The owner of the UK’s largest shopping centre – the MetroCentre in the North East – has acquires a 13-acre site adjacent to the shopping centre which they’re aiming to transform into a leisure attraction.

The former Federation Brewery site, which used to brew Newcastle Brown Ale, has been acquired by ‘The MetroCentre Partnership’ – almost twelve years after the brewery closed its doors after Heineken moved production to Yorkshire.

Intu had previously touted their interest in the site – before the retail asset owner went into administration during the Pandemic. Having acquired the site in 2012 for £3m Intu had explored numerous options but the MetroCentre Partnership has now swooped for the site from administrators KPMG.

The MetroCentre Partnership were advised by Sovereign Centros.

A statement issued by the partnership said: “The site forms an integral part of the wider Masterplan for Metrocentre and is a key site within Gateshead Council’s Action Area Plan.

“Its acquisition will provide the opportunity for the introduction of a variety of non-retail uses particularly leisure which will allow the Partnership to introduce big scale regional attractions. Other uses including business, commerce and residential will also be outlined for the future as the centre continues to expand its influence on the area.”