(10 Jun 2020, 11:24 am)Ambassador wrote At the time of the closure it was the right thing to do, Retail was booming and the old food court wasn't really fit for purpose and Brits were eating out like we'd got no kitchens at home.

Ironically the MetroCentre development plan includes new leisure facilities. Now we'll see out of town shopping centres create more unique selling points to make you visit them over say online or a city centre which has the pubs, restaurants and easier access.

And MetroCentre has lost its allure - it's not the 80s anymore, the internet exists, people want experiences not just soulless identikit shopping experiences that whether you're at intu Milton Keynes or intu MetroCentre all feel the same.

Furthermore, at least people can go to Newcastle Eldon Square and combine it with other shops and unrelated activities in Newcastle.  At MetroCentre there is nothing else apart from shopping and limited other options.