intu Metrocentre, formerly MetroCentre and known on road signs as Metro Centre, is a shopping centre in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. Located in Dunston, Gateshead, on a former industrial site near to the River Tyne, the Metrocentre opened in stages, with the first phase opening on 28 April 1986 and the official opening on 14 October 1986. It has more than 340 shops occupying 2,000,000 square feet of retail floor space, making it the largest shopping and leisure centre in the UK. Additional retail space is available in the adjoining Metro Retail Park and MetrOasis.