“The Climbing Academy undoubtedly sets new standards in dedicated bouldering facilities in the UK.”
Neil Gresham

The Climbing Academy
Charlton Street
Bristol
BS5 0FD

0117 907 2956

Hours of opening

Monday to Friday
Midday to 10pm

Weekends
10am to 6pm

 

News

 


Guestbook

Welcome to our guestbook. Share your thoughts with others, and tell us what you think.

We are committed to making your visit to TCA the best indoor climbing experience that you can possible have, and are open to every suggestion to ways in which we can improve our service to you.

JB, the Guestbook is reviewed and all comments are taken seriously. However it is just that - a guestbook. We do however have a noticeboard for items of discussion.
Jan 2 | Registered CommenterTCA
Is this guest book still being reviewed by the staff? There have been some good issues raised by the people but I wonder if these suggestions/complaints are taken seriously enough?
Jan 2 | Unregistered CommenterJB
Problems at tca seem to be getting better and better - well done. NIce yellow circuit at the moment requiring the odd bit of brainwork along the way. Well done routesetters
Nov 25 | Unregistered Commentermike
Hi guys, I would love to come to your place.To do some work out would be great for me. BUT: Problem are the opening hours. Why not open 10o'clock for parents, who have time off from kids in the morning? I am not so energetic in the evening anymore, after I've sent toddler twins and a school kid to bed. I hope there are more people asking you to open earlier. thanks anyway
regards rike
Nov 20 | Unregistered Commenterrike
Hi Future Guest
There are many photos of the centre on our TCA Bristol Facebook group - just click the link on the lhs of the webpage. We hope to see you soon.
Oct 17 | Registered CommenterTCA
Hi, TCA came recommended from a friend and I hope to visit later in the year. I just wanted to suggest adding a gallery to your website, it would be useful to get an idea of the space and kinds of problems on offer. Could be a great way to showcase some of the competition routes too. My friends and I look forward to paying a visit at a later date.
Loving the new black circuit - my favourite for a while. Nice one. Although maybe it needs the odd sloper problem mixed in to vary the grip more over the course of a session. Cheers
Sep 19 | Unregistered CommenterMike
A suggestion/request - I'd really like to be able to see a summary of how often I've visited TCA in the past year. Partly so that I can estimate how much climbing I've done, and partly so that I can gauge how much use I've made of my membership, and how much it's saved me!

I've seen that the computers keep a record of individual sign-ins; would it be possible to print or email this on request?

Cheers
Sep 6 | Unregistered CommenterJules C
Hi guys,

Great fun at the comp last night, good set of problems and a sensible amount of time to complete everything...

Nice work with the BBQs too..... well done to Heather and Betty for staying in the smoke for so long!

Just wondered when you'll post the results on the website?

Cheers!

HB
Aug 19 | Unregistered CommenterDan HB
Something to help with the wonderful forearm pump

http://www.youtube.com/user/sanfranciscocrossfit#p/a/u/1/A2E3SbCUz34
Ditto on the water front - cups and jugs were much better (more water, and no queuing). Its obvious that cups and jugs are more work for staff but surely its worth it to give paying customers better service. I can see that a fountain is perhaps better environmentally which is important. Perhaps two (or three!) fountain machines instead of one would help. Maybe I just found myself in some unusually large queues for water (I gave up waiting a couple of times) and I'm pretty patient. Hope there's a better solution soon,
M
Jul 13 | Unregistered CommenterMick
Dear TCA,

I'm also pretty disappointed in the water situation. The jugs and cups may have been a lot of work for the staff and maybe not as environmentally friendly as a single fountain but they did mean it was quick and easy to get a drink. The current dispenser means queues and having to ask at the counter for a glass if you want to sit down to drink. Its a shame as I thought the way it was done before was a far better customer experience.
Jul 7 | Unregistered CommenterMatt
Dear TCA Management

It is with regret that we feel we need to share a small issue of complaint with you.

We thoroughly enjoy the first class facilities you offer both for improving our skill and providing a great place to unwind after work. However we are disappointed by the fact you no longer offer a simple cup from which to drink from. We have no issue if the water comes from a jug, tap or fountain, but by not offering a cup it limits the amount of water which can be consumed quickly and therefore is more likely to lead to dehydration and injury.

The attitude of some members of staff was also disappointing. It is nice to have a friendly, laid back approach, but when paying £8 for a visit one would expect a certain level of customer service, i.e. not having to bring your own water bottle. One member of staff commented ‘it saves us a job, by not washing them up’; this whilst four members of staff were seemingly not busy. And another jokingly said ‘well you know were you can go, and it isn’t UCR’.

To some this may seem like a small issue but the fact is that providing cups dramatically increases both the frequency and amount of water which can be consumed and therefore improves bouldering ability. Again we would like to congratulate you on providing first class facilities, and hope that you can resolve this issue.

Jen and Dan
Jun 19 | Unregistered CommenterD Smith
Although I thought the problems were excellent I did mean to add something about the cave problem. Should a boulder comp really have a problem with so many moves? The scoring system leads to the usual problem of biasing a good performance on that one problem though at least it was a good balance of power and endurance.
Jan 17 | Unregistered CommenterSarah
Thought the comp problems on Sat were excellent, though one gripe. The cave problem was very long. This meant queuing for what seemed ages as people (quite rightly) attempted to read the problem before attempting it. With the majority of moves being in the cave, this reading couldn't be carried out until the person was 'on' the problem. With normal problems you can at least read whilst waiting. My point is this, up until now the cave comp problems have been relatively short, note 'short', not 'simple', I had a real problem getting on the cave problem with any degree of confidence as my time was running out. 'Time management' you say? Everytime I went to the cave, there was a queue of people (see my initial point) so did I wait for what would have seemed like an age or did I attempt the other problems? Given the time allotted it's really a bit of a no-brainer.

Surely cave problems can be short'ish with as many moves on the face as in the cave itself?

Just an observation from an otherwise excellent comp.
Jan 17 | Unregistered CommenterGraham
Brilliant set of problems for the comp yesterday. Compliments to the route setters. Thought the difficulty was ramped up a little which was good and made all the problems interesting to climb, even some of the easier ones needed some thought. Good job.
Jan 16 | Unregistered CommenterSarah
Personally I have found the current oranges a nice progression from the grade below (currently green). Although there are a few greens that I am no way near completing there are now 3 or 4 orange routes that I can struggle my way up, great news for me. The ones I have tried are different from the previous red routes and do seem to shift the balance towards raw power and away from delicate stretchy moves, but hey, these are by no way "disappointing" (Ref Anon - 30 Nov), quite the contrary. I for one now have a little more confidence in trying the harder grade - keep it up.
Dec 6 | Unregistered CommenterBAR
Thanks for your feedback with regard to the new oranges. They are firstly replacing the red circuit which is one to three grades above that of the current greens. Each colour of holds we have is not uniform - they are made up of different sets and shapes so that each circuit is always different from the last. This means that some sets lend themselves to certain styles more than others.
We are in the process of setting the new circuit, taking out some of the comp routes and morphing others to the required grade. So far we have had good verbal feedback from the climbers and other setters who have tried tried them - bouldery but of good quality. There is still over half the circuit to set this week so if they do not suit your style of climbing then maybe there will be a few that do, if you can be patient. From a coaching point of view it maybe also highlights a weak area in your bouldering that that needs working on.
Nov 30 | Registered CommenterTCA
P.S. Did the setters actually try climbing some of these problems?
Nov 30 | Unregistered CommenterAnon
What a disapointment! After such an excellent green circuit the oranges are not looking promising. What happened to subtle, clever problems rather than shoulder wrenching, big moves. Big does not mean difficult and more tiny footholds please :)
Nov 30 | Unregistered CommenterAnon
There is a thread on the Noticeboard for ongoing comp discussion.
Paul
Nov 23 | Registered CommenterTCA
I do the bouldering comps at TCA and UCR and to be honest I prefer the TCA format. It also has the benefit that I can bring my young son to compete as he can at least do the first few moves of all but the most difficult problems. I like the on sight format - I suppose it's all a matter of preference but I think it's good to have different approaches between the 2 bouldering venues in Bristol as it helps develop different skillsets.
Nov 23 | Unregistered CommenterDave B.
I agree, a dedicated bouldering venue like TCA should be running a true boulder comp format.
Nov 22 | Unregistered CommenterAnon
Another fun comp and all credit to the setters for another great set of problems (despite the format TCA seem insistent on using). Shame you would do better if you're a good route climber, since when have boulder competitions been all about the onsight. Seems like you're trying to have a route competition in a bouldering venue.
Nov 21 | Unregistered CommenterAnon
Another marvelous afternoons Bouldering at the Comp , im sure everyone will agree with me , Thanks for all the hard work put in by the TCA team , nice one guys and girls .............
Nov 20 | Unregistered CommenterSteve

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