Preston's iconic red telephone boxes return to the city centre is delayed

Preston City Council can confirm that Preston’s famous row of red telephone boxes have been fully restored to their former glory, however the return to their Market Street location in the city centre has been delayed.

The iconic nine telephone boxes were due to return by the end of the year however, remedial works are being carried out at the former Post Office property, situated directly behind the kiosks, and with scaffolding being erected around the full building perimeter, reinstallation will have to wait until works on the property have been completed.

Blackfinch Investments, the company behind the ongoing works at the former Post Office property have stated: “We can confirm that work has begun on the building. The initial phase will focus on essential repairs to make the property watertight, addressing deterioration that arose after the insolvency of the previous owner.”

Councillor Valerie Wise, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building and City Regeneration, said “We are all eagerly anticipating the return of the telephone boxes. However, to protect the newly refurbished boxes from potential damage and ensure they are unveiled without scaffolding in the background, we believe it is best to wait.”

The nine kiosks will look a little different when they return, with Preston-based company, ADI.tv commissioned to install up to three digital screens in each box, alongside speakers that will provide ambient background music.

Councillor Valerie Wise continued: “The restored telephone boxes will be a brilliant asset for the city centre, bringing another exciting arts and culture feature to the Harris Quarter. We hope their return isn’t delayed for too long by the works at the former Post Office building and as such we are in close contact with the contractors on site to enable their return as soon as possible.”

John Chesworth, Chair of the Towns Fund Board said: “The telephone boxes are one of the smaller, yet significant projects in the £200m Harris Quarter Investment Programme and will provide a big impact when they are completed. The delay is unavoidable, but it will be worth it to see them in full, glorious new technicolour.”

The project has been part-funded by the Government’s Local Regeneration Fund, (formerly the Town Fund), with additional funding from Preston City Council.

Preston City Council acquired the kiosks outside the former Head Post Office on Market Street in 2021.

Having become redundant, the kiosks were vandalised and fell into disrepair.

They were removed from Market Stret for refurbishment in December 2024.

The telehone boxes were originally designed by British architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott to mark the Silver Jubilee of the Coronation of King George V in 1935, and the Grade II listed K6 cast-iron kiosks with timber doors are famous for forming the longest line of historic red telephone boxes in the UK.