Metrocentre bosses hail festive footfall

BOXING DAY BOOST AS SALES ENTICE SHOPPERS

- By COREENA FORD

BOSSES at prime North East shopping destination Metrocentre have hailed a busy period with booming festive footfall that smashed the national average.

The Gateshead retail, dining and entertainment complex said 2026 is off to a strong start, underpinned by a host of new openings and ongoing community support.

Boxing Day saw “exceptional” performance as the launch of traditional year-end sales enticed in shoppers from across the region, with footfall finishing 7.6% ahead of the same day in 2024. The figure also significantly outperformed the national average of a 4.4% lift for shopping centres and high streets across the UK.