Fino Tapas to open in empty Tiggis building to allow for social distancing

One of Preston’s most popular restaurants, Fino Tapas, will be opening in the old Tiggis site in Guildhall Street next month.

Owner Mark O’Rourke says he has been inundated with requests to reopent the St Wilfreds Street restaurant, but it is too small to allow for social distancing.

But despite the setback, Prestonians won’t have to wait too long before they can enjoy their favourite tapas again.

Mark has been given a six month lease on the site, owned by Walker & Williams, who also own The Winckley Square Hotel, home to Mark’s Two Rosette restaurant 263.

He told LancsLive: ““Fino has been really popular since opening in 2018 so a lot of people have been messaging the page or me and asking when we’ll be starting up again.

“With social distancing measures still in place, even at one meter there’s no way it’d be possible to open the restaurant, as I’m sure anyone who has eaten there can appreciate.

“Temporarily taking on the site means we’ll have all our businesses back open in August and it means the space isn’t going to waste anymore.

“Max from Walker & Williams has been great and it’s partly thanks to him that we’re able to reopen again. We’ve got the building for six months and we’re aiming to be open in early August. We’ll see what happens after that.”

Winckley Ale House, formerly the Otters Pocket, reopened last week and 263, in Camden Place, will be open from July 22.