Mile End Climbing Wall is thirty years old this year; so we thought it time we’d have a birthday party.

Back in 1986 there wasn’t much choice. A few small concrete pretend cliffs in the corner of a sports hall; or some natural stone cemented into corridor walls. Mile End changed all of that by being the first dedicated climbing facility in the country. It wasn’t like today. Crank up the laptop and download the pretty pictures; then bring in the manufacturers and their CAD designs and watch it happen. Back then we had to work it out for ourselves. The first DR Climbing Wall panels; coated in high friction material and covered with fixed holds. Pushing the height with hard bouldering to six metres (have you ever wonder where the term ‘highball’ came from) and proper matting; so we all got more than one go at a problem.

Well we’ve not stood still; and almost everything is newer, bigger and better…but not higher. The Secret Garden with its freestanding Font style bloc; and beautiful, faceted Comp Wall offers an open cooler space during the summer. Down the corridor, the prototype eighties woodie training room (the original Boardroom) continues to evolve and mixes the best of the old with the best of the new training features. Over the years the fixed holds have been swept away by colourful ply; and Al and his route-setting team regularly use their very big box of the latest holds to create some of the best problems in London. So come along and join in; and if you’re beginning to flag, our friendly counter staff produce some of the best coffees for when you need that extra pep.

As we’ve been open for thirty years we thought we would recognise this with thirty hours of activities. It’ll be relaxing. There’ll be music (80’s theme of course, so dig out your lurid lycra), and a BBQ. There’s a comp in the Secret Garden with prizes to win, free T-shirts until they run out; and DVD’s to watch and some Masterclasses. And of course lots of climbing.

Further details can be found at www.mileendwall.org.uk/events