Royal Quays Outlet and Independent Centre Reviews Summary

Shopping Experience

Pros:

• "There is plenty parking."
• "Loads of deals to be had here. There's a next. The body shop and clarks to name a few."
• "Great place to go if you are looking for a bargain or two."
• "There is always a bargain available, as there is a great varied selection of high street stores discount outlet dealer stores plus easy access parking."
• "Theres a good range of shops and outlets to get gifts and wrapping paper from."
• "Good variety of outlet shops with actual things you want to purchase including Body Shop, Next, Tog 24, Trespass, Thornton's GAP."
• "The shops include clothes shops, a pet shop and stationary as well as a pound shop."

Cons:

• "The whole outlet centre is in a state of disrepair and could certainly do with a lick of paint to say the least."
• "What has happened to Royal Quays? It's dire so many shops closed where as Dalton Park is thriving."
• "Nothing here but overpriced cafe's."
• "The choice of food outlets at the Quays was very limited."
• "There is that many shops closing down that tells you something supposed to be a retail outlet if not for Poundland nobody would be there."
• "More than half of the shops were closed with a lot of empty units where shops should have been."
• "Poor choice of shops now it’s looking so run down and dirty unkept car park and just not a nice place to go."

Management and Maintenance

Pros:

• "The new manager has done wonders with the place in such a short space of time."
• "The Royal Quays Management team should be proud of the center & I am sure they are working hard to attract more businesses."
• "Done very well for themselves by providing hand sanitiser stations both inside and out every facility and outdoor seating for food and drinks."
• "More shops opening which is great. Fabulous new baby shop opened recently."
• "There's more to see and shop around now and with more new shops coming soon it's looking great."
• "Currently there is some revamping of the parking going on, maybe that will inject some more life into it."
• "The brand new kids entertainment at the top is spectacular!! Old school feel with brand new games. A safe space to play!!"

Cons:

• "Sadly, this place has declined in recent years, and there is just nothing there now."
• "Sorry, Royal Quays, being you are looking tatty and tired and the ladies' toilets are not of an acceptable standard."
• "It's time that the owners thought long and hard over what to do such as lower rents and incentives for visitors."
• "Very quiet and a lot of empty units.. disappointing from what it has been in the past..we tried two cafes both shut down we ended up in Costa coffee in a big queue."
• "Poor its a ghost town, nothing like it was."
• "Loads of shops closed, went into the pound shop, staff were rude!"
• "Time for new management! They lost M&S, Nike and now Thorntons is leaving because their rent has gone up."

Food and Beverage Options

Pros:

• "The food court offers a diverse range of locally sourced, quality restaurants, and cafes."
• "The Discovery cafe does lovely brownie, muffins, lattes and English breakfast tea."
• "You can sit and have a tipple while the better half shops or sit with the kids and enjoy fresh pizza then choose an ice cream from a hugely exciting menu."
• "We had good coffees in the Petit 4 cafe and good value food in the Italian style place nearby."
• "There are some nice Caffès there. Quite often they have gest on the ground like huskies, Peppa Pig and rabbits."
• "Moorandas Omg truly amazing 🤩!!! Best ice cream 🍨 and Wood fired pizza 🍕 in the North East."
• "The outlet shops are so much cheaper especially Clark's outlet got my stepson a pair of school shoes and trainers for £49.00."

Cons:

• "Nothing here but overpriced cafe's."
• "The choice of food outlets at the Quays was very limited."
• "The prices are quite expensive especially for stuff from the vending machine, all sweets and chocolate bars £1.00 each."
• "Visited Saturday, tried to use baby changing room however the overwhelming stench and state of the floor awash with urine meant that this was out of the question."
• "Very very poor shopping outlet, not much there, not a patch on Metro centre or eldon square, food very expensive."
• "We had a truly insipid coffee and sandwich in some faux Italian VB restaurant. Awful."
• "Nice range of shops but sadly noticed all the little cafes are closed giving Costa the monopoly."

Accessibility and Amenities

Pros:

• "Bus routes provided well, lots of parking space!"
• "Pleasant landscaped areas with lots of outdoor seating areas."
• "Nearby there are lovely parks and leisure complex offering bowling, roller skating and arcades."
• "You have loads of places for the kids including the trampolining park, North Shields Burn it up and bowling with loads of outdoor space to kick around."
• "Easy to reach even if you don't use a car as a couple of Metro stops are within walking distance."
• "Easy parking, excellent toilets, plenty of food shops, good range of shops, not crowded."
• "Ample parking available for free."

Cons:

• "A very sad and neglected area. Hardly any shops open."
• "Feels like an abandoned area."
• "Dead, ghost town, sad really, as most of the shops are closed, or were forced to close down due to covid."
• "The car park looking somewhat rough in places but if the council won't fix the roads no chance of a car park being maintained."
• "Carpark needs relayed as the surface isn't great."
• "Loads of empty units. For those that are still filled - Not a very good selection of shops."
• "Most of the shops are closed and run down."