The recipe for chains opening in Preston is actually a fairly simple one. 

I’m not talking about Colonel’s herbs and spices though, instead a little bit of the predictability when we report on one of them coming to Preston.

“Does Preston really need more places to eat?” “Why can’t we support small businesses” “Another place I’ll be avoiding”. As predictable as the sun coming up in the east and setting in the west, except behind clouds. Because Preston. 

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The sentiment of wanting to support independent businesses is a wonderful thing – but I do question how many people who are upset about some of these openings we report on actually do that. 

A few weeks ago Michael Evans at All Hopes No Promises, renamed from Smashed after US burger chain Smashburger threatened him over the course of several years, posted about another quiet lunchtime in his new site on St Wilfrid’s Street. 

There is a textbook example of an independent business that needs our support and Preston, like everywhere on earth, operates on a ‘use it or lose it’ basis. Just ask all the previous occupiers of that unit.

Over on Friargate, Wendy’s are shaping up to open on Friargate next to McDonald’s. Preston – starting with the UK’s first KFC – has a record of welcoming big household names and we shouldn’t view this as a bad thing. It’s no secret that our city – and every city – has a problem with empty units and any time one gets filled it makes the city centre that bit more attractive. Maybe not to you – but to somebody. 

But if you’re one of the people who bemoaned the opening of Wendy’s when we did report it, make sure you take your money and spend it in one of Preston’s independent food providers instead. Whether that’s All Hopes No Promises, or Pinxtos, or PLAU, or Chew’s Yard, or Chamo. Even, moving away from food, Green Pheasant or Jonah’s.

The opening of Animate in Preston brings with it a much-needed reason to visit the city centre. Debenhams and BHS are dead, they aren’t coming back, the snails have taken over. But with Animate comes an influx of big name restaurants and Preston’s independents will need your support more than ever (and that’s without opening the door of hospitality’s broader issues – and, of course, the cost-of-living crisis on our spending power). 

But if you want to see a thriving, independents-led Preston, you need to lead with your wallet.

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