15 years of The Newsroom, TCA Glasgow

Join us for a walk down memory lane.

The Newsroom opened its doors on 16 Oct 2011 at 124 Portman Street in Kinning Park. It was TCA Glasgow’s first centre and 15 years later it’s still home to the friendliest climbing community in Scotland.

Where TCA Glasgow started

The early days were very hands-on. Rob Sutton and Alan Cassidy, who are now TCA directors, were there from the very start, making the coffees, cleaning the toilets, painting the walls, setting the routes and running the place. The community that formed around them was psyched from day one.

Rob and Alan’s passion for climbing, along with the dedication and hard work of founding directors Rich Emerson and Paul Twomey, and all of the amazing staff who have worked here over the years is what has made TCA what it is today.

The people who grew up here

What makes The Newsroom and TCA Glasgow really special is the people. Some of the climbers who walked through the door in 2011 still climb here every week. Some of the kids who first climbed at The Newsroom and joined our early squads went on to become leading route setters in the industry. Many of today’s regulars have been part of the community for over a decade.

Where we are today

The walls have changed a lot. The holds available are far more interesting, making the setting much more varied, with new problems every week. Our community is more diverse than it’s ever been and every climber still gets the same warm welcome, whether it’s their first visit or their thousandth.

Watch our 10th birthday video

Five years ago we made a video to celebrate our 10th birthday. Look closely and you’ll spot plenty of faces who are still climbing with us today.

Made for The Newsroom’s 10th anniversary in 2021.

Come and climb with us

You don’t need any experience or a course to climb at The Newsroom. You can just turn up and climb. If you’d like a guided start, our bouldering inductions are there to help.

Enjoy some more

Vintage videos

We’ll never tire of rewatching the oldies, especially for Stu’s luscious locks. Check out this pre-opening teaser 1

Pre-opening teaser 2

Is TCA for you (2012)?

FAQs

• When did The Newsroom open?
  The Newsroom opened on 16 Oct 2011, making 2026 its 15th year.
• Where is The Newsroom?
  The Newsroom is at 124 Portman Street, Kinning Park, Glasgow G41 1EJ. It’s easy to reach from the M8, M77 and M74.
• Is there parking at The Newsroom?
  Yes. There’s free on-street parking outside The Newsroom, and it’s outside Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ).
• Can I get to The Newsroom by public transport?
  Yes. The Newsroom sits between two subway stations, Kinning Park and Shields Road, and it’s a short walk from each.
• What kind of climbing can I do at The Newsroom?
  The Newsroom is a bouldering centre, so all the climbing is on walls low enough that you don’t need ropes or a harness. For roped climbing, visit The Prop Store, TCA’s other Glasgow centre in Maryhill, which has lead, top-rope and auto belay climbing as well as loads of bouldering. Auto belay inductions are free on request.
• Do I need experience to climb at The Newsroom?
  No. You can just turn up and climb at The Newsroom. Bouldering inductions are optional for anyone who’d like a guided introduction.
• Who runs The Climbing Academy?
  TCA is climber-owned and run by four directors. Rich Emerson and Paul Twomey founded TCA, and Rob Sutton and Alan Cassidy were part of the team from the day The Newsroom opened in 2011 before becoming directors themselves. All four are passionate climbers who wanted a super welcoming and inclusive climbing space that also sold great coffee! Since then, that’s grown into five centres and TCA is still very much their passion project.
• Does TCA have other climbing centres?
  Yes. TCA has five centres: The Newsroom and The Prop Store in Glasgow, The Mothership and The Church in Bristol and The Arc in Chippenham, which TCA manages for the charity CBLC.