In reply to ericinbristol:
Flashpoint has been around for a couple of years now. I've not been but I've heard good things (though I think the walls are made of that super abrasive stuff that just eats through shoes). You might not be aware if you're not up-to-date with Bristol that TCA expanded into the upstairs at their building and is now double the size with a much more modern bouldering set-up upstairs and a proper training area. Bloc also expanded into the area where Bananafingers shop used to be and knocked through the wall between the units, so is a lot bigger.
Having worked at Bloc from 2017-2020, there was absolutely the demand for another centre and, though I haven't climbed inside since February 2020, they were regularly heaving.
The bouldering around Bristol isn't terrible, and there has been a lot of recent development of previously neglected places like Avon Valley Sandstone, as well as a lot of activity down the side of the Donkey Slide, bottom of Sea Walls and all the Frome sandstone. There is also the Huntsham Crags and Sally in the Woods close by. The demand in the last year for the Frome Valley Sandstone guide that GWR put out has been hilarious. There is a new guide coming out from Great Western Rock for Bristol Bouldering (due in the next month or so) that will have all the local stuff.
Don't get me wrong, it's garbage compared to the likes of the Peak District or Dartmoor but there is a huge amount of development and activity going on and a massive market that the walls and developers are tapping into. Time will tell if all these new outdoor climbers are here for good or just a symptom of closed climbing centres.
