| Product: |
Royal Quays Outlet Centre |
| Date: |
10/08/02 (720 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Getting around is easy
Disadvantages: Can get crowded during the afternoon
Royal Quays Outlet Centre seems to get a little better every time I visit with new shops opening all the time, the whole centre was refurbished last summer and the surrounding area has been landscaped to create a comfortable, pleasant and relaxing atmosphere.
Some of the outlet shops you find here are Marks and Spencer, Ben Sherman, Lee, Wrangler, Puma, Cotton Traders, CAT, Body Shop, Ponden Mill, Pilot, Claire’s Accessories and Clarks Shoes, to name but a few.
There is a music shop, a bookshop, toyshop, card shop, jewellery shop, designer sunglasses shop and specialist outdoor adventure shops and a Tourist Information Centre.
If you’re feeling a little peckish you can get refreshments from Delefrance, Fresh, Burger King or the small coffee shop at the back of Thornton’s. There is also a branch of Brewster’s pub called the Royal Quays for those who what something a little stronger and as with most Brewster establishments there is a children’s play area and special children’s meal deals.
The Centre has three car parks and a overspill car park, ample public toilets, baby changing facilities and people with disabilities are well catered for with numerous disabled parking bays, shops with wide aisles and easy access wide doors, flat well paved paths around the centre, disabled toilets, all shops have fitting rooms and some of the shops have extra large fitting rooms for the disabled. Wheelchairs are available to hire free of charge but it is advisable to phone the centre before you visit to a book a wheelchair.
There is a large green in the centre of the shopping area with benches, small shrubs, flowerbeds, public telephones and an open-air cafe, which is catered for by Delefrance.
The Centre clock is situated on the edge of the large green, the clock is called the Storm Clock and it causes quite a stir when it strikes every our; the clock comprises a tall pole with a large spher
e on top and a second tall pole about foot feet away with an even larger sphere on top, the smaller sphere is the clock and there is a boy standing on top of the clock holding onto a post, on the hour half of the larger sphere turns in on itself to reveal a face, the eyes role on the face and the mouth blows smoke towards the smaller clock sphere and at the same time there is the sound of wind blowing and thunder, this happens twice and then the third time the gust from the face in the large sphere is stronger and louder and the boy holding onto the top of the clock is blown parallel, it is quite a sight and most people stop to watch the storm.
We usually visit Royal Quays on Sunday Mornings, arriving for the centre opening at 11.00am, we can shop in comfort and have no problem finding a parking space, because of the way the centre is set out you are able to walk around all the shops without having to double back on yourself. The centre specialises in offering famous brands at low prices and you find new bargains every time you visit, the prices are kept low by offering previous season’s merchandise, surplus stock, special purchases and some quality seconds.
Royal Quays is a popular destination for coach parties from Scotland and the coaches normally start arriving around noon, the centre soon becomes very crowded around this time, the coaches from the ferry terminal usually start arriving around 1.00pm. We are normally finished shopping by around 1.30pm and head home, when we leave the car parks always seem to be very full and at times the overspill car parks are in use.
The Royal Quays Outlet Centre is only about five minutes drive from the Tyne International Ferry Terminal and is very popular with visitors from Scandinavia.
Other Information
Opening times for Royal Quays are Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 6.00pm, Sunday 11.00am to 5.00pm and late night shopping on Thursday until 8.00pm.
Royal Quays i
s located in Coble Drive, next to the International Ferry Terminal, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, about seven mile from Newcastle. Telephone number for the centre is 0191 296 3743 web site address is www.royalquaysoutletcentre.co.uk
Getting there by road:
From the South
From the A1(M) South follow the A1 North past Washington services and fork right onto the A194(M). Follow the signs for Tyne Tunnel, go through the tunnel and follow the signs for Royal Quays and the International Ferry Terminal.
From the North
Join the A19 southbound and follow the signs for Royal Quays and International Ferry Terminal.
From the West
Join the A1058 from Newcastle centre signposted Tynemouth then follow the signs for Tyne Tunnel, just before the tunnel follow the signs for Royal Quays and International Ferry Terminal.
By Train
Take the train to Newcastle Central Station, from Central Station take the North Shields Metro and get of at Percy Main Station, follow the signs for Royal Quays – it is about a seven-minute walk.
By Bus
Take the 327 bus from outside Newcastle Central Station to Royal Quays.
Royal Quays is opposite Wet and Wild a large indoor aqua park.
Ferries leave the International Ferry Terminal daily to many destinations and it is often possible to book a three or four day mini cruise for as little as £49 for accommodation in a two berth outside cabin with private facilities and breakfast included. DFDS sail to Amsterdam in Holland, Gothenburg in Sweden, Kristiansand in Norway, Esbjerg in Denmark and Hamburg in Germany. Fjordline sail to Bergen in Norway stopping at Haugesund and Stavanger on route. If you are planning a mini cruise you could look around Royal Quays before sailing(or on your return) and get real value for money.
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