UKC

Leeds wall has closed down for 'refurbishment', although the refurbishment apparently involves laying off all staff and ownership has changed. Rumour mill says the Depot have bought it out but I have no confirmation of that.

Anyone have any information about plans and timescales for refurb?

Its a shame to see the place close down although it needs a bit of TLC and such could see it restored to former status. I do fear it will become another shiny vertical playground rather than the ace training facility it once was.

From what I have been told although could be rumour, the reception will be moved downstairs and a bouldering wall upstairs, and new café. Although I can't see where there would be room for a bouldering wall unless they knock down the new children's auto belay area. Also all the main walls will be refurbished but again this was pretty vague. Supposedly they will re-open around autumn time. Fingers crossed it will be much better. 

Wasn't that the first climbing wall, where people trained on a brick wall? 

No - that was Leeds University Wall.

Forgive my sacrilege.

Sad to hear staff have been laid off. I hope they're all ok and find other work.

Fingers crossed the old place has a rosy future as there is too much history in that place to lose it.

if The Depot Company have purchased it, why would you think it would become anything besides an excellent training facility like all their other walls? 

Because a) I don't know that the depot have bought it as I said and b) becuase I'm a miserable sod who will lament the days of the freezing cold, leaky roof, cup of tea and chips for a couple of quid, crap bouldering mats but good problems and routes when it is turned into somewhere that sells espressos for £2.50 and cake for a fiver while being well lit and well run and heaving with people. The business interests of the place are not in line with my own interests.

In other words don't listen to my recommendations as they will not be aligned with the commercial viability of the place.

Plus you can barely breathe in the depot because of all the chalk dust.

Yours truly,

NorthernGrit - Not that old but fairly curmudgeonly.

In that case you should probably build your own training facility then, as no commercial ones that you approve of will last long. 

This is a real shame - I was so hoping they'd keep the same staff.  All the ones I've had dealings with have been really nice.

When I was contacted about the refund of my annual membership I was told the depot are buying it, so I think it's fairly official.  

I hope they're quick about it.  We've moved to the Edge temporarily but it's not the same.  Is Rokt in Brighouse any good?  

Hopefully they'll rip out the clip and climb bit, there's a dedicated clip n'climb centre not far away now so they're probably on a hiding to nothing with that

The Leeds Wall was without doubt the worst wall I have ever been to and I do not mourn its passing. It is perfectly possible to have character and good setting, but the Leeds Wall had neither. It was cold, expensive, shit problems, even shitter routes, the worst training room I have ever used. The climbing community of Leeds deserved better.

Whoever buys it, they cannot do worse, but I hope they do a hell of a lot better. I look forward to giving it a go.

I didn't find it any colder than most other walls, and not much different in price. I think the routes are well set , although wrongly graded on the comp wall at least. The bouldering was okay for a non-specialist facility before it was ruined for the kids area. The training is very limited but £3 if you just want to train. Turn the circuit board into something like the board at The Depot and I'd be there more often.

Everything else doesn't really bother me really.

Good of them to refund your membership , alot of less reputable companies might not of bothered, guessing this was probably the new owners first act of business.

I cant comment on Rokt never been, but looks like a unique setting

Learned today that September is ambitious. The sale hasn't gone through yet

Is there any more information on when it will be reopening?

I went rokt for the first time the other day. The lead climbing is fairly naff but the bouldering and training areas are well worth going for. The layout of the place is an absolute maze though. It's genuinely difficult finding the best bits. Head to the top floor for the best stuff, actual windows and ventilation. 

Apparently close to an agreement.  A press release will be forthcoming when it's all fully finalised, and apparently the big refurbs will be saved for next summer, when it will most likely close again for this work.  Apparently this summer all they're going to be doing is checking out the building, cleaning it up and resetting.  Hopefully that won't take long but there's no official timescale for it.  New owners just want to get in and get things moving but the Is and Ts have to be dotted/crossed.

Thanks for the update

Looks like the depot are advertising for staff and are saying they will open in the autumn

Hey, I entirely missed this response, thanks for the update