Origins
Metrocentre has five main malls; Red, Green, Blue, Yellow and Platinum. It also has themed shopping areas featuring independent retailers; The Village, formerly known as the Antiques Village, The Forum, formerly known as the Roman Forum, and Qube, formerly known as the Mediterranean Village, and houses over 50 restaurants and cafes.
The first phase of Metrocentre was opened on 28 April 1986 - the red mall. At the time it featured a large Carrefour supermarket, which later became Gateway and subsequently Asda.
The Metro Centre also featured the first out of town Marks & Spencer.
In the 1990s, Asda moved from Metrocentre to a larger stand-alone store nearby, facilitating the redevelopment of the Red Mall.
Metrocentre's construction was financed by the Church Commissioners of England, and was masterminded by Sir John Hall's company, Cameron Hall Developments, the ground upon which it is built was purchased for a mere £100,000 in the early '70s. Access to the development was facilitated by an urban development grant from the Department of the Environment and the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. In October 1995, the centre was sold to Capital Shopping Centres for £364m, although the Church Commissioners retained a 10% stake.
Reflecting its Church of England origins, Metrocentre is one of the few European shopping centres to have its own chapel and resident full-time chaplain. Services are held on special occasions such as Mothering Sunday, Remembrance Sunday and Christmas.
Metrocentre is part of the 'Capital Shopping Centres' group.
Read more about this topic: MetroCentre (shopping Centre)
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