Preston tapas bar set to reopen this summer under new ownership

What’s the business?

The owner of popular burger joint We Don’t Give a Fork, Mark O’Rourke, has taken over the restaurant in St Wilfrid Street, which is a popular tapas bar.

Mark has renamed the restaurant Fino, marking the third name change in four months. From February this year the restaurant was known as Culture Tapas Bar and before then was branded as Coffee Bar Culture.

Former operator Andrew Sumner decided to not to renew the building’s lease.

What do the new owners say?

“It’s about bringing 100 per cent authentic Spanish food, Spanish wine, even Spanish gin,” explained Mark.He added that a lot of the menu will be sourced from their Spanish suppliers combined with local produce coming from the likes of Livesey’s Butchers.

What about the theatre?

Culture Tapas Bar was due to open a black box theatre studio this summer, providing live performances for guests to enjoy with a drink.

“I just didn’t see it personally,” said Mark. “The past owners wanted to turn upstairs into a theatre but I have plans to transform it into a flat and rent it out for staff accommodation or something similar.”

What’s next, then?

Mark said that he has set his sights on providing “Rosette quality food”, with the hope of becoming the first Preston business to achieve the critically acclaimed badge of honour.

Fino is set to open in mid-to-late June, with a team of 10 to 15 currently working on transforming its interior.