SHOPPING IN METRO STYLE!

Advantages: see review
Disadvantages: see review

...I am not a huge fan of purpose built shopping centres but there are times when I really need retail fix! As I live within an hour?s drive of the Gateshead metro centre it is to this centre a head. The metro centre is the largest shopping centre in Europe with over 300 shops and 50 restaurants. I thought I would give you my thoughts and tips for getting the best out of a days shopping in this mammoth complex. Getting there. ************* I live about an hours drive to the north of the metro centre and usually travel by car. The metro centre is situated about 3 miles south west of Newcastle on the A1. From whatever direction you are traveling the centre is very well signposted. On arrival you shouldn?t have too much of a problem finding a parking space as there are 10.000 free spaces available. There are spaces reserved for drivers...

anwar 30.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of Metro Centre

One of the first out of town shopping centres and still popular

Advantages: Indoors, warm, wide variety of shops
Disadvantages: A little dated after over 20 years

...The metro centre is a very large out of town shopping centre, and was one of the first out of town shopping centres in the UK. It is all indoors, with individual shops accessed from galleried walkways. It is quite complicated to navigate due to the size, but there are maps on every corner. Since then the site has expanded and there are now many separate shops such as IKEA, ILVA, ASDA, furniture shops, Pizza Hut, etc. These are all located outside the main metro centre complex, there is a shuttle bus between the different stores, as once outside the main metro centre you are faced with a fairly baffling car-led road system. Within the metro centre there is a cinema, lots of restaurants and bars, the shops (of course!) and a big indoor theme park to keep the kids amused while you do your shopping. There is a huge variety of shops, great...

Dinah93 22.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Metro Centre

Shopping with friends at the MetroCentre Gateshead

Advantages: Just the right amount of variety
Disadvantages: Hard to navigate (but a laugh when you get lost)

...MetroCentre was, I believe, the first out-of-town shopping centre in the UK and it is, in my opinion, the best. First of all, unlike Meadowhall or the White Rose, it is set quite a way out from Newcastle upon Tyne and so will not drag trade away from it as much as Meadowhall or the White Rose which are set right on the road into thier respective cities. Also, MetroCentre (owned by Capital Shopping Centres plc) takes quite a pride in the image of the centre and gives it character without trying to pretend that it is something it isn't. Let me explain, As MetroCentre was the first out-of-town shopping centre, it didn't really have much to go on in terms of past experience of others, i.e. they were the experiment, so to speak. I think that they built MetroCentre in terms of the in-town shopping centres á la Arndale and have now...

killip 11.09.2001 · Read review
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Review of Metro Centre

Would you like to meet the Metro Gnomes

Advantages: Good public transport links; shopping and leisure; good visitor facilities
Disadvantages: Crowds

...**OK, disclaimer - the Metrocentre is not in Newcastle, whatever category this appears in. Its actually in Gateshead, south of the Tyne, thank you very much!** As an adopted Geordie, I have been known to take part in that great north eastern pastime - a visit to the MetroCentre. (You must have heard of it - I'm sure it was mentioned on Byker Grove on a weekly basis). Up until a couple of years ago, this was the largest shopping and retail "city" in the UK, although it has now been surpassed by the Trafford Centre in Manchester and that new place in Essex (Blue Water?). It's still a very impressive shopping experience though, I can tell you. :-) The MetroCentre is located on an enormous retail park in Gateshead, about 3 miles south west of Newcastle upon Tyne, along with other major units (notably an ASDA hypermarket...

Collingwood21 11.09.2002 · Read review
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Review of Metro Centre

Metro Film Review

Advantages: Action, Characters
Disadvantages: It's hardly groundbreaking

...I'll begin this film review by confessing two things: 1. I've never really been a fan of Eddie Murphy; and 2. At the time of writing this, I've never seen any of the Beverley Hills Cop films. If any of these things had been different prior to watching, I may have been disappointed with Metro like a majority of the other film critics. My third, and perhaps most surprising, confession, however, is that I actually enjoyed this film. It's a formulaic, but effective, buddy-cop comedy-action film. The action set pieces are well done and the central actors appear very confident in their character roles; Murphy, in particular, appears completely at east in front of the camera and is a joy to watch. Plot wise, Metro is hardly Shakespearian, but no one ever expects that from an action movie anyway. Murphy is Roper, a hostage negotiator...

andycarrington 18.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Metro (DVD)

Shop shop shop!

Advantages: All under one roof
Disadvantages: Very busy

...Metro Centre Metro Centre is my "corner shop" and as such, the place I tend to do most of my shopping. Opened more than 20 years ago, it is heralded as Europe's biggest shopping centre, and it does seem to be growing all of the time, with a new red area added a couple of years ago. WHERE IS IT? The Metro Centre is in Gateshead, 3 miles south of Newcastle upon Tyne, and is well signposted for anyone travelling on the A1. Actually, it's pretty hard to miss, because the shopping centre can be clearly seen from the motorway WHAT'S THERE? There are more than 300 shops in the Metro Centre, including Debenhams, House of Fraser and Marks and Spencer. The shops located in various malls, all in colour zones. Throughout the shopping centre, there are maps, showing visitors where they are, and with clear directions as to how to get...

danielalong 16.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of Metro Centre

Fancy a spot of retail therapy?

Advantages: Mostly under one roof so ideal for shopping in bad weather
Disadvantages: Mostly just chain stores so not the one-off shops you find in town

...Gateshead in 1990, on a site only minutes from the Metrocentre. The Metrocentre is, though, so much more than just a shopping centre. It has a ten screen cinema, an indoor funfair for children, a top class hotel, a bowling alley and loads more besides. The main building houses the majority of the shops and consists of three main malls linked by "town squares". The town squares are often used for promotional events such as fashion shows, car displays or displays and promotional activities for local community groups. Around Christmas this is often the location for carol singers, school bands (I did this for two years!) and performances for children - usually the Metro-gnomes (more about them later). The "town squares" are often mentioned on tannoy announcements as a place for people to meet up with any members who may have strayed from...

fizzytom 23.02.2004 (24.02.2004) · Read review
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Review of Metro Centre

A Metro Moment

Advantages: Free, funny, free, great time killer and free!
Disadvantages: Made by the Daily Mail and dodgy Ink

...to read about your local footie teams latest match, although that’s not always a good thing in Sheffield United’s case! Also there is the “Metro Life” section which contains local gig guides, book, music, theatre and club reviews for you to read. There’s tonight’s telly listings in the centre pages, a letter’s page that seems to be populated by bonkers people, and a (very small) financial section. A bit of everything for everyone! If it’s free, isn’t it full of adverts? Admittedly there are a lot of adverts, although not that many more than your average tabloid. Being a experienced Internet user, I find I totally disregard the ads, and I never notice them, so I can’t really comment on the quality. The Metro does have local jobs and businesses advertised towards the back...

eca99ajm 10.05.2001 · Read review
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Review of Metro

MY MARVELLOUS MORNING METRO

Advantages: Free - it's free I tell you!
Disadvantages: Possibly too brief for some

...and international news stories as per the main press. The daily content is very similar to that of any of the tabloids that you might buy, although not as sensationalist. At the moment the headlines are therefore nearly always related to the Iraq crisis or the latest celebrity to be caught up to no good. The articles tend to be fairly brief - there is no in-depth analysis and I like this, because you can get a good overview of all the latest stories without having to read the paper for hours. The balance between world events and more light-hearted matters is probably about right, with coverage of the major entertainment events, but none of the relentless exposition of the private lives of the rich and famous. For the more topical news stories, the main articles will often be backed up with short Metro Briefings, which answer key questions related to...

LostWitness 26.01.2003 · Read review
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Review of Metro

Hotel International

Advantages: Location, breakfasts
Disadvantages: Poor rooms

...I recently went on a cultural girlie trip with a friend to Paris. I was left to do all the booking. I was looking for a reasonable hotel, near a metro stop, which included breakfast. I came across the Hotel International on various travel sites and it seemed fairly highly rated so I booked us in for three nights. LOCATION: The hotel is located 6 Rue Auguste Barbier in the 11th Arrondissement. The nearest Metro stop is Garcourt which was a two minute walk away and it was a five minute walk to Republique which gives good links to other lines. It's not really central enough to avoid the Metro and walk to the attractions but it was located so close to a stop that it seemed ideal. PRICE: Prices vary depending on size of room and season. There are singles, doubles and triples available. We paid Euro254 for the whole time...

tartlette83 17.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Hotel International, Paris