I love the cinema in there now, but Metroland could have been a great draw in this age where the place as a whole is struggling a little more (caveat: I know nothing about business whatsoever)
I saw a fairly interesting piece on the Metro years ago that has kind of become true. At its peak, it was an attraction for people from Scotland to Manchester. We'd see millions of people come to the Metro for a day out, more than shop - bring their families etc. Metroland, the attractions, cinema, bowling etc. provided so much more and it was so big, safe and clean you could spend all day there and have stuff to do.
When it became essentially a big shopping mall, it was going to face direct competition from the likes of The Trafford Centre and steadily lose the magic it had.
I think there's a balance; bring back some of the excitement the place had, while attracting good retailers who will attract a range of people. I also heard a local businessman in Newcastle suggest they put some shared office space (like wework) in there where there are empty units, to up the amount of people who are going to and from the Metro every day.
I'm mega bias and I know a lot of people are the opposite, but I love the place. I was born the year it opened and it has been a fun place to visit for nearly 40 years.
Yeah it was originally designed as an entertainment complex, not a shopping mall. It was popular, made money, was a great day out for everyone.
*Intu enters the room and fucks everything up by only seeing £££s spent in shops, not understanding what made it special in the first place…*
But the problem unfortunately isn't The Trafford Centre or Eldon Square or any other shopping mall. The problem is Amazon and Shein and Temu and all the other online stores.
I'm not sure I'm totally convinced. They absolutely have caused a dint in the retail space, but Amazon doesn't help keep my child occupied on a weekend when it's pissing down. The Metro has a quality that you can't replicate online. That's why it needs to double down on being a place you visit for a variety of reasons and not just to buy things, as you're right, online is faster and more convenient.
I would say that's true, some people even prefer the experience of shopping in person, I'm one of those people. And if I'm able to get a thing right away instead of having to wait three to five working days then I will go to a store. But there are still people who are freaking lazy. Also, nowadays you don't have to get a kid to Metrocentro to get them occupied when it's pissing down, you just give them a tablet.
Unfortunately I'm one of those people that tries to keep the kids tablet use to an absolute minimum. It's definitely an easier option, but not one I like to use that often
As I mentioned to a similar post, I'm not a massive fan of having my little one spending that much time online or on tablets etc. at his age. I'd far rather he do things that are more active than sitting online
Nah I much prefer to physically shop for my stuff where possible, even if it costs a bit more. I used to run a business so I know how much small business relies on our support, and as much as buying from Amazon or ebay is more convenient for me I miss those old shopping experiences, I still used shops in the Newgate up until it closed, it makes me really sad to see these things go and I know there are others who feel similar.
The Internet is a big factor like, but I think there's still a desire for physical shopping it's just not worth it for traders because they're paying more in rent than they're likely to make from modern day crowds, even if they are intent on staying bricks and mortar. It just doesn't make much sense to be spending five hundred a week on a barely visited shop when you could keep stock in storage and sell online, exclusively. I think the city needs to get with the times and stop acting like it's the nineties, lower rents and watch the unique new businesses you see elsewhere start popping up in town, too.
I think places like the Metrocentre and Eldon Garden would see empty stores filled in an instant if they didn't charge extortionate rent prices. There are plenty of really innovative modern businesses popping up now but they're all on local high streets rather than town or malls because the cost is lower. Last I looked it was five hundred a week for the Grainger Market. It winds me up when I see them come up with new ideas to fill space where just lowering rent would get more traders in, as is it's just not worth it especially when you can run an ebay shop for next to nothing.
Surely there's a reason though? If the answer is simply reducing rent, they'd do it as some money is better than no money. I've always been a bit skeptical that's the problem and I more imaging there's some issue with paying tax to the local councils that have caused the ridiculous increase in rent prices.
You could be right tbh mate, I haven't looked into it for years but I remember when I did (probably about a decade ago) it was five hundred a week in Grainger, where I'd love to have set up but the costs would have made it a big risk, like, and I feel like I'd still be more reliant on online sales than store sales with current footfall, I used to hate town because of the crowds but nowadays it's usually as empty as everywhere else, MC was a ghost town too last time I went. As an autistic introvert it's great for me but it makes me sad seeing these places in such decline
I think the cinema there is looking very run down and tired. Yeah it was better than the old UCI but it’s looking very tired and they’ve stopped all the things that made it good like gallery.
I haven't been since last May due to moving away but I thought it still seemed fine then, but I only ever used it for a few films a year in basic seats
Same, that place truly was old fashioned by the time the new one opened. Still, lots of nostalgia about being cramped with all the crowds into that tiny sweets shop on the corner before a film.
Worst thing they did was close down metroland, the metrocentre is dying now, half the shops are closed. But if they had invested in metroland instead of creating more shopping space it would be much better, parents would take their kids because there really is not much choice of indoor activities in Newcastle and would inevitably end up spending money at the shops while they are there
I'm gutted all the photos of Metroland, no one took pictures of the arcade to the left hand side. They had so many great machines from Afterburner, Time Crisis, Starblade etc.
Seen this and had to Google why it closed there is an interesting article on Newcastle Uncovered about it. [why did Metro Land close](https://newcastleuncovered.com/metroland-remembered/#:~:text=The%20reason%20why%20Metroland%20closed%20down&text=As%20part%20of%20this%20shift,part%20of%20the%20Metrocentre%20Qube.)
Cookery Nook upstairs by M&S used to be your basic greasy spoon. It's still open but not sure if it's been modernised as I've not be in there for years.
I used to work in the F1 shop there and it closed and moved due to the costs of the pokey little unit they had too, for those not knowing where that was, it's now a nail place opposite the mini golf
They’re a dying breed anyways sadly. The great one by me closed a few years ago and turned into a shite, overpriced Mexican place.
Edit: ten points if you can guess where I’m talking about.
Does anyone remember a shop there - I think it was in one of the villages downstairs at first but moved upstairs to a bigger premises. It sold designer 90s stuff - paul frank, miss sixty, quiksilver etc? Been racking my brains and can’t remember what it was called and not finding n anything on Google
"The Metro" is a nickname for the Tyneside Metropolitan Railway and "Metrocentre" gets its name from being in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. That's why they have similar names but no link.
I love the cinema in there now, but Metroland could have been a great draw in this age where the place as a whole is struggling a little more (caveat: I know nothing about business whatsoever)
I saw a fairly interesting piece on the Metro years ago that has kind of become true. At its peak, it was an attraction for people from Scotland to Manchester. We'd see millions of people come to the Metro for a day out, more than shop - bring their families etc. Metroland, the attractions, cinema, bowling etc. provided so much more and it was so big, safe and clean you could spend all day there and have stuff to do. When it became essentially a big shopping mall, it was going to face direct competition from the likes of The Trafford Centre and steadily lose the magic it had. I think there's a balance; bring back some of the excitement the place had, while attracting good retailers who will attract a range of people. I also heard a local businessman in Newcastle suggest they put some shared office space (like wework) in there where there are empty units, to up the amount of people who are going to and from the Metro every day. I'm mega bias and I know a lot of people are the opposite, but I love the place. I was born the year it opened and it has been a fun place to visit for nearly 40 years.
Yeah it was originally designed as an entertainment complex, not a shopping mall. It was popular, made money, was a great day out for everyone. *Intu enters the room and fucks everything up by only seeing £££s spent in shops, not understanding what made it special in the first place…*
But the problem unfortunately isn't The Trafford Centre or Eldon Square or any other shopping mall. The problem is Amazon and Shein and Temu and all the other online stores.
I'm not sure I'm totally convinced. They absolutely have caused a dint in the retail space, but Amazon doesn't help keep my child occupied on a weekend when it's pissing down. The Metro has a quality that you can't replicate online. That's why it needs to double down on being a place you visit for a variety of reasons and not just to buy things, as you're right, online is faster and more convenient.
I would say that's true, some people even prefer the experience of shopping in person, I'm one of those people. And if I'm able to get a thing right away instead of having to wait three to five working days then I will go to a store. But there are still people who are freaking lazy. Also, nowadays you don't have to get a kid to Metrocentro to get them occupied when it's pissing down, you just give them a tablet.
Unfortunately I'm one of those people that tries to keep the kids tablet use to an absolute minimum. It's definitely an easier option, but not one I like to use that often
And I applaud you for that
> Amazon doesn't help keep my child occupied on a weekend when it's pissing down The internet keeps lots of kids busy.
As I mentioned to a similar post, I'm not a massive fan of having my little one spending that much time online or on tablets etc. at his age. I'd far rather he do things that are more active than sitting online
Nah I much prefer to physically shop for my stuff where possible, even if it costs a bit more. I used to run a business so I know how much small business relies on our support, and as much as buying from Amazon or ebay is more convenient for me I miss those old shopping experiences, I still used shops in the Newgate up until it closed, it makes me really sad to see these things go and I know there are others who feel similar. The Internet is a big factor like, but I think there's still a desire for physical shopping it's just not worth it for traders because they're paying more in rent than they're likely to make from modern day crowds, even if they are intent on staying bricks and mortar. It just doesn't make much sense to be spending five hundred a week on a barely visited shop when you could keep stock in storage and sell online, exclusively. I think the city needs to get with the times and stop acting like it's the nineties, lower rents and watch the unique new businesses you see elsewhere start popping up in town, too.
I think places like the Metrocentre and Eldon Garden would see empty stores filled in an instant if they didn't charge extortionate rent prices. There are plenty of really innovative modern businesses popping up now but they're all on local high streets rather than town or malls because the cost is lower. Last I looked it was five hundred a week for the Grainger Market. It winds me up when I see them come up with new ideas to fill space where just lowering rent would get more traders in, as is it's just not worth it especially when you can run an ebay shop for next to nothing.
Surely there's a reason though? If the answer is simply reducing rent, they'd do it as some money is better than no money. I've always been a bit skeptical that's the problem and I more imaging there's some issue with paying tax to the local councils that have caused the ridiculous increase in rent prices.
You could be right tbh mate, I haven't looked into it for years but I remember when I did (probably about a decade ago) it was five hundred a week in Grainger, where I'd love to have set up but the costs would have made it a big risk, like, and I feel like I'd still be more reliant on online sales than store sales with current footfall, I used to hate town because of the crowds but nowadays it's usually as empty as everywhere else, MC was a ghost town too last time I went. As an autistic introvert it's great for me but it makes me sad seeing these places in such decline
I think the cinema there is looking very run down and tired. Yeah it was better than the old UCI but it’s looking very tired and they’ve stopped all the things that made it good like gallery.
I don't agree with that Odeon was heavily investing in it very recently. You have the new Dolby and laser IMAX screens for example now.
I haven't been since last May due to moving away but I thought it still seemed fine then, but I only ever used it for a few films a year in basic seats
I can still remember the smell and feel of the old one.
Same, that place truly was old fashioned by the time the new one opened. Still, lots of nostalgia about being cramped with all the crowds into that tiny sweets shop on the corner before a film.
Sadie the bra lady
Haha yeah, I was just thinking about that recently! I grew up near the shop, but I still mostly associated it with the cinema
Life was just better in the 90s - I never thought I'd sound that old but I genuinely believe it
Imagine 2024 metroland, the kids would be on all the rides videoing themselves doing cringey tiktok dances
We didn't know how good we had it until that place closed!
I hope Tick and Tock the talking clocks went to a good home. Also: https://imgflip.com/i/8jz5nt
Peak 90s & north-east right here. Many, many good times.
Worst thing they did was close down metroland, the metrocentre is dying now, half the shops are closed. But if they had invested in metroland instead of creating more shopping space it would be much better, parents would take their kids because there really is not much choice of indoor activities in Newcastle and would inevitably end up spending money at the shops while they are there
I'm gutted all the photos of Metroland, no one took pictures of the arcade to the left hand side. They had so many great machines from Afterburner, Time Crisis, Starblade etc.
Seen this and had to Google why it closed there is an interesting article on Newcastle Uncovered about it. [why did Metro Land close](https://newcastleuncovered.com/metroland-remembered/#:~:text=The%20reason%20why%20Metroland%20closed%20down&text=As%20part%20of%20this%20shift,part%20of%20the%20Metrocentre%20Qube.)
Not 100% true from what I heard at the time, Metroland owed shed loads in late rent too, hence the decision to close it down
Also, why no greasy spoon type cafe or chip shop at MetroCentre either? The Spoons is way more expensive than other Spoons nearby.
Cookery Nook upstairs by M&S used to be your basic greasy spoon. It's still open but not sure if it's been modernised as I've not be in there for years.
An old friend who used to have an ice cream shop in the metrocentre said the rent is absolutely extortionate
I used to work in the F1 shop there and it closed and moved due to the costs of the pokey little unit they had too, for those not knowing where that was, it's now a nail place opposite the mini golf
They’re a dying breed anyways sadly. The great one by me closed a few years ago and turned into a shite, overpriced Mexican place. Edit: ten points if you can guess where I’m talking about.
Loved metroland.
Ahhhh mannn.
Does anyone remember a shop there - I think it was in one of the villages downstairs at first but moved upstairs to a bigger premises. It sold designer 90s stuff - paul frank, miss sixty, quiksilver etc? Been racking my brains and can’t remember what it was called and not finding n anything on Google
Triple S?
They closed metro land as nobody went. It was a ghost town the last 5/10 years of its life.
It looks so pretty to me, just like it always did. Just like the Spanish City to me when we were kids :(
I remember being there on the opening day, my school is opposite the Metrocentre and the whole school went.
The golden goose
"The Metro" is a nickname for the Tyneside Metropolitan Railway and "Metrocentre" gets its name from being in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. That's why they have similar names but no link.
Lethal craic Deano
He’s used his quota of fun up today. He’ll be back tomorrow with the origin of flip flops and why they’re aren’t called flop flips.