HTA helps popular leisure operator to climb the property ladder

1st December 2017

Industrial property specialist, HTA Real Estate has completed the letting of a 20,000 sq.ft warehouse at Byker Bank to an expanding North East climbing centre.

Climb Newcastle Ltd, which initially opened in 2008 at the old swimming pool in Byker, has taken two floors of the property at Ford Street and invested over £300,000 in kitting out the new centre.

Since it was launched, Climb Newcastle has proved popular with North East climbing and bouldering enthusiasts. The company is now embarking on a new phase of expansion and is looking to make further recruitment to add to its 15-strong team of staff.

With the company’s first centre running at capacity for a number of years, the directors behind Climb Newcastle have been eager to find a suitable second site for some time, which would accommodate their 4.5m climbing walls.

Chris Graham of Climb Newcastle said: “We were looking for a site close to the city centre, with good public transport links so that we can accommodate commuters travelling to and from work.

“We have invested in providing great facilities, including showers, which are proving popular with those wanting a pre-work climb at 7am! This centre is geared up to provide training and coaching facilities, but is also a popular place for parents to bring children from age 3 upwards, as well as school and scout groups.”

Climb Newcastle, which had originally intended to take only one floor of the Ford Street property, soon decided that it needed the whole building in order to accommodate the firm’s ambitious plans.

Simon Hill, director at HTA Real Estate explained: “After initially agreeing a letting of the first floor, it soon became clear that Climb Newcastle needed extra space to provide additional facilities.

“In order to accommodate their plans, we negotiated a surrender of the previous tenant’s ground floor lease and then agreed a new lease with Climb Newcastle. There is a high level of demand for industrial premises for leisure uses and this building is ideally suited to indoor climbing. I have no doubt it will prove to be a successful venture.”

The first floor of the new Climb Newcastle centre features state of the art climbing facilities, changing rooms, a reception, shop and café. The ground floor accommodates climbing training facilities, with space to run classes which supplement climbing training, such as yoga.

(Photo: Mark Savage)