00:00Standing on the quayside today, the sweeping curve of the Millennium Bridge is instantly recognisable.
00:05Opened on the 17th of September 2001 by the Queen, it linked Newcastle and Gateshead in a landmark structure
00:12that quickly became a symbol of modern Tyneside.
00:1625 years ago, Newcastle's streets were alive with their own unique energy.
00:21The Big Market and Granger Street were bustling with nightlife, local shops and cafes.
00:25The quayside, complete with hangouts like Julie's, Buffalo Joe's and Bar Hall Beach Club,
00:30wasn't the highbrow cultural hotspot it is today, with the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
00:35and the Sage, now Glass House, not yet completed.
00:382001, I was working in Newcastle, I've got very young children,
00:45and I remember this bridge being built and the whole of the quayside being regenerated.
00:512001, I was five years away from being born.
00:542001, I was at sea, I was working in the Merchant Navy and I was coming back in Nepal now and again
01:00and into Newcastle when I was on leave, so yeah, I remember it opening, I remember it quite well.
01:06I used to come, I'm a solicitor, so I used to come down to court,
01:10and basically there was a court building and then a massive car park, and that was it.
01:15And eventually all the buildings, you know, were sort of, were developed
01:19and the whole of the quayside just changed phenomenally.
01:22The bridges seem to attract a lot of people.
01:25I don't know what the fascination is with bridges, but because we've got six, I think, bridges,
01:30people, it attracts people, there's no doubt about it.
01:33The number of hotels that have opened up is testament to the fact that it's a tourist destination.
01:43Normally I go for a walk here every evening and it's actually calm and I've met some very nice people here as well.
01:50So Newcastle is actually beautiful, especially the quayside.
01:54And then this quayside market that happens in Sunday, I totally enjoy it so well, yeah.
02:01There's been a lot of new buildings.
02:02The quayside's changed a lot for the better.
02:04It looks a lot nicer than it did and there's a lot more going on.
02:08I think it's a really nice city.
02:10I quite like how it's quite small, the city centre.
02:13It feels a bit more compact and there's a bit more community there.
02:18But yeah, I think it's a really nice city.
02:20And kind of, we've got the Millennium Bridge obviously about a 10-minute walk away, so it's a plus.
02:24The city's reputation as somewhere that's really welcoming and friendly and open is fully deserved.
02:31In my opinion, it's not just a stereotype.
02:34I think that is the reality that I've experienced.
02:37Looking at the last 25 years in context, these changes are part of a long story of resilience and reinvention in Newcastle.
02:44From its industrial roots to its modern cultural scene, the city has balanced growth and tradition.
02:49The Millennium Bridge and the city around it are reminders that while streets, cultural spaces and skylines evolve,
02:55Newcastle and the people living here continue to define the city's identity and pride.
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