Prices

We have a number of pricing options that are dependant on both age and at which time of day you choose to visit.

Regstration for membership is a one off payment of £5 and we have a cardless membership system so you can never lose your card and be charged an extra fee for re-registration or re-issue.

	Adult	Cons: NUS Benefits	Child 5 and under	Junior 6 - 13	Youth 14 - 17	Family 1+1	Family 2+2	Couples *
12 Month	£385					£450	£800	£700
6 Month	£250	£175				£275	£450	£400
3 Month	£150	£100				£175	£275	£250
Peak 5pm+	£7.50		£2.50	£4	£5
Afternoon 3-5pm	£6		Free	£3.50	£4
Lunch 12-3pm	£5		Free	£3	£3.50
Peak 11 for 10	£75

Weekends until midday are charged as per weekday afternoons and peak at other times.

* Couples are deemed as a committed partnership - further info on request.

 

Climbing Shoe Hire

We carry two types of quality hire shoes:

Boreal QX (more info here)             £2
Boreal Joker (more info here)         £2.50

 

Facilities

The Climbing Area

We have over 750 square meters of climbing wall for you to enjoy, with over 200 problems which will be changed regularly for your continued interest. Every problem is colour coded by difficulty in English tech grades:

Swirls 4 (download printable pdf routemap for our 4 circuit)
Yellow 4 - 5a (download printable pdf routemap for our 4-5a circuit)
Black 5a - 5b (download printable pdf routemap for our 5a-5b circuit)
Green 5b - 5c (download printable pdf routemap for our 5b-5c circuit)
Oange 5c - 6a (download printable pdf routemap for our 5c-6a circuit)
Blue 6a - 6c (download printable pdf routemap for our 6a-6c circuit)

In addition we have 2 great circuit boards for you to get stuck into, each training circuit coloured and graded with numbered tags to follow. The climbing zone is for registered members and authorised guests only.

Cafe

The cafe has a sparkling top of the range coffee machine which will produce fantastic drinks, and we even have barista training sessions as perfect coffee making is a real art to master. Our pizza oven and panini grill will be producing great hot food and our specials board will give pointers to new and exciting drinks.

Free Wi-Fi

We have a FREE Wi-Fi service to offer you. This is a secured network so you can be sure your access is safe. There are plenty of power sockets in the seating area for laptops and under floor heating to add to your comfort - jusk ask us for the password.

The Shop

In our shop we have gathered an initial selection of essentials for bouldering including chalk, nail clippers and fingertape, and this selection will grow over the coming months. Our shop is located behind the reception counter; however our products will be displayed for you.

The Treatment Room

A number of therapists work with the Climbing Academy. Please ask at reception or check the therapist page for further details.

Showers

We have showers located through the door between the lockers. They are oversize, can double as changing rooms and have under floor heating to keep you warm when you step out. Please bring your own towel.

Toilets/Changing Facilities

Toilets are situated around the far side of the lockers and all have under floor heating and ample space for changing. Each of the cubicles are again oversize for a more private changing area. We have fitted Dyson Airblase handryers which are the fastest and most eco friendly available.

Lockers

We have lockers for customer use; some of which are well oversized to take motor cycling equipment or other larger items. Please bring your own padlock or they are available to buy at a cost of £2.50 from reception. Equipment left overnight will be removed.

Car Parks

We have three car parks with 75 spaces. The first is at our entrance on Charlton St, the second is on Barrow Rd in front of PlaySpace (weekday evenings after 6pm only), and for the third, and biggest, drive through the Mecca Bingo gate and make a right turn. Click here for a map.

In addition we have a covered bike shed beside our front entrance, equipped with cctv, for 20+ bikes.

 

Location and directions

The Climbing Academy is located just behind Big Yellow Storage on the A4320 St Phillips Causeway close to Bristol city centre. We have ample parking, but are also right next to the Bristol Bath cycleway and Lawrence Hill train station, so there are plenty of options for getting to us.

We share our building with Playspace, though our entrance is on the opposite side of the building on Charlton Street.

Because we are a new address, internet mapping facilities and GPS do not yet put our postcode in the correct location but BS50AE is a very close alternative.

View Larger Map

From out of town by car

Exit the M32 at junction 3, bear left at the top of the slip road onto Easton Way dual carriageway. At Lawrence Hill roundabout take the 2nd exit towards Bath, before turning left at Big Yellow Storage. Left again at the roundabout and you will see Playspace in front of you. 1 mile from junction 2.

 

By bike

We are located just off the Bristol to Bath Cycleway. From the cyclepath, follow the signpost marked Barton Hill and Avonmeads which takes you leftwards onto Barrow Road. A spine path heads off leftwards again and brings you back down beside our building.

By train

From Lawrence Hill station exit via the steps and turn rightwards onto Lawrence Hill. Cross over and turn left onto Ducie Road followed immediately by a right onto Lincoln Street. This leads to a short walk across the park onto Chancery Street. Take the 2nd right onto Charlton Street. 5 minutes.

By bus

Seven regular bus services provide easy access to The Climbing Academy (correct at Aug ’08):

First Bristol 7 (City Centre-Kingswood)
Baldwin Street, Bristol City Centre; Broadmead; Lawrence Hill; Crofts End; Staple Hill.
Alight at Lawrence Hill Station.
Frequency: Every 15 minutes.

Wessex Connect 585/586 (Broadmead-Hotwells)
Colsten Ave; Old Market; Easton; Eastville; Southmead; Westbury On Trym; Westbury Park;
Clifton; Tyndall’s Park.
Alight at Days Road.
Frequency: Every 30 minutes.

First Bristol 6 (City Centre- Kingswood)
Baldwin Street, Bristol City Centre; Lawrence Hill; Crofts End; Fishponds; New Cheltenham;
Kingswood.
Alight at Lawrence Hill Station
Frequency: Every 15 minutes.

First Bristol 36 (City Centre-Withywood)
Baldwin Street,Bristol City Centre; Barton Hill; St Anne’s Park; Brislington; Filwood Park; Hartcliffe.
Alight at Church Street, Queen Anne’s Road, Barton Hill
Frequency: Every 15 minutes.

First Bristol 41/43 (Cribbs Causeway- Park Estate)
Avonmouth; Shirehampton; Stoke Bishop; Colston Ave; Lawrence Hill; Kingswood; Cadbury Heath.
Alight at Lawrence Hill Station.
Frequency: Every 20 minutes.

First Bristol 44/45 (City Centre- Cadbury Heath)
Colston Ave; St. George; Hanham; Longwell Green; Cadbury Heath
Alight at Lawrence Hill Station.
Frequency: Every 16 minutes.

First Somerset & Avon 332 (Bath Bus Station- Bristol Bus Station)
Lewins Mead, Broadmead; Hanham; Longwell Green; Weston; Bath Bus Station.
Alight at Lawrence Hill Station
Frequency: Every 60 minutes.

Download a printable version here

 

Staff

The Climbing Academy staff are committed to making your experience with us as good as it can be. We are an appoachable friendly lot and are here to help in whatever way we can, so don't be afraid to ask us any questions - no matter how trivial they may seem. We are also dedicated to improving your climbing environment in any way that we can, and will always consider all suggestions and comments with the due respect that they deserve.

So who are we (in no particular order)...

Day to day staff

RichRich is the business brain behind TCA, and it's fair to say that without him driving the project, we would certainly not be where we are today. He started climbing as a small kid, is still as keen as ever and despite his modesty, is a very good all-round climber. Whilst climbing frozen waterfalls together in Italy, Paul told Rich about his long term vision for a bouldering centre in Bristol, and with Rich’s background in business, the partnership began. As well as working at TCA, Rich also runs Interaction Learning and Development, www.interaction-ld.com, a successful management training company. He spends as much of the winter as possible ski mountaineering in France with his family.

Jim
Jim is a final year UWE business student, his course including a year working abroad in south africa. He's been climbing for 2 years and is involved in the uwe climbing club committee. He also interested in skiing (csia instructor), martial arts, and most things outdoors.

 DanDan is our 'outward looking' centre manager responsible for bringing business into TCA. He is very enthusiastic but not always at his best on early mornings. With a banger-racing and banking background, and a strong climbing pedigree, he is perfectly suited to interfacing with the greater public.

HeatherHeather has been a climber for the past 16 years (I know, it's hard to believe that she's old enough). She also enjoys climbing up ropes, and has spent most of the past decade performing in the circus. In her spare time she enjoys eating food, dancing and singing.

Joe
Joe is our youngest staff member and also one of our routesetting team. As well as being a very keen boulderer, he is also a keen kayaker and windsurfer. Joe spent last summer learning skills whilst restoring his campervan to a very high standard, and is looking forward to leaving school at the end of this year. Joe's is a fast learner and an excellent routesetter and we are expecting great things as his climbing goes from strength to strength.

 PaulPaul is the vision behind The Climbing Academy. A SW new route activist, he moved to Bristol shortly after Undercover Rock was opened with its lure lure of year-round training, and quickly settled into developing wall building and routesetting skills, becoming one of the first National Routesetters along the way. His long term interest in training and helping others to improve has led him to become a respected climbing coach with a unique approach to the black art. For the last ten years he has dreamed about opening a revolutionary bouldering centre, and until he met Rich, thought it would probably never happen. Paul is also a DJ and music producer and is looking forward to a more normal life again when all the dust settles.

Bettina
Betti is the TCA cafe manager. Originally from Hungary, she loves all sport and is especially fond of basketball. She looks after the day to day running of what some would say is the most important aspect of the business.

Mike

Mike is a very talented craftsman, bowmaking and leadwork hiding amongst his many practical skills. With Paul, he is the architect of the TCA climbing area, bringing the timber and plywood into its multi-angled life. Mike is our 'inward looking' centre manager, responsible for keeping the good ship TCA seaworthy. He is also an avid fisherman, spending his free time bobbing around in boats on various lakes in Somerset.

Archie
Being from the southeast near guildford, Archie has been climbing at craggy island for the past 5/6 years - but we'll eventually forgive him, and he's now at Bath Uni studying chemistry. He loves bouldering comps but never does as well as he would like, but enjoys the atmosphere and ethos that surrounds them.

Jo
Jo is our office manager, responsible for pushing paper around her desk and shouting loudly at the computer and directors. She has been climbing for longer than she'd like to admit to, and gave up roped climbing after adopting the nickname of 'screamer' at the British Indoor Climbing Championships. With encouragement from the UK's top female, Lucy Creamer, to do what she enjoyed most, she is now a dedicated boulderer and one of the best in the area. In her spare time Jo is completing an MSc in Health Ergonomics. She is providing a much needed office presence as the business continues to grow.

Sam
Sam is our Youth Development Officer, responsible for the schools bouldering league and managing our climbing squad. He's an avid boulderer and mountain biker, and brings a wealth of youth-based experience to TCA.

Tom
Tom is an odd looking chap and has a penchant for nappies. Leather goods and mustaches are involved in his favorite hobbies.

Simon
Simon, our latest duty manager, has been climbing for 9 years, but he has been involed with cycling since the age of 12, competing at national and international level whilst a junior. Multi skilled, he previously worked in family cabinet making business and has just finished a BSc in Building Surveying. Simon likes heel hooks and chocolate flapjacks but hates losing games of pool

Tris
Tris is in his second year at Bath Spa University studying fine art painting. He has been climbing for two years and enjoys training for climbing festivals like Melloblocco and trips to exotic locations. On the side he likes slackening over water, putting bikes together, listening to techno and eating humous sandwiches.

Omar
Omar is a second year student at Bristol University, started climbing regularly last year and is now ridiculously addicted to bouldering and short sport routes. Apart from climbing, he loves riding his motorbike and paragliding.

Routesetters

GavinGav is a familiar figure to those on the British competition scene and is fast gaining reputation for both his routesetting and coaching skills. Of recent times Gav has become one of the leading exponents of DWS - deep water soloing - with many hard and often dangerous ascents to his name. You can keep up to date with Gav on fis blog - www.gavinsymonds.blogspot.com

Alan
Known affectionately as 'The Giffer', Alan started climbing 150 odd years ago in the days before most of us were born, when you still tied the rope around your waist and the only runners you placed were on natural spikes or threads. He discovered the relative safety of indoor climbing 15 years ago and has never looked back. He retired from full time work as a nuclear physicist in 1998 and has been setting brilliant routes in Bristol ever since.

Dave
Son of Giffer, David climbed his first route, Jackdaw Ridge in Borrowdale, at the age of six! He is fairly new to the routesetting game but comes from a good pedigree and and is learning fast. David holds a Canadian snowboard instructor's certificate and also rides mountain and trials bikes.

Greg
Active since the mid-seventies, outdoor clothing model Greg has pioneered many trad first ascents both locally and in the SW, a few examples being Flash Gordon (without side-runners!) at Avon, Free Safety at North Quarry, and Boiling Mercury at Cow & Calf on The Culm Coast. He has travelled the globe, climbing in most of the popular spots, most notably a 4 day round trip from the UK in Thailand!

OllieThe benchmark 'all round nice guy', Ollie likes reggae, running in the hills, whisky, coffee with his eggs and bacon and generally eating large amounts of food. He dislikes small hairless dogs, being cold and tiny portions of nouveaux cuisine.

AliBristol strong man Ali was chief routesetter for The Welsh International Climbing Centre in the glory years of its operation. A training machine when the mood takes him, Ali is also a very talented player in the world of visual artistry with his company, wrap3, creating cutting edge 3d panoramic installations. See www.wrap3.co.uk for more.

Damian
Brought out of retirment when TCA rekindled his climbing interest, Damian is a sporting enthusiast and one of those good all rounders that we often love to hate. Always keen, happy and smiling, he'll be getting back into his setting groove over the next few months.

Paul R
Local boy turned ex-pat, Paul, now a yoga instructor, lives in the beautiful French Aveyron valley. Well known in days of old for his incredible climbing fitness and well set routes, he will be making the odd guest setting appearance on his visits back home.

Tim
Tim is a professional extreme sports athlete and all round good egg. Known for his MFI (mad-for-it) approach to everything, he is an insuppressible larger than life character who squeezes every last bit of fun and energy from any situation. To see some of Tim's exploits tune in to www.timemmett.com

John
John is one of the South West's longest serving route setters,
squeezing sessions in around his work as News Editor at ITV West. John has
been climbing nearly 40 years. He loves all forms of the sport and has done
many new routes in Avon and Pembroke. Level Headed, the three pitch E7
girdle of Upper Wall which he did with Ben Bransby, remains one of Avon's
hardest unrepeated routes. In the past 18 months John's soloed big ice
routes in the Alps in winter, helicoptered to the remote Cirque of the
Unclimbables in Canada and red-pointed his first 7b plus. John's always been
one of the stiffest-jointed climbers in the region, so don't expect any wide
bridges on his problems, although a hip replacement three years ago has made
him a lot more flexible than before.

Will
Will has been a regular and highly respected bouldering route setter for the last ten years and has a wealth of experience and high level of creativity. He will often try to draw on ideas influenced by outdoor problems he has done to help generate and and maintain diversity and interest in his setting.
He is meticulous in his work and is always striving to create fair, interesting and aesthetic movement on his problems.