The Foundry Climbing Centre — Attraction in Sheffield

The original and still one of the best. With Sheffield home to such a large climbing cohort, there are no fewer than 4 walls to choose from, which compete not only with each other, but with some of the finest outdoor climbing in the UK a few miles away in the Peak District. Since it opened in 1990, The Foundry has somehow found a way to navigate the shifting needs and interests of the climbing community and constantly reinvent itself, refreshing its layout, its routes, walls, and methods of climbing available over time. Behind all this is a feeling that you're climbing in a place steeped in history, owned by climbing greats and used by many more who visit. The most recent addition to the centre is autobelay devices on a number of the routes which make it entirely feasible and fun to do route climbing alone if your partner bails for the evening. If you want indoor bouldering, there's nowhere better in the UK than the Climbing Works; if you want indoor climbing, there's nowhere better in the UK than The Foundry. Frankly astonishing that both can be found in...

Drove all the way to Sheffield as we got there the guy without the beard was cool and nice to speak to, told him we only had quick line experience and don't even know how to put a harness on. Told us that's no problem, showed us the proper way to put it on and we started with the online disclaimer, guy told us to put yes to everything so we did. Second guy with a beard comes in, he's already has a problem with us, telling us we put yes even though we told the other guy no, got us to put the harness on which we did and tied them properly, even though my right leg was inside out apparently and didn't mention it until I tightened it all up, then starts saying to my friend tie a 8 barrel knot or whatever it is and obviously he doesn't know because we told the guy what our experience was.

None of them even tried explaining anything and just expected us to be pros.

Not a good first experience...

Really good instruction with respects to roped climbing. Lots of friendly staff and a good shop. Very heavy emphasis on safety which is encouraging. Unlike a number of other indoor walls, the walls here provide the challenge of 'features' where you need to read the wall beyond just the coloured holds. Gears you up mentally for the outdoors.

My only issue is with how busy this centre can be. If you turn up at a busy time (7 to 9 pm on a weekday), there's too many people to climb as you'd want- eg last week I had to pause for a couple of minutes on 2 different routes whilst a newer climber to the side of me crossed over on an intersecting route. if I hadn't been able to rest at that particular point, it'd be unsatisfying as coming off due to overcrowding rather than your own skill isn't what I go...