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Opened in September 2011, The Quay Climbing Gym is a landmark climbing centre in the UK and a pioneer in the evolution of modern indoor climbing. Primarily designed as a lead and rope climbing centre, the gym combines high-level roped climbing, training facilities, bouldering, and Clip ’n Climb, with each activity operating as an independent business revenue stream.
Founded by entrepreneurs with backgrounds in finance and international business, the project marked a return to North Devon and the beginning of a long-term vision: to create a modern, professional climbing centre inspired by leading gyms in cities such as London and New York, while welcoming both committed climbers and a much wider audience.
In this documentary, we explore the history and evolution of indoor climbing through the story of Quay Climbing Center, opened in September 2011, and the vision that helped reshape climbing gyms in the UK.
There is truly climbing for everyone at The Quay. The centre offers 81 roped walls, making it one of the leading lead climbing facilities in the South West, with climbing lines ranging from 7 to 15 metres. In addition, 9 auto-belays deliver 37 climbing routes, increasing accessibility and throughput for a wide range of users.
A key milestone in the project was the introduction of Clip ’n Climb, a concept originating from New Zealand. The Quay became the first Clip ’n Climb centre in both the UK and Europe, redefining how people experience climbing for the first time. With 25 Clip ’n Climb lines, using auto-belays and colourful holds, this area quickly became a cornerstone of the business, attracting families, schools, and first-time climbers — many of whom later transitioned into traditional climbing. Bouldering also plays an important role at The Quay.
The gym’s two compact boulder caves punch well above their size, offering around 30 boulder problems, frequent resets, and a 10-degree circuit board with five circuits of up to 50 moves. This bouldering offer laid the foundations for a long-term vision that was fully realised with the opening of Boulder Exe in late 2024 — a dedicated bouldering gym offering 950 sqm of bouldering, completing a comprehensive regional climbing ecosystem alongside The Quay.
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