Final decision on new Miller and Carter restaurant for Preston

Minor design changes to a long-delayed new pub-restaurant in suburban Preston have been given the go-ahead – paving the way for it to finally open next year.

A Miller and Carter Steakhouse had been part of the plans for the Eastway Retail Hub in Fulwood when it was granted permission back in September 2018.

Branches of Lidl, Costa Coffee, Subway and Age Concern were amongst the facilities that subsequently opened on the shopping site – but the watering hole and eatery never materialised.

As the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed in September, the hospitality chain Mitchells and Butlers, which owns the Miller and Carter brand, said it hoped the 170-seater Eastway outlet would open its doors in summer 2026.

Now, Preston City Council has approved some tweaks to the proposed building – including to the originally approved layout and elevations, along with the use of solar panels –  seemingly removing the final hurdle to it being built.

The company previously blamed the impact of the pandemic for the hold-up. In November 2023, the firm said that it did still have plans to open the venue, but not in “the near future” – suggesting the launch could be as far as off as September 2025.

At that date threatened to come and go without a brick being laid, a spokesperson for Miller and Carter previously told the LDRS: “We are very much looking forward to bringing Miller and Carter Steakhouse to Preston in the summer of 2026, subject to receiving the relevant planning permissions.

“This will be a significant investment and our beautiful new restaurant will create more than 60 jobs for local people.”

A Miller and Carter Steakhouse had been part of the plans for the Eastway Retail Hub in Fulwood when it was granted permission back in September 2018.

Branches of Lidl, Costa Coffee, Subway and Age Concern were amongst the facilities that subsequently opened on the shopping site – but the watering hole and eatery never materialised.

As the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed in September, the hospitality chain Mitchells and Butlers, which owns the Miller and Carter brand, said it hoped the 170-seater Eastway outlet would open its doors in summer 2026.

Now, Preston City Council has approved some tweaks to the proposed building – including to the originally approved layout and elevations, along with the use of solar panels –  seemingly removing the final hurdle to it being built.

The company previously blamed the impact of the pandemic for the hold-up. In November 2023, the firm said that it did still have plans to open the venue, but not in “the near future” – suggesting the launch could be as far as off as September 2025.

At that date threatened to come and go without a brick being laid, a spokesperson for Miller and Carter previously told the LDRS: “We are very much looking forward to bringing Miller and Carter Steakhouse to Preston in the summer of 2026, subject to receiving the relevant planning permissions.

“This will be a significant investment and our beautiful new restaurant will create more than 60 jobs for local people.”