FAQs

Everything you need to know

From your first visit to out-of-hours access — find answers below or get in touch if you can't find what you're looking for.
Getting Started
Bouldering is climbing on shorter walls without ropes, using soft matting for landing. It's social, accessible, and a great full-body workout.
We are a community bouldering facility open to climbers of all abilities, from complete beginners to experienced boulderers. We exist to make climbing accessible, enjoyable, and safe for everyone. Currently, we are an entirely volunteer-led community enterprise.
Not at all. We welcome complete beginners. You don't need any prior experience — just a willingness to learn and an awareness of the risks involved.
Yes. All climbers must complete an Acknowledgement of Risk and the Climbing Commons Conditions of Use before their first session. This is handled online when you create your account.
Climbing carries an inherent risk of injury, even at low heights. The mats reduce impact but don't remove risk. The safety induction helps you understand how to climb safely. Ultimately, you're responsible for your own decisions while climbing.
Booking & Access
No — everything runs on a booking system to keep things safe and fair for everyone.
Up to 3 future bookings at once, and a maximum of 2 sessions per day. See our passes & pricing page for full booking rules.
Please cancel at least 2 hours before your session so someone else can take your place. Late cancellations and no-shows are recorded.
Yes. All climbers and supervising adults must check in on arrival by scanning their booking QR code at the front door, or by being manually checked in through the Clava app.
What to Bring
Comfortable clothing you can move in. You'll also need climbing shoes — bring your own or hire ours for free if available.
No. Climbing shoes must be worn on the wall for safety and hygiene reasons. We have a limited number of free rental shoes available.
We recommend bringing a water bottle and snacks, but they must be kept off the mats. Food and drinks are also available at The Long Table at Brimscombe Mill, subject to their opening hours.
Learning
General guidance is always available, but structured instruction must be booked in advance when available. If you're unsure, book an introduction session.
If you haven't completed registration and induction, you're considered a novice and should be supervised by someone competent.
Yes, but if they're new they'll need to register, complete the forms and induction, and be supervised appropriately.
Children & Families
Yes! We have a dedicated children's area designed for younger climbers. See our full guide to climbing with under-18s.
Our children's area is suitable for ages 2–10. Supervision at all times is a condition of use.
Rules vary by age band:

Age 2–10: 1:1 adult-to-child ratio during mixed sessions. No ratio required during kids-only sessions.
Age 11–15: 2:1 adult-to-child ratio during mixed sessions. No ratio during kids-only sessions.
Age 16–18: Can climb during staffed hours with parent/guardian consent. Can also climb during unstaffed hours accompanied by an adult member and assessment by the team.

See the full breakdown on our How to Join page.
No. Non-climbing supervising adults don't have to pay or use up their booking allowance.
£3 per session regardless of your own pass type. See passes & pricing for pack options.
Each child under 16 is £3 per session regardless of age band. Supervising adult don't pay or use up booking allowance. Ratio rules apply per child based on their own age band.
Membership & Fair Use
No. Memberships and QR codes are for personal use only.
To keep access fair. With limited capacity, every unused slot is a missed opportunity for someone else. You can hold 3 future bookings at once.
Yes. Maximum 2 sessions per day, so you can climb for up to 3 hours subject to availability.

All current staffed sessions are run by volunteer coordinators from our community. This is intentional — we deliberately built a hybrid staffed/unstaffed model so we could observe real usage patterns and cashflow before committing to paid staffing.

We're transitioning to a paid staffing model for harder-to-fill slots, with volunteers complementing that. Staffed hours will increase as both pipelines grow.

If you'd like to become a trained inductor able to staff the facility, training takes around 2 hours plus a 20 minute assessment with a technical advisor. We run cohorts when we have 10 or more people ready.

When you're a trained inductor, every time you climb or hot-desk we can open as a staffed session — directly growing availability for the whole community. Join the volunteer WhatsApp to register your interest →

Out of Hours Access
Yes, but you need to be a member and have completed the Super Induction.
You'll need to demonstrate that you can manage risks, follow safety procedures, and take responsibility for yourself and others in the space. It's a free one-off session. Book your Super Induction here.
Staffed (Core) hours are when a volunteer trained inductor is on site. Out-of-hours access is available to members who have completed the Super Induction. This is considered equivalent in risk to solo outdoor bouldering and is subject to additional safety protocols. Full details on our How It Works page.
Safety & Rules
The area beneath a climber. It must always be clear of people and belongings.
No. Jewellery must be removed to prevent injury.
Report it immediately via the QR code on the wall or by speaking to a volunteer staff.
Please let us know before climbing. This helps us support you safely if needed.
Report it immediately. In serious cases, call emergency services and avoid moving the injured person.
Community & Culture
Small, community-focused, welcoming. Whether it's your first climb or your thousandth, the aim is to make everyone feel they belong here.
Only if it's welcome. Many people prefer to work things out themselves — it's best to ask first.
You can film yourself, but don't film others without their consent.
That's completely normal. Climbing can feel intimidating at first, but most people find it fun, social, and rewarding very quickly. Start easy, take your time, and ask questions — we're here to help.

Still not sure? Can't find what you're looking for? Get in touch →

The rules

Climb Like a Commoner

Ten simple rules that keep Climbing Commons safe, welcoming and fair for everyone.

1 Leave it better than you found it.
2 Be kind — everyone belongs here.
3 Report any issues.
4 Look up, stay out of fall zones.
5 Supervise your children at all times.
6 No outdoor shoes on the mats.
7 Jewellery off, tops on.
8 No bare feet on the holds.
9 Food, drinks, phones off the mats.
10 Down climb when you can.