Overview

I take my teens to The Climbing Hangar 2 or 3 times a week. While I don’t climb, I do find the rest of the building refreshingly accessible and delightfully welcoming. My teens enjoy the independent climbing as well as the (free to members) lessons, and there have been no sensory issues. There is a cafe and large seating area for those of us who are grounded, with great food and drinks and plenty of room for wheelchairs, and great big windows to watch the climbing. The outdoor seating is inaccessible to wheelchairs/mobility issues. Though almost no-one wears a mask, I’m assured the ventilation system is robust and A+ due to the chalk used on the walls.

Transport & Parking

There are two disabled spaces right next to the door. I’ve never had a problem grabbing one at any time of day. If you don’t have a blue badge, there are about 4 spaces near the door and a bigger car park just over the road, all on the flat.

Access

All is flat and accessible. There are wide double doors into the building that are light enough for one person to manage, and even my chunky electric wheelchair fits through just one, easily. When opened wide, they catch open, so no hands needed. Plenty of space has been left on the floor for accessing the desk, the cafe, the lockers and the toilets. There are wide double doors exactly like the front doors into the climbing area. There is a wide flat path through the climbing walls and pads, so you can access the space even in a chair. I can’t speak to their accessibility if you are disabled and wishing to climb, but with their overt commitment to accessibility, I’d be very surprised if they didn’t do everything possible to facilitate that.

Toilets

Woohoo! Huge room, door is light and not weighted to shut on you. It’s also a wet room with a shower chair. Emergency cord is always free. Clean. Excellent.

Staff

The staff are all lovely. There’s no elitism, no cliqueyness. Even if you’ve never climbed before you will feel welcome and supported.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Dogs are welcome.

Photos