A Gateshead mum's booked-out children's spa is branching out, with a walk-in wellness venture opening at Metrocentre in time for half-term.

A children's day spa that has been fully booked since it first opened its doors is expanding into Metrocentre with a new venture aimed at drop-in customers as well as party-goers.

Blossom Mini Day Spa & Pamper Parties, the creation of a busy mother of three, opened in the former Prince Consort Road Post Office in Gateshead in 2020, offering spa packages to children aged two to 14. Two years later it added pamper parties, complete with guest appearances from Disney princesses and other favourite characters.

Its new sister business, Be That Girl, will take over two adjoining units at The Crescent, Metrocentre's new hub for independent brands in the Upper Green Mall. Customers will be able to book ahead online or simply pop in for a mini spa treatment or a custom luxury lip oil experience, while new party packages will each carry a twist exclusive to the Metrocentre venue.

The growth has already doubled the workforce, from six part-time staff to 13, with three or four more roles expected to be advertised soon.

For the owner, the move fulfils a long-held ambition. "I've had my eye on Metrocentre for several years now," she said. "It's always been my safe space – somewhere I can go with my own children that has a lovely family feel. When I read about plans for The Crescent, I took it as a sign to go for it."

Watching her own children and young customers grow up, she added, had persuaded her the brand needed to grow with them, offering new experiences built around the latest trends but with "the same unmistakeable magic, sparkle, and bottomless pink lemonade our young guests know and love".

The signing was welcomed by Noah Knapton, Asset Manager at Sovereign Centros from CBRE, which manages Metrocentre. Be That Girl, he said, "perfectly sums up the vision of The Crescent", a place where growing independent businesses can feel supported and shoppers can find something different. Several more announcements are expected in the coming months.

Online booking will go live shortly, with the first customers due through the doors next month, ahead of the October half-term holidays. Pink lemonade, it seems, is about to go on tap.