Today is the beginning of a thrilling new chapter for The Climbing Hangar, thanks to our brand new partnership with Verlinvest, the family owned, global investment powerhouse behind innovative, purpose-driven brands like Tony’s Chocolonely, Vita Coco and Who Gives a Crap. They are all-in to help us supercharge our mission of inspiring bolder living through indoor climbing.
So what’s the plan, man? Well by 2030, our goal is to have half a million people enjoying the magic of climbing and Hangar good vibes, every year, across multiple new facilities in the UK. We’re obsessed with getting to the top of climbs and committed to spreading the genuine joy and community spirit of the Hangar as widely as possible.
When I opened the first Hangar in 2011, it was a different life, I lived in a store cupboard behind the cave sleeping on spare off cuts of matting for 18 months. I didn’t care I just wanted a place to share my climbing obsession with friends. It quickly became clear that the positive impact of climbing was something special, something that needed to be shared far and wide.
Since then, we’ve grown to 9 Hangars, introducing straightforward, affordable pricing and supporting change-making initiatives like The Women’s Climbing Symposium, Fri-Gay, and Refugees Rock. We have over 200 team members and had a million check ins in the last year alone!! What a roller coaster! I remember when 100 check-ins a day was a huge milestone.
Now, with Verlinvest behind us, people with financial resources, expertise, a global network and a vision for using business to make a better world, we’re set to take The Climbing Hangar to new levels, reaching more people than ever, sharing our love for climbing in its many forms and staying true to our soul. I’m so excited.
A huge and infinite thank you to our TCH team for your dedication to making people feel welcome every single day. In every bit of feedback we get, the team and the warmth they bring is what stands out over and over again.
And to you, our customers, for turning up, for bringing the psyche, for getting stuck in, for turning the simple materials of wood and resin holds into a living, breathing, caring community that I love to be immersed in.
Adventures are so much better together, and I cannot wait to embark on this next mission with all of you.
