
CREATIVE BUSINESS DEAL OF THE YEAR
Deadline: 5 December 2025 Plan your visit |
www.theharris.org.uk LANCASHIREBUSINES SV
IEW.CO.UK
redroseawards.co.uk @redroseawards #RRA26
29
PRESTONIN VIEW
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
