Metrocentre Qube on 'course' for great dining and leisure experience

Our much-loved Metrocentre has steamed ahead this year to unveil a complete shopping, leisure and dining experience at a time when other retail schemes elsewhere in the UK have put the brakes on their expansion plans.

 

The £45m redevelopment of its Yellow Mall, known as Metrocentre Qube, has attracted a whole host of national restaurant brands to take up residence in the new area.

 

With the first phase of development now complete, names including Pizza Express, Yo! Sushi, Frankie & Benny’s, Nando’s and The Red House, have all been quick to exchange contracts and opened their doors and kitchens

 to customers.

 

From November 2009, Namco Funscape with bowling alley and dodgems will open and in December 2009, the new Odeon cinema complete with 3D screen and IMAX theatre will launch adding to its ever-increasing leisure offering and completing the development.

 

Elsewhere on the site, fashion brands Bench, Henleys and Superdry have all taken occupation within high-profile Central Mall units in recent months. Within Red Mall, familiar favourite Next has opened its newly extended and refurbished store, offering 38,000 sq ft of prime floor space and rebranded a unit for its recently acquired young-fashion brand Lipsy. Levi's has completed on circa 2,500 sq ft to strengthen the offering further and Dorothy Perkins in the Green Mall has also undergone an impressive extension.

 

Metrocentre has always appealed to a wide range of retailers, from local and regional to large national chains and it’s this combination that has contributed to making the scheme a key retail destination for the North East.

 

Investment has continued to keep it at the forefront of retailing and while the market remains very challenging, we are seeing positive signs for improved economic growth next year.

 

Autumn 09 is likely to show further unpredictability as we witness increased petrol prices which will no doubt impact on the level of retail activity to some out of town destinations. However, owners, Capital Shopping Centres PLC, should be feeling confident about Metrocentre’s unique blend of retail and leisure offering ensuring visitors return again and again.