IKEA, the Swedish furniture giant famous for its large blue warehouses and maze-like store layouts, is making a strategic pivot. While the world may be accustomed to its 22 out-of-town megastores, the company’s latest opening in Chester represents a new and increasingly important part of its UK portfolio – the compact-format store.
Located at the Greyhound Retail Park, the new Chester store is a fraction of the size of a typical IKEA. It’s designed to bring the « classic IKEA experience » to communities that were previously too far from a traditional store. This is the third such store to open this year, following similar launches in Harlow and Norwich, and is part of a broader UK expansion that also includes new city-centre locations and « Plan and Order Points ».
But it isn’t without some casualties as IKEA UK closed its Stockport and Aintree « Plan and Order Point » stores on June 16, 2025.
For years, the pilgrimage to a full-sized IKEA was a planned day trip. Now, the company aims to be part of customers’ everyday lives, with stores that are faster and more cost-effective to build.
According to Andy MacGregor, Unit Manager for IKEA Chester, the store will still offer « home furnishing inspiration, our signature food, and expert planning services » despite its smaller footprint.
This new model clearly attempts to capture a wider audience, particularly those who prefer not to travel to an out-of-town retail park or who want to make a quick purchase.
The Chester store, for instance, will have a curated selection of thousands of products available for immediate purchase, while the full range can be ordered for home delivery or free collection.
It will also feature a « Re-shop and Re-use » section, allowing customers to buy second-hand furniture and return items for store credit, aligning with the company’s sustainability goals.
Best-sellers include the Billy Bookcase and the Brimnes wardrobe are expected to be stocked in the Chester site.
The Swedish retailer offers a selection of food for eat-in or take-away. IKEA fans will be delighted to know that the small Chester store will stock the much-loved meatballs.
IKEA Chester is in the final stages of its opening process, according to local news outlet the Cheshire Standard. The Cheshire Standard reported that planning officers at Cheshire West and Chester Council had received an application from the Swedish furniture giants to confirm permission for the signs for the new store.
From its debut on October 9, the store will open Monday through Saturday from 10am until 8pm and Sundays from 10.30am until 4.30pm.
Shoppers in Harlow and Norwich have reported long queues since the opening of their new local IKEA stores, which were also built in former Homebase units.
Several IKEA fans reported long queues for the tills and self-service checkouts, plus « horrendous » traffic in the car park at the Harlow store, which opened in July 2025. However, many Google reviews praised the small retail store for having « great stock for general day-to-day items ».
In Norwich, shoppers have warned of congestion in the car park and the shop being « very very busy », given that the store opened less than a month ago, on August 28.
One Norwich shopper wrote in a Google review: « I think it’s a big improvement to the last Ikea we had. There’s a good range of stock, and if what you want isn’t there, just click and collect. The only down side is the cafe; it’s so small it’s really not worth having it. »
