Metrocentre in Gateshead has begun 2026 on a high, with newly released figures revealing a strong festive period and a successful trading year in 2025, driven by popular new store openings and continued investment in community engagement.
Metrocentre in Gateshead has begun 2026 on a high, with newly released figures revealing a strong festive period and a successful trading year in 2025, driven by popular new store openings and continued investment in community engagement.
This uplift was echoed throughout December with several high-performing trading days delivering an annual footfall of over 16m visitors, a 1.5% increase on 2024. The growth in footfall reflects the successful leasing strategy at Metrocentre which has brought about evolution of the tenant mix, ensuring a combination of retail, F&B, leisure and alternative uses that resonates with visitors across the North East.
The newly released figures also show growth in each of Metrocentre’s key performance indicators with dwell time, spend and conversion all increasing. This strong year-end performance builds on a transformational 2025 for Metrocentre, made possible by a programme of new openings, targeted investment, and continued confidence from leading national and international brands. This has included regional debuts for brands such as Stradivarius and Activate, plus standout openings for Urban Outfitters, Søstrene Grene, Diamond Factory and Maki & Ramen. The Gateshead complex also announced a UK exclusive for Peppa Pig: Surprise Party, set to open in the coming months, as well as KENJI, highlighting its role as the go-to destination in the region.
Gavin Prior, Centre Director at Metrocentre, said:
“These results are a strong endorsement of Metrocentre’s position as a prime retail and leisure destination for the North East. They reflect the continued confidence of both new brands choosing to open here and long-standing partners who are investing further and evolving their offer.
“Giving customers easy access to the best brands, in the best surroundings, is at the very heart of our retail and leisure strategy, and these latest figures are testament to the hard work, investment and advances being made. We look forward to creating even more reasons to visit with further big announcements planned throughout 2026.”
Alongside new openings, 2025 also saw significant brand and landlord investment, including a series of upsizes, relocations and refurbishments. Highlights included Boots’ refurbished 40,000 sq ft store in Green Mall, and Superdrug’s relocation to a new 10,000 sq ft unit in Red Mall, boasting its new store format.
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