Forum Shopping Centre

I stumbled upon this shopping centre during an impromptu solo visit to the city. While I was originally there to explore another location, I couldn't resist the temptation to explore this place. I spent a good few hours wandering around the massive complex. I even ventured into the former Chester Market building and multi-storey car park, which I will post as a separate thread with it technically being a different structure. The shopping centre, which was built in 1967, on land previously occupied by the original 1863 Victorian Market Hall and stands proudly next to Chester Town Hall. Over the years, it has housed several well-known establishments such as Boots, McDonald's, TJ Hughes, and Greggs. However, by 1995, the center had become run-down and unattractive to shoppers. In response, it underwent a major refurbishment to improve its image which also included a new frontage.

On December 19, 2022, Cheshire West Council announced that the Shopping Centre would be permanently closed a few weeks later on New Year's Eve of the same year. The council attributed the closure partly to the regeneration of the Northgate area, which included the opening of a new market and car park. They also blamed changing consumer habits following the COVID-19 pandemic. The council has stated that they will be exploring potential development options for the site as part of the wider review of the One City Plan for Chester. The council has confirmed that four shops facing the town hall square will be retained, with one of them set to become a new branch of Barclays Bank. This decision was made after Chester Cathedral chose not to renew the lease on their current branch, which is owned by the Cathedral. Additionally, the adjoining Crowne Plaza Hotel to the west of the center will be preserved as part of the regeneration efforts. However, as of January 2024, no visible progress has been made within the center, and its vast corridors remain eerily silent.Test