Big news for TCA and Bristol climbers

An Important Update from TCA Bristol

We have some difficult news to share with our community.

After 17 years in Bristol – the city where TCA began – we are preparing to part ways with The Mothership and The Church. This has been an incredibly tough decision, made only after exploring every possible alternative.

Why We’re Making This Change

Despite operating successful centres, this decision comes in the wake of a perfect storm of challenges. The UK climbing market has remained relatively flat, while inflation has driven up the cost of running and maintaining our centres. At the same time, significant new competition is opening in both Glasgow and Bristol – coinciding with the period in which we’re still absorbing the costs of our major redevelopment. Together, these pressures have made it too difficult for us to continue operating our Bristol centres.

What Happens Next

But there is hope in what comes next.

We’re pleased to share that both centres will continue to flourish under new ownership. We are working towards an expected sale date of 30/09/25. Flashpoint, a team of local climbers who already run successful walls in the region, will be taking over. We’re genuinely glad that the buildings and the communities they house will be given a new lease of life by people who are embedded in the Bristol climbing scene. Our TCA Bristol staff, who you know and love, will also be retained by Flashpoint – to create an unrivalled offering for climbers in the city.

What This Means for Our Staff and Community

Flashpoint sees real value in preserving the setting style and distinct centre cultures that already exist at TCA, allowing them to offer a diverse network of centres, each with their own identity. That means the personality, creativity and community you’ve helped build at TCA won’t be lost. We see this as a real win-win for staff and customers alike.

We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built here in Bristol – from the thousands who took their very first steps on our walls to the climbers who still visit today, having been with us since our opening week. The friendships formed, the community built, and the incredible staff who’ve made TCA such a welcoming and inspiring place – it’s all part of what makes Bristol so special. This is where it all began for TCA, and it will always hold a central place in our story.

What You Need to Know About Your Account

You will be contacted in the coming months with more info about the transfer of accounts. Long term passes, future bookings and punch cards will be honoured.

We know this is big news, and we know it will come as a shock to many of you. If you have questions, email customerquestions@theclimbingacademy.com and we’ll do our best to answer them in the coming days. And above all, we want to say thank you. Thank you for climbing with us, laughing with us, sharing your stories and being part of the TCA family.

Help Us Celebrate the Good Times

Thank you to every one of you who climbed with us, grew with us and helped shape what we built.

We’d love to mark this moment by celebrating all the good times we have shared together. If you have a memory or a story from your time at TCA, please share it with us in the comments and/or tag us in some of your old TCA pics with the hashtag #IheartTCA. You’ve all made this place what it is ❤️ and while we’re gutted to be stepping away, we’re so grateful for everything this chapter has meant.

We’ll share more details about what happens next very soon. But for now – know that we’re so grateful for your support, and that while this chapter is coming to a close, the Bristol climbing community is still in safe hands.

With love and gratitude,

The TCA Team