Chantry Place
Chantry Place is a major shopping centre in Norwich city centre, operating from the former site of the Caleys chocolate factory.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Chantry Place is a shopping centre in central Norwich, Norfolk, England. The destination opened in September 2005 under the name Chapelfield, replacing a former industrial site that had been associated with Caleys, a Norwich chocolate manufacturer later connected with Rowntree Mackintosh and Nestlé. Its development formed part of the continuing modernization and expansion of Norwich city-centre retailing, alongside the already established Castle Mall, now known as Castle Quarter. The centre opened on 21 September 2005 with approximately 80 shops and 17 cafés and restaurants. Its most prominent opening tenant was a three-floor House of Fraser department store, promoted as the only House of Fraser location in the region at the time. The development was described as one of the largest shopping-centre openings in Britain during 2005. Its retail mix combined department-store, fashion, beauty, technology, leisure, food and beverage uses, giving the centre a broad destination-shopping role rather than functioning solely as a conventional high-street parade. Chapelfield's arrival generated debate in Norwich. Some local commentators argued that the centre risked making the city resemble other British retail centres and questioned whether it added enough distinctive value. Another criticism was that several apparently new stores had moved from other parts of the city rather than representing wholly additional retail provision. The developers responded that half of the tenants were new to Norwich, including House of Fraser, and positioned the project as an expansion of the city's offer rather than simply a relocation exercise. The centre was initially associated with Capital Shopping Centres Group. In 2013, following the parent company's change of name to intu properties plc, the shopping centre adopted the intu Chapelfield identity. This placed it within the broader intu portfolio and aligned its branding with many other properties operated under the intu name. The ownership and brand structure changed substantially in 2020. Intu Properties entered administration on 20 June 2020 during a difficult period for the commercial-property and retail sectors. The centre transferred to new ownership and operating arrangements in October 2020, with LaSalle Investment Management taking ownership and Savills managing the property. On 20 October 2020 it was renamed Chantry Place, ending the Chapelfield and intu Chapelfield phases of its public identity. Chantry Place remains a city-centre retail and dining destination. Key occupiers identified in reference material include Frasers, Apple, Hollister and H&M, while the upper-level Dining Terrace provides cafés and restaurants such as McDonald's, KFC and Subway. The centre also has historical and archaeological significance because a well containing 17 human remains was discovered during site preparation in 2004. The remains, believed to be Jewish and dated to approximately 1150–1300, were subsequently reburied at Norwich's Earlham Road Cemetery. In 2006, the British Council of Shopping Centres awarded the development its Gold Award for Best In-Town Retail Scheme.
History
Chantry Place occupies a site in Norwich city centre with an industrial past linked to Caleys, a chocolate manufacturer whose business later became associated with Rowntree Mackintosh and Nestlé. The former factory site was redeveloped as a large modern shopping centre in the early 2000s. During preparatory work in 2004, workers discovered a well containing 17 human bodies. The remains were believed to be Jewish and were dated to the period from approximately 1150 to 1300. They were later reburied at Norwich's Earlham Road Cemetery, adding an archaeological and historical dimension to the redevelopment site. The shopping centre opened as Chapelfield on Wednesday 21 September 2005. Its initial scheme contained roughly 80 shops and 17 cafés and restaurants, including a new three-storey House of Fraser department store. The opening was presented as a major addition to Norwich's retail infrastructure and was described as the largest shopping-centre opening in Britain during 2005. The centre was intended to serve both local shoppers and visitors to the city, with a concentrated mix of fashion, department-store, food and service tenants. The project was not universally welcomed. Critics argued that the development could contribute to the homogenization of Norwich's city centre, particularly because Castle Mall was already operating as another major indoor shopping destination. Some also maintained that many of the stores presented as part of the new development had simply moved from elsewhere in the city. The developers countered that approximately half of the stores were entirely new to Norwich and highlighted House of Fraser as a significant regional addition. Chapelfield was originally connected with Capital Shopping Centres Group. In 2013, the parent company changed its name to intu properties plc, and the centre was rebranded intu Chapelfield. The new identity aligned the Norwich property with the wider portfolio of shopping centres carrying the intu name. Intu Properties entered administration on 20 June 2020. In October of that year the centre moved to new ownership and management arrangements, with LaSalle Investment Management identified as the new owner and Savills as manager. The property was renamed Chantry Place on 20 October 2020. This rebrand removed the centre from the intu-branded phase of its history and established the name it uses today. The centre's current retail and leisure offer includes prominent fashion, department-store and technology brands. Reference material identifies Frasers, Apple, Hollister and H&M among its key stores. Its food-and-beverage area, known as The Dining Terrace, includes venues such as McDonald's, KFC and Subway. In recognition of its contribution as an urban retail development, the centre received the British Council of Shopping Centres Gold Award for Best In-Town Retail Scheme in 2006.
- 2020
Intu administration and ownership transfer
[1]Intu Properties entered administration in June, and the centre transferred to new ownership and management arrangements in October.
- 2020
Chantry Place name introduced
[1]The centre was renamed Chantry Place on 20 October.
- 2013
Rebrand as intu Chapelfield
[1]The centre adopted the intu Chapelfield identity after its parent company became intu properties plc.
- 2006
Gold award for in-town retail
[1]The British Council of Shopping Centres awarded the centre its Gold Award for Best In-Town Retail Scheme.
- 2005
Chapelfield opens
[1]The shopping centre opened on 21 September with about 80 shops, 17 cafés and restaurants, and a three-floor House of Fraser store.
- 2004
Archaeological discovery during site preparation
[1]Workers preparing the redevelopment site found a well containing 17 human remains, believed to be Jewish and dated to approximately 1150–1300.
Products and positioning
A centrally located Norwich shopping and dining destination combining national retail brands, department-store shopping and food-and-beverage venues within a large modern retail complex.
Retail category · 2005
Fashion and apparel stores
Chantry Place provides a concentrated selection of fashion retailers serving different segments of the market. Identified key stores include H&M and Hollister, alongside the fashion offer associated with Frasers. The category contributes to the centre's role as a destination for everyday clothing, seasonal collections and branded apparel rather than a single-brand shopping experience.
Department store · 2005
Frasers
Frasers is a principal department-store destination at Chantry Place. The centre originally opened with a three-floor House of Fraser store in 2005, giving the development a large anchor tenant and a broad merchandise offer. Reference material identifies Frasers among the centre's current key stores, reflecting the department-store role within its retail mix.
Consumer electronics
Apple Store
The Apple Store is one of the identified key occupiers at Chantry Place. It provides access to Apple's consumer technology products and related in-store retail and support services, strengthening the centre's mix beyond fashion and traditional department-store shopping.
Food and beverage
The Dining Terrace
The Dining Terrace is the centre's designated upper-level food-and-beverage area. It brings together quick-service restaurants and cafés in a shared dining environment. Reference material names McDonald's, KFC and Subway among the venues represented there, although the tenant mix may change over time.
Brand decisions
2020
Ownership and management transitionM&ABackground
Intu Properties entered administration on 20 June 2020, requiring changes to the ownership and operating structure of its shopping-centre assets.
Action taken
The centre transferred to LaSalle Investment Management ownership and Savills management in October 2020.
Aftermath
The property was renamed Chantry Place on 20 October 2020 and continued under a non-intu identity.
2013
Adoption of the intu Chapelfield identityStrategyBackground
The parent company changed its name from Capital Shopping Centres Group to intu properties plc and sought to align its shopping-centre portfolio under the intu brand.
Action taken
Chapelfield was rebranded as intu Chapelfield.
Aftermath
The centre operated under the intu Chapelfield name until the 2020 ownership transition and subsequent Chantry Place rebrand.
Recent events
- 2020
Intu Properties enters administration[1]
Bankruptcy · M&A
Intu Properties entered administration on 20 June 2020, triggering a change in the ownership and operating arrangements for the shopping centre.
- 2020
Shopping centre renamed Chantry Place[1]
M&A · Leadership change · Other
Following its transfer to new ownership and management arrangements, the centre was renamed Chantry Place on 20 October 2020. LaSalle Investment Management became the owner and Savills the manager.
- 2013
Chapelfield adopts the intu brand[1]
Other
The centre became intu Chapelfield after its parent company changed its name from Capital Shopping Centres Group to intu properties plc.
- 2006
Chapelfield wins British Council of Shopping Centres gold award[1]
Other
The centre received the British Council of Shopping Centres Gold Award for Best In-Town Retail Scheme.
- 2005
Chapelfield shopping centre opens in Norwich[1]
Other · Product launch
The new Chapelfield shopping centre opened in Norwich on 21 September 2005 with about 80 shops, 17 cafés and restaurants, and a three-floor House of Fraser department store.
Sources2 sources
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