St George’s Shopping Centre could see a new major restaurant

A number of shops in the centre of a major Preston shopping centre are to close to make way for a new restaurant.

Plans from the parent firm of St George’s Shopping Centre outline how three retail units in the rotunda area of the shopping centre would be changed.

The shopfronts where Chris Clare Clothing/Paris Boutique have been and two empty shops are to be combined into the new restaurant.

A covering letter from Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners, instructed by IRAF Dragon – who own the shopping centre – outlines how a restaurant is needed.

The letter states: “The units are situated in the Rotunda area which accommodates Costa Coffee and the provision of additional restaurant/food outlets in this area of the centre would complement the existing offer within the centre.”

Details within the documents also outline the struggles of retailers within those shopfronts – with both Chris Clare Clothing and Paris Boutique forced to activate break clauses in their leases due to poor trading.

Jewellery firm PJ Hadley has recently closed within the shopping centre, citing poor trading in the last 18 months.

PJ Hadleys in the St George’s Shopping Centre

The last of the three units, 77-79 Friargate Walk, has been empty since November 2011 when Sugar Cane left.

St George’s already has Krispy Kreme, Costa Coffee and Raffles Coffee House within its rotunda area. Patisserie Valerie opened last year on the other side of the shopping centre.

Blog Preston approached the owners of St George’s for a comment about the restaurant, but they are remaining tight-lipped about what it will be.