One of Preston's newest restaurants renamed Palm Court as part of image makeover

The owner of A Mano, in the old Tiggis’s building in Guildhall Street, has renamed the eatery Palm Court and dropped the Italian theme, turning to a more traditional English menu.

Chris Maughan, who also runs the Theatre Street Bar and Grill in the city centre, says the change is aimed at attracting more midweek trade at both lunchtime and in the evening.

And he has launched what he says is the best value for money set menu in Preston.

Chris only took over the former Tiggi’s restaurant in February and opened at the beginning of March.

At the time he revealed it a special place from back in his childhood with many happy memories of family celebrations there.

“It’s exciting for me - it’s like going back home, ” said Chris at the opening. “Everyone knows the Tiggis restaurant, everyone has been at some time. I was brought up going there for every birthday, Christmas and family celebration.

“When it became available it was just too good an opportunity to turn down. It needed modernising, so that’s what we have done. It is a magnificent building, but it just needed bringing back to life. We want A Mano to stand out in Preston as a modern Italian restaurant, more up to date than the others.”

Now, seven months on, he has decided on a change of direction saying a restaurant needs to be busy through the week as well as at weekends to survive in a highly competitive marketplace.