Preston burger bar's fake blue plaque claims Toto wrote song 'Africa' there
The restaurant says members of the Preston Historical society tried to take it down
Last updated 20th Feb 2026
A Preston burger bar which installed a fake blue plaque suggesting the hit 80s song 'Africa' by Toto was written there has caused controversy.
The restaurant All Hopes No Promises in Wilfrid Street screwed the plastic sign on their building and posted it on Facebook...
The plaque suggests that David Paich and Jeff Porcaro wrote their song at the burger bar.
The band's manager, Steven Karas, told us "I will share that 'Africa' was not written in the UK, much less at a burger bar in Preston."
It also suggests the Preston Historical Society, the body responsible for authenticating local landmarks, issued it.
Just days later, the restaurant said two members of the society tried to unscrew it.
They said on Facebook: "Think we upset the Blue Plaque Police.
"They came out to take it down...(on private property, so don't worry it's still there).
"It was the Preston Historical Society who came out. They tried to unscrew the plaque and said it was illegal and had to be removed."
All Hopes No Promises say they later received an apology, and have now replaced the sign.
The sign reads the same, with an added "Preston Historical Society made us take the original sign down in 2026".
We've contacted the Preston Historical Society for comment.