Clip ‘n Climb Colchester has confirmed that its new indoor climbing and soft play centre at Northern Gateway will open on Saturday 25 April.
The centre will feature 22 climbing challenges, including three of Clip ‘n Climb’s newest walls: Crunched, Artifact and Quadra. Crunched uses soft, PVC‑covered foam holds and encourages climbers to use techniques such as bridging to reach the top. Artifact includes four climbing lines with different difficulty levels on each side, making it ideal if you want to challenge friends or family to a race. Quadra may look simple at first, but its angled holds mean you’ll need plenty of stamina to make it all the way up.
Alongside 22 climbing challenges, with 30 different lines to suit all abilities, there will also be a Play Den soft play area spread across three levels. Designed for children up to 10 years old, it offers younger visitors a safe and exciting space to explore, climb and play.
Designed with the community in mind
The centre will open with a simple timetable, with plans to introduce additional sessions based on what you tell them you want. This includes the option to run quieter SEN sessions, with lower noise levels and reduced capacity, to create a calmer and more comfortable environment.
Colchester City Council has supported the development as part of the wider Colchester Leisure Park, helping to bring new leisure opportunities, jobs and family‑friendly facilities to the city.
Run by local partners
The centre is run by four local franchise partners with strong ties to the area. Brothers Jake and Joe Moore already operate Curve Water Sports, a popular outdoor activity destination in Essex. They are joined by Dr Leo Monzon and Naomi Lock, who are bringing their skills and experience into the world of family leisure for the first time.
Jake Moore, co-franchisee said: “We can’t wait to open our doors on 25 April. There’s real excitement in the local community and we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to what we believe will be the go-to family destination for Essex. We’ve already had lots of enquiries about birthday parties for both Clip ‘n Climb and Play Den.”
Cllr David King, Leader of Colchester City Council, said: “This is great news for residents and families in Colchester. Clip ‘n Climb is a fantastic addition to Colchester Leisure Park, giving you a new, fun way to be active close to home. We’re pleased to see the site continuing to grow as a place where people can spend time together and enjoy high‑quality leisure facilities.”
You’ll soon be able to book your visit online. If you’d like to be among the first to know when bookings go live, you can sign up for updates at www.colchester.clipnclimb.co.uk.