Check out the ultimate centre for adrenaline lovers as climbers of all abilities take to the walls at Ipswich’s new indoor bouldering park.
Avid indoor climbing opened its doors to the public 10 days ago after a 7,000sq ft warehouse was transformed into a vibrant climbing park.
The space uses 500 metres of walls that reach 4.5 metres in height and offer 250 different bouldering routes, catering for a wide range of abilities.
The new addition to Ransomes Europark features a padded safety floor, which offers the complete bouldering experience without any safety harnesses or ropes.
There is also a reception, changing rooms, a cafe and an office space - and the centre employs 12 to 15 specialist full-time staff members who will be on site to help climbers at all times.
Doors are open to climbers from noon to 10pm Monday to Friday and from 10am to 6pm at the weekends.
Standard entry, which is after 5pm Monday to Friday, is £9 and off peak tickets are £7.
Ten climb passes are currently available and monthly payments will be available soon.
Students receive discounted prices, along with groups of up to 10 people.
Owner Lindsay Barker is already thinking about ways to heighten the climbing experience, including bean bag ‘hang out’ areas for people to climb to.
“We’ve seen a huge demand for the climbing which has been great and the interest is really starting to build up,” said Miss Barker, who is embarking on a new venture after working in local government for 24 years.
“It’s been really amazing to see loads of people who have never climbed before trying it out for the first time and even coming back for a second time.”
The centre has received great feedback with people coming back again and again to experience the thrilling activity.
But Avid’s centre is not the only new climbing facility to come to the edge of the town.
Work is currently underway at the Havens in Ransomes Europark, which is due to open in Easter 2019 as a Clip ‘N’ Climb.
These new additions come with the increasing popularity of bouldering which will even have a place in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
People who have little climbing experience or those have never climbed before will need to do a climbing induction before reistering at Avid.
For more information, visit their website to get involved.
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