Thousands go on the town

Jan 16 2008 by Mike Birkett for The Journal

The region’s leisure market has seen some huge successes with hotels, multiplex cinemas, restaurants and pub/clubs all thriving. However, success is not restricted to Newcastle, says Mike Birkett.

IF I was to single out one scheme which reflected exciting architecture and successful letting to a wide range of enterprises, it would be Newcastle’s The Gate scheme in Newgate Street.

Its glazed frontage and generous circulation areas have made the scheme a landmark destination in a very short time, attracting as it does the equivalent of the population of a Northumbrian market town every week.

But it is not just NewcastleGateshead which has seen success. Sunderland has been another major regional city to reposition itself through attractions such as the Winter Gardens and the National Glass Centre. Though these are tourist attractions, they nevertheless qualify for the leisure label.

However, it is the Limelight scheme which is a more traditional leisure scheme attracting a range of uses, just like Newcastle’s The Gate.

Limelight is in High Street West and it has an adjoining car park with 650 spaces. It is therefore city centre with the ability to cater for its wider catchment population travelling by car, bus and Metro.

The 81,000sq ft project, developed by Helios and subsequently sold and now managed by Morley, is let to tenants such as Empire Cinemas, Gala Casinos, Nandos and Frankie & Benny’s.

A 10-pin bowling centre is under construction next to the main scheme, which will reinforce this site as Sunderland’s premier leisure destination.

Elsewhere in the town a 41,064sq ft office building is planned to be known as City Green. It is opposite the city’s main bus station and council offices and will incorporate a bar-restaurant space on the ground floor. The Gate and both Sunderland schemes show that locations can benefit from such schemes.

They provide choice for residents, but also increase the vibrancy of a place, the 24-hour culture which is so much a feature of our towns and cities today, a feature which is to stay, according to the Government.

The letting success at the Limelight has much to do with the fact that Sunderland has the largest city population in the region at just under 300,000 people, a fact often ignored by rival centres.

:: Mike Birkett is director of retail agency at Atisreal in Newcastle.

PAGE TWO: What odds on casino revival?