Once Europe’s largest shopping centre, the Metrocentre turns 40 this week.
Opening in 1986, the Gateshead mall still welcomes 16 million visitors a year to its 270 stores, restaurants and leisure attractions.
It was described as a “retail revolution” by developer Sir John Hall when it opened and it even had its own indoor theme park, Metroland.
Metroland gave way to the Yellow Mall in 2008, the busy restaurant quarter which now has the cinema.
