Gloucester company celebrates 30th Birthday with end-of-an-era climbing competition

After 30 years of climbing the walls, The Warehouse in Gloucester is marking the occasion with both a nod to the past and an eye on the future by holding their last ever competition on Saturday 13^th April

While an official date hasn’t been set, with the brand new, state-of-the-art climbing facilities due to open at 270 Climbing Park in Bentham around the end of the year, The Warehouse will be closing towards the end of 2024. During its 30 years, The Warehouse has been an ever-popular venue for adventurers of all ages and abilities. From children and adults learning the ropes for the very first time, or established climbers overcoming the various routes and challenges, the centre has seen hundreds of thousands of people scale its walls.

The Warehouse has seen the indoor climbing industry change beyond recognition and racked up some highly impressive statistics along the way; When the centre opened it was just the fifth dedicated climbing centre in the UK – today there are well over 100!  It’s estimated over 350,000 people have passed through the doors and experienced their first climbs on the Warehouse’s walls – that’s equivalent to half the population of Gloucestershire!   Over 18,000 children have celebrated their birthdays with parties at the centre.  Another interesting point, and perhaps a sign of healthier times, is that when The Warehouse first opened, in the café, beer outsold coffee by a ratio of 4 to 1, however now coffee outsells beer by 15 to 1!

Director Andrew Glassford added “So many climbers in this county and further afield have fond memories of climbing at The Warehouse, many as the first experience of a sport that has become a part of their lives. This competition aims to capture the welcoming, inclusive spirit of The Warehouse, with categories across a range of ages and climbing abilities.”

He continues “We’re proud of our heritage but we’re also excited about the future. The soon-to-be-built facilities at 270 Climbing will be incredible and we look forward to welcoming a new generation of climbers and helping to create many more memories at a brand-new venue. With adventurous experiences for everyone from families on day’s out to professional athletes aiming for Olympic medals and everyone in-between.”

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk