It’s debatable whether Newcastle prides itself most on its vociferous love of the local football team, its iconic contribution to UK food and drink – the famed Newcastle Brown Ale – or its proud shipbuilding and coal mining past. Either way, it has certainly diversified its economy in recent years, with strong tech, healthcare and financial sectors, while retail remains crucial with the Metrocentre (in nearby Gateshead) and Eldon Square key shopping destinations.