In reply to pOi:
> The Rock Solid wall is run ridiculously well - I'm not sure what you expect if you go between 5 and 7 - I go during the day or late and often have the place to myself. While the main bouldering wall does get busy I can't remember the last time someone was injured as a result of a fall onto someone else - everyone is often eager to spot.
Never been that early, but it's also extremely busy on weekdays between 7 and 9pm, so it's not like it's just a narrow time slot you need to avoid. It's usually nice and quiet from about 9:30 until closing.
Regarding injuries: as it happens, someone was stretchered out a week or two ago having hit someone on the way to the ground. Didn't see it happen so perhaps he was just unlucky. But that's not to say there's no problem unless someone gets hurt - it's often busy enough that people are scared to push themselves properly, and that's a shame.
> the lead tower is often very quiet as well - even when it is busy there is no issue finding routes or places to climb, nor is it unsafe.
The lead tower is indeed very quiet at certain times. However when it's busy, it's much worse than you describe. There are times when there are only two or three lines with no climbers on, and they've been only left free because because they're a bit to close to other people climbing wandering lines or in the chimneys. It sometimes gets to the point where the wall staff guard the lead tower and apply a "one in, one out" policy, so I don't think it's correct to say that even when it's busy there's "no issue".
We're all very grateful to have what we've got, and we appreciate that the Brookes staff and management are trying to do their best given the constraints, but I think there is a bit of a problem with overcrowding, and denying that it exists isn't helpful.
It's hard to see what can be done without increasing capacity or turning people away. Trying to shift some of the demand to off-peak times is definitely a good idea, but bear in mind that those of us working full-time often don't have much flexibility in our schedules.