National newspaper The Telegraph have given a beaming review of Preston’s Fishergate high street, despite describing it as “drizzly”.
Journalist Christopher Howse travelled from his usual home in the capital up north where he experienced a very small selection of what the city has to offer.
He went on to describe the high street as “proud, historic, cheerful and enterprising” after exploring what the area has to offer.
Read more: 33 things everyone who grew up in Preston knows to be true
Howse, who is writing a series on different high streets across the country, started his stay with a visit to Starbucks but quickly moved onto Bob & Berts after seeing the price difference.
He said that “Fishergate turned out to be much friendlier than [he] expected”.
He said: “I’d spent a drizzly time exploring the area just north of the station. It has a mixture of industrial decay, small houses with a strong yet-to-be-prosperous people of south Asian origin and university accommodation.”
The journalist managed to make the most of his time in Preston despite staying in a “depressing” hotel – which was not named.
Howse compared Fishergate to his usual home of London, saying that by “London standards” he noticed that shops closed early, with the high street “deserted” by 6pm.
Read more: Plans unveiled for adult gaming centre at site of former Preston nightclub
However, on Saturday morning he went out to “mix” with the other shoppers where he was greeted by a “thin elderly” man outside the old BHS store as he shouted out: “How are you, sir? I like your beard.”
Howse pointed out the homeless population of Preston before saying that it was “nothing” compared to what he sees in London.
During his visit, Howse went on to see some of Preston’s iconic landmarks such as the Bus Station and the Market Hall, which he said he “liked”.
He went on to finish his piece with a round up of his experience on Fishergate high street which he described as “proud” but pointed out that “its future could be down or up”.
Mark Whittle from Preston BID said: “We’d definitely echo Christopher’s comments that our high street is proud, historic, cheerful and is definitely enterprising.
“Despite the challenges facing high streets across the country, Preston continues to hold its own.
“We’re hoping that the Christmas period is a successful one for businesses, and that local people choose their own high street over others. We’d encourage Christopher to come back in the summer, and experience Preston again… without the rain.”
Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines