Intu Properties says only a single restaurant remains vacant in its £17m “through the night” extension to Gateshead’s Metrocentre. More than eight months ahead of completion 11 food and leisure units within the Qube have now been let.
Contractor Sir Robert McAlpine has already started the retail complex upgrade with the majority of work carried out at night when the centre is closed to customers. Tenants will be allowed in soon after the New Year to fit-out their units with the year-long project scheduled for a March opening.
The new-look Qube, with an extra wide mall and increased natural light, is replacing the Metrocentre’s Mediterranean Village, originally opened in 1996 close to the centre’s former food court and the Metroland fun fair.
The first phase of the Qube food court was opened in 2009 at a cost of £45m. Since then almost all its restaurants — Pizza Express, Zizzi and Wagamama among them — have become their parent company’s top performing outlet.
Intu which also owns Eldon Square across the River Tyne in Newcastle, has now named 10 of the new operators including award-winning Mexican chain Barburrito, American restaurant group Coast to Coast and cult burger brand, Five Guys.
They will be joined by Bella Italia, La Tasca, Ask and Subway and North-East newcomer, Thaikhun, which specialises in Bangkok street food.
The biggest single let, of 7,100 sq ft, is going to TGI Friday with Latin American specialists Chiquito taking 4,850 sq ft of space. When open the new restaurants will also create scores of new jobs at the centre, which already employs more than 7,500 staff.
“When it’s complete, the extension plus the existing Qube area, will have 24 restaurants in all plus leisure facilities, adding to the appeal of an already popular centre,” explained intu’s regional director, Kate Grant.
“Intu is now central to the expansion plans of many top restaurant chains which benefit from our national coverage, family-friendly appeal and over a million visitors a day.
“Food and beverage is experiencing significant growth in the UK at the moment and many leading hospitality chains are featuring intu in their expansion plans,” she added. “A choice of dining, from grab-and-go to casual dining, is an important part of a contemporary shopping centre experience such as at intu Metrocentre.”
Grant claimed that with around two-million sq ft of retail, catering and leisure space and footfall exceeding 21-million, intu Metrocentre is among the top ranking UK shopping centres. “Our focus is on compelling experiences throughout the day and evening so that customers will visit more often and stay for longer,” she said.
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