Restaurant plan for Preston shopping centre

An application has been submitted to Preston Council to convert three units in St George’s Centre into a restaurant, in the rotunda area.

The unit, which had housed Chris Clare Clothing and Paris Boutique, along with two empty shops, could be converted into the new eaterie.

A letter from agents Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners, on behalf of IRAF UK Dragon, said two of the units would be combined to create a bigger space. It said: “The units are situated in the rotunda area which accommodates Costa Coffee and the provision of additional restaurants/food outlets in this area of the centre would complement the existing offer within the centre.”

The letter said one of the units had been occupied on a temporary basis over the last two years by Chris Clare Clothing and Paris Boutique, but said: “Both occupiers were forced to activate break clauses within their leases due to poor trading activity.”

It said the tenant of another unit had “activated break clauses”, and, in reference to a third unit, said: “The landlord has been unable to attract a long term tenant for this unit since previous tenant Sugar Cane vacated the premises in November 2011.”

Bosses at the shopping centre remained tight-lipped about what the restaurant will be, if permission is granted.