Ten photographs captured by a Chronicle photographer recall a day at Gateshead's Metrocentre in August 1995, when the complex was at its 1990s peak. The images show the malls decorated with hanging banners and abundant greenery, along with stores, the Metroland funfair, and the Mediterranean Village.
A Retail Destination Since 1986
The giant complex, situated in the west of Gateshead, had opened its doors nine years earlier and by then was a favourite retail destination for folk from the region and beyond. Forty years ago this month, on Monday, October 13, 1986, the Chronicle reported: "The £150m Gateshead Metrocentre was officially opened today amid a barrage of champagne corks."
The ceremony was watched by 1,000 specially invited guests and VIPs, while Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sent a message of congratulation, praising an "impossible dream" which had become a reality. The driving force behind the ambitious project was John Hall - later to be Sir John - and his Cameron Hall company. The centre would provide a huge boost for an ailing region where traditional industries were in steep decline and unemployment was soaring.
At Its 1990s Peak
At the time, it would be "the largest out-of-town shopping centre in Europe, and the biggest single-complex development of its kind in the world". Six months before the official opening, the first stores, in phase one's Red Mall, had started trading. In the following years and decades, right up to the present day, the centre would continue to expand, develop and change with the times.
In 1995, the centre was booming commercially, with the Church Commissioners selling the complex for £364m that year - a sign of its national clout. Shoppers in 1995 would have found all the familiar high-street names. Marks & Spencer, House of Fraser, Laura Ashley, McDonald's, Mothercare, Littlewoods, WH Smith, BHS, Currys, Saxone, C&A, Geordie Jeans, Tammy Girl, Topshop and the newly arrived Disney Store were among the dozens of outlets, large and small. Toys "R" Us, meanwhile, dominated the Retail Park.
Beyond Shopping: Metroland and More
But you didn't just go there to shop - you could enjoy a full day out. One of the biggest draws was Metroland, the indoor funfair that had been attracting families since it opened in 1988. By 1995 it was in full swing, complete with rollercoaster, big wheel, pirate ship, dodgems and a miniature railway.
Elsewhere, the Mediterranean Village was one of the Metrocentre's most quirky features. Designed like a film set, it offered faux balconies, wells, trees and restaurants, all bathed in a permanent "southern European night". It was unlike anything else in the region. There were other touches: giant chess boards were dotted around the malls, tropical fish tanks added to the sense of spectacle, and talking statues entertained visitors in the Antiques Village.
A Lasting Institution
The UCI cinema, opened in 1987, was another major attraction, drawing crowds throughout the decade. Celebrity visits added to the buzz, with Boyzone performing in 1995 and Ant & Dec also making appearances. At the food court, meanwhile, there were plenty of dining options, from Harvey's Bar & Diner to Pam's Pantry.
Forty years on from its opening, and 31 years since the photographs were taken, much has changed but the Metrocentre remains a long-established North East institution and a place millions have visited down the decades.
