intu Eldon Square

Eldon Square, styled for a period as intu Eldon Square and sometimes presented as ELDON SQ., is a large shopping centre in central Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It occupies a historically important part of the city near the former town walls and the site of Old Eldon Square, a Georgian urban composition designed by John Dobson in 1824 for Richard Grainger. The modern centre opened in 1976 and was initially described as the largest indoor shopping centre in the United Kingdom. The development was conceived during the 1960s, when Newcastle city leaders sought to modernise the city centre and create a substantial enclosed retail complex. Plans associated with council leader T. Dan Smith included an ambition to involve Danish architect Arne Jacobsen, although that proposal did not proceed. The eventual redevelopment substantially altered Old Eldon Square. Only the eastern terrace of the Georgian square survived, and the replacement architecture attracted strong criticism from architectural commentators who regarded the scheme as damaging to Newcastle's historic townscape. The first phase opened on 4 March 1976, followed by a second phase in September of the same year. Queen Elizabeth II formally opened the completed centre in 1977 during her Silver Jubilee year. The development incorporated local historical and cultural references into the names of its internal routes, including Chevy Chase and Douglas Way. The centre also strengthened its offer through connections with established department stores. Fenwick gained access from the complex, while Bainbridge's, later part of the John Lewis Partnership, moved into the centre. Eldon Square faced increased competition after the MetroCentre opened in nearby Gateshead in 1986. It responded with further expansion, including a three-storey addition and food court completed in October 1987. Eldon Garden, a separately owned shopping centre, opened to the north in 1989 and was linked to Eldon Square through an entrance to its main arcade. A major redevelopment phase began in the 2000s. The Green Market in the southern section closed in January 2007 and was later demolished, together with a car park, to make way for the Eldon Square South project. The new Eldon Square bus station opened in March 2007, releasing former transport space for retail development. The southern expansion, subsequently known as St Andrew's Way, included Debenhams as an anchor tenant. The centre adopted the intu Eldon Square name in April 2013 after Capital Shopping Centres Group changed its corporate identity to Intu Properties. Around the same time, the centre received a reported £22 million refurbishment, including new ceilings and a Northumberland Street entrance. Eldon Leisure, located above the malls, was refurbished in 2015. Another phase converted the former Sidgate and High Friars malls into Grey's Quarter, a dining destination whose first restaurant, George's Great British Kitchen, opened in October 2016. The intu branding period ended after Intu entered administration on 26 June 2020. The centre is generally referred to again as Eldon Square. Its retail mix has included major national and regional operators such as John Lewis, Next, Marks & Spencer and Fenwick. Fenwick's Newcastle department store is a flagship location and corporate base for the Fenwick chain, while Marks & Spencer's store has been noted for its strong performance and food-hall operation. The centre remains a significant retail and leisure destination in Newcastle city centre, although its ownership and management arrangements after Intu's administration are not established in the supplied sources.

Eldon Square Shopping Centre was developed as part of Newcastle upon Tyne's post-war city-centre modernisation. Its site had been associated with Old Eldon Square, a Georgian square designed by John Dobson in 1824, as well as older features including parts of the medieval town-wall area, Nunn's Garden and streets and wards connected with Newcastle's defensive towers. The redevelopment therefore combined a major commercial objective with a significant intervention in the historic urban fabric. During the 1960s, Newcastle's council leadership promoted plans for a large enclosed shopping complex. T. Dan Smith sought to involve the Danish architect Arne Jacobsen, but that arrangement did not materialise. The eventual scheme was developed by Capital and Counties and involved the extensive removal of the historic square's buildings. The eastern terrace of Old Eldon Square was retained, while much of the surrounding Georgian setting was replaced by the new centre. The design was controversial from the outset and later architectural criticism focused on its scale, inward-facing malls and impact on the character of central Newcastle. The first phase of Eldon Square opened on 4 March 1976, with a further phase following in September. The completed centre received an official opening by Queen Elizabeth II in 1977, during the Silver Jubilee. It was then the largest indoor shopping centre in the United Kingdom. Internal streets and malls were given names with local or regional associations, including Chevy Chase, drawn from the medieval Northumbrian ballad, and Douglas Way, referring to the Earl of Douglas who appears in the ballad. The centre also accommodated prominent department-store operators, including Fenwick and Bainbridge's, the latter becoming part of the John Lewis Partnership. The opening of the MetroCentre in Gateshead in 1986 created a major nearby competitor. Eldon Square expanded in response, adding a three-storey extension and food court in October 1987. A separately owned neighbouring development, Eldon Garden, opened in 1989 and was connected to Eldon Square by an entrance into its main arcade. Further change took place in the 2000s. The Green Market, located in the southern part of the complex, closed in January 2007. The market and an adjoining car park were subsequently cleared as part of redevelopment. A new Eldon Square bus station opened in March 2007, enabling the former bus-station area to be converted for retail use. The southern redevelopment became Eldon Square South and was later known as St Andrew's Way, with Debenhams serving as an anchor tenant. In April 2013, the centre was renamed intu Eldon Square after Capital Shopping Centres Group adopted the Intu corporate identity. A broad refurbishment was carried out around the same period and was reported to have cost £22 million. Works included new mall ceilings and a redesigned Northumberland Street entrance. Eldon Leisure, situated above the shopping malls, was refurbished in July 2015. The next major project transformed the former Sidgate and High Friars malls into Grey's Quarter, a dining-focused area. Construction began in summer 2015 and the first restaurant, George's Great British Kitchen, opened in October 2016. The project expanded the centre's role beyond conventional retail by adding a more concentrated food and leisure offer. Intu entered administration on 26 June 2020, ending the period in which it was Eldon Square's majority owner and manager and bringing the intu branding period to a close. The centre is now commonly identified as Eldon Square. Its principal retail offer has included John Lewis, Next, Marks & Spencer and Fenwick, alongside restaurants, leisure uses and links to public transport. The supplied reference material does not establish a definitive current owner or a full post-2020 management history.

• 2020

  Intu enters administration

  [1]Eldon Square Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Intu entered administration on 26 June, ending the centre's period under the intu corporate branding.

• 2016

  Grey's Quarter opens

  [1]Eldon Square Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The first restaurant in the new Grey's Quarter dining area opened in October.

• 2015

  Eldon Leisure refurbished

  [1]Eldon Square Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The leisure centre above the shopping malls underwent refurbishment in July.

• 2013

  Rebranded as intu Eldon Square

  [1]Eldon Square Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The centre adopted the intu Eldon Square name following the rebranding of Capital Shopping Centres Group as Intu Properties.

• 2007

  Southern redevelopment begins

  [1]Eldon Square Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The Green Market closed, the new Eldon Square bus station opened, and former transport and market areas were prepared for retail redevelopment.

• 1987

  Three-storey extension opens

  [1]Eldon Square Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  An extension containing a food court opened in October.

• 1986

  MetroCentre competition begins

  [1]Eldon Square Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The opening of the MetroCentre in nearby Gateshead introduced a major competing retail destination.

• 1977

  Official opening by Queen Elizabeth II

  [1]Eldon Square Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the completed centre during her Silver Jubilee year.

• 1976

  First phase opens

  [1]Eldon Square Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The first phase of Eldon Square Shopping Centre opened on 4 March, followed by a second phase in September.

• 1824

  Old Eldon Square designed

  [1]Eldon Square Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  John Dobson designed Old Eldon Square for Richard Grainger, creating the Georgian setting that later became the site of the shopping-centre redevelopment.

A central-city shopping, dining and leisure destination serving Newcastle upon Tyne and the wider North East of England, combining major department stores, national retailers, food and beverage venues, transport connectivity and leisure facilities.

• Retail services · 1976

  Retail stores

  Eldon Square houses a broad collection of fashion, department-store, beauty and general merchandise retailers. Major named operators have included John Lewis, Next, Marks & Spencer and Fenwick, giving the centre a mix of national chains and prominent department-store destinations.

• Dining · 2016

  Grey's Quarter

  Grey's Quarter is a dining-focused area created from the former Sidgate and High Friars malls. It broadened Eldon Square's offer beyond shopping by introducing a concentrated restaurant and casual-dining destination.

• Shopping mall expansion · 2007

  St Andrew's Way

  St Andrew's Way is the later name for the southern mall created through the redevelopment of the former Green Market and adjacent transport-related areas. The expansion included Debenhams as an anchor tenant.

• Leisure and fitness

  Eldon Leisure

  Eldon Leisure occupies space above the shopping malls and forms part of the centre's wider leisure offer. It underwent a refurbishment in 2015.

• 2020

  Transition following Intu administrationOther

  Background

  Intu Properties, the centre's majority owner and manager during its branded period, entered administration.

  Action taken

  The intu branding period ended and the centre returned to being generally identified as Eldon Square.

  Aftermath

  The supplied sources do not establish the centre's definitive current ownership or management structure.

  Source

• 2015

  Creation of Grey's QuarterStrategy

  Background

  The centre sought to expand its dining and leisure proposition by repurposing the former Sidgate and High Friars malls.

  Action taken

  Redevelopment began in summer 2015 to create a dedicated dining quarter.

  Aftermath

  The first restaurant opened in October 2016, adding a dedicated food-and-beverage destination to the centre.

  Source

• 2013

  Adoption of the intu Eldon Square brandStrategy

  Background

  Capital Shopping Centres Group changed its corporate identity to Intu Properties, prompting the rebranding of the centre.

  Action taken

  Eldon Square was renamed intu Eldon Square and received a major refurbishment around the same period.

  Aftermath

  The centre operated under the intu name until Intu entered administration in 2020.

  Reported refurbishment cost. £22 million (Around 2013)

  Source

1. 1Eldon Square Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official Eldon Square websiteeldonsquare.co.uk