I don't think it's a bad location at all. Hard standing is clearly the best solution for this kind of event, as it stops rain becoming a problem for buses getting in, out and around the site. Showbus last year was on a similar hard standing site, although a larger scale. Catering and toilet facilities were hired in, and I'd say the general consensus was that it was a lot better than previous years.
For food and facilities. You also have the Q3 that'll take you into the bus station, and there are plenty of toilet facilities and food outlets there. You also have the Sunday market on in Newcastle, and it has quite number of food places there.
As I've said previous, my only concern is that the trust are not giving themselves an much time to have a fair crack at making this year's event a success, given that we're not much over a month away now. I'd say the site is bigger than what was available at the Metrocentre, and I just hope it is used to inject a fresh approach into the event.
There are a few other good hard standing sites around, but I think the trust have done the right thing keeping it in the Newcastle/Gateshead area. The Emirates cricket ground car park wouldn't be a bad call for a Durham rally, but it'd have to be the car park rather than coach park for me... I've not been there for a while, but I think it only holds about 12 coaches normally?
