Metro Centre

medical

Has anyone been to Metrocentre, and what is so spectacular about this mall that you can't get at Bluewater? Looking forward to your replies. Thanks
Medical

shopbot

It's a similar place really except Bluewater is a lot newer. Metrocentre was at one point I believe the biggest shopping centre in Europe. I believe that others (maybe Bluewater) have stolen it's crown. A lot of Scandanavians seem to go there for shopping they can't get in their home country.

Two things always strike me when I go to Metrocentre. Firstly in my eyes it's starting to look a bit dated. Secondly it is incredibly busy at this time of year so go prepared with helmet, shoulder pads and sharp elbows!

:xmassmile

Dora_the_Explorer_5

I walked around it last year and was very unimpressed and think it compares very badly to Meadowhall in Sheffield - also known as Meadowhell !

gizmoleeds

medical wrote:

what is so spectacular about this mall that you can't get at Bluewater?

The fact that Bluewater and the Metrocentre are 300 miles apart might explain the reason some posters are so complimentary about the Metrocentre without mentioning Bluewater. They are hardly competitors...

Hunnymonster

medical wrote:

Has anyone been to Metrocentre, and what is so spectacular about this mall that you can't get at Bluewater? Looking forward to your replies. Thanks
Medical

Absolutely nothing - it has the same content as any Generic ShoppingCentre™ (UK) - and as usual it's spread out in such a way that if you want to visit any 2 shops they will be at opposite corners of the place - and if you want to visit only 1, you will park nearest to it and find that they've moved to the other end of the mall.

Hideous place - everyone should go there and let me walk around Newcastle or Edinburgh City Centres unimpeded

Becles

The Metrocentre is still the biggest in Europe since they extended the Red Mall. It's a lot bigger than Bluewater, and contains all the high street names along with smaller less known shops including a few that only have 1 UK branch.

It's got several themed areas - Antiques Village, Roman Forum, Mediterranian Village which are decorated in the relevant style which are nice to browse around.

It also has leisure attractions including a multiscreen cinema, bowling alley and an indoor funfair complete with roller coaster!

If you are in the area it is worth a visit, but pick up a map as all the malls look the same and it's easy to get lost!

I shop there most of the time, and was disappointed when I went to Bluewater.

Faith_2

I hate the Metrocentre. It's one of those big places where you get no fresh air, you can't find anything unless you have a map, especially if you don't go regularly. It's got no nice place to eat or drink unless your idea of a nice place to eat is McDonald's. It's busy most of the time, particularly at this time of year! I always find it's hard on my feet and my back when I go there (the last time was when they opened the new red Mall) and you have to park your car miles away and make sure you remember where you parked it otherwise you own't find it again! Awful, absolutely awful place!
I totally agree with Hunnymonster on town centres for shopping!

Becles

Sorry to hear you could only find a McDonalds to eat at.

There are a number of places we like to eat in: Chiquitos (mexican), Ping On (chinese), El Molino (spanish) or Romanos (italian) are all highly recommended.

---lee---

I also hate the Metro Centre, but then I'm a bloke, so I just hate shopping full stop

The kids love Metro Land and I tend to take them about once a month - which reminds me, you can get a voucher to get a child in free. In our case, it means we pay for one and the other goes free:

http://www.metroland.uk.com/voucher.html

It's only valid until the end of this month, but hopefully it will be replaced with a new one shortly as this one has been around for a year.

Faith_2

Becles wrote:

Sorry to hear you could only find a McDonalds to eat at.

There are a number of places we like to eat in: Chiquitos (mexican), Ping On (chinese), El Molino (spanish) or Romanos (italian) are all highly recommended.

Oh Becles sorry I was being sarcastic. I just don't like the Metrocentre! I prefer Newcastle town centre! And Cafe Royal for their wonderful cakes!!!

Becles

Oooops - I read it as a rant

I'm not so keen on Newcastle City Centre. It's got quite a slope, especially when I walked back from the Quayside to John Dobson Street car park. I find that hard on my back. Parking costs a lot too.