New tenant revealed at Preston’s Animate

Preston City Council has agreed a new 10-year lease with Escapade Events for a unit at Animate.

Escapade Events will be adopting the unit’s commercial property name, UNIT 6, for its warehouse-style food hall, bringing together six independent vendors. Escapade Events brings more than a decade of hospitality and events sector experience, delivering bar and drinks services across Preston, Lancashire and nationally.

The new venture brings together Escapade Events and hospitality operator Heathcote&Co. led by Paul Heathcote MBE and Gary Bates. Heathcote&Co has established links with Preston and extensive experience in food, events and large-scale hospitality, adding further operational expertise to the food hall offer.

Councillor Martyn Rawlinson, Cabinet Member for Resources said: “We’re delighted to welcome Escapade Events to Animate and to see a business with a connection to Preston expanding its presence in the city.

‘’The team’s experience together with the partnership with Heathcote&Co, brings a strong combination of local knowledge and decades of top-class hospitality experience.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the plans come to life at Animate to create new memorable experiences at the unit.”

Speaking on behalf of Escapade Events, Alex Leigh, Director, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be opening UNIT 6 at Animate and creating something special in the heart of Preston. Our vision for UNIT 6 is to bring people together over food and drink.

‘’Lancashire and Preston in particular boasts an impressive industrial heritage, a rich diversity and an independent soul like no other, we can’t wait to celebrate that through our food and drink culture.

“There will be award-winning chefs, exciting independent operators cooking up high-quality food and a first-class drink experience without the formalities. UNIT 6 will be a warm vibrant hub where anyone is welcome. Morning, afternoon, evening and night. Six days a week.”

Paul Heathcote MBE, Award-winning Chef & Restaurateur, said: "It’s great to be involved in Preston’s new landmark development by supporting Alex and Kane at Escapade who will be managing the new casual food and drink hall.

‘’Heathcote&Co will be bringing some exciting food partners with celebrated chefs and great drink to UNIT 6 at Animate.

“We will have five food vendors with over 30 courses from around the world. Today I can announce that Chef Steve Smith will be joining us, many will know him from the Top 50 Gastro Pubs when he was voted No1 ahead of Chef Tom Kerridge.;;

“I started my success as a Chef in Longridge holding two Michelin Stars and my second restaurant in Winckley Square I think it was groundbreaking at the time, gaining national acclaim, once again it’s still great to be contributing to the city.

“Lots more to reveal and share in the next couple of weeks before we open in December.”

Escapade Events will run the bar unit directly and will be joined by five other independent food venders to complete the food hall. Further details about the independent food vendors joining Escapade Events at Animate, along with the opening date, will be announced in the coming weeks.