Aitch Group are pleased to announce the lease of an 12,500 sq. ft. unit at Canal Place, to Stronghold Climbing Centres, set to be one of the largest indoor rock climbing centres in East London. With a maximum wall height of 4m and 700sqm of actual climbing surface within the building, visitors of the centre at Canal Place can expect a beautiful new bouldering centre that will build on Stronghold’s years of experience at their centre in Tottenham Hale and will encompass the very best of the London bouldering scene. Not only will there be hundreds of amazing climbs for complete beginners to elite level, visitors can also expect an air conditioned and temperature controlled climbing area, a yoga studio, full retail offering and a café overlooking Regent’s Canal. Altogether, these elements combine to create a strong community of climbers of all ages who use Stronghold to get fit, relax and bond with like minded individuals.

Indoor climbing is seen as one of the fastest growing sports in the UK over recent years and in 2021 it will have its debut as an Olympic sport in Tokyo which makes the opening at Aitch Group’s Canal Place fitting timing for those wishing to explore the sport for the first time or continue to develop their skills.

Dating back to at least as far as 1939, climbers began to find architectural facades suitable for climbing. The first purpose-built indoor walls were introduced in the 1980s and spread throughout Europe and North America by the mid-1990s. Now, around 1 Million people climb indoors in the UK – of which around 59% are estimated to climb exclusively indoors.

It is no real wonder that climbing is one of the biggest trends in physical fitness. Indoor climbing appeals to people of all ages and skill levels as it is easy to get started and a really great workout. Climbing a wall works every muscle group in the body, it burns calories at a rate equivalent to high-intensity activities such as spinning classes but integrates aerobic exercise with muscle building – resulting in a full body workout. Not only does climbing increase strength in the upper body and legs but it builds core strength too, as the climber must keep themselves parallel to the wall. It can be good for improving motor skills also, as navigating the wall requires hand-eye-foot coordination as well as stamina and balance.

Indoor climbing can also be a great way to tackle fears and mental restraints. Pushing oneself higher on the wall and being able to gradually achieve it, is a great lesson to learn and take into everyday life. One day you may push yourself to the top of the wall, the next you may have the confidence to stand up in a meeting and express your ideas and plans. All of the above benefits emphasise the excitement surrounding the creation of one of East London’s largest indoor rock climbing centres at Aitch Group’s Canal Place with the lease to Stronghold.

A stunning place to live or work, Canal Place in Hackney, 1-3 Sheep Lane, could not be closer to Regent’s Canal. In November 2020, Aitch Group completed the construction of 40 residential units and 32,000 sqft of commercial space. Situated in a prominent position overlooking the Regents Canal and moments away from the bustling Broadway Market, Canal Place provides unique space promoting productivity and tranquillity alike.

Piers Cook, Assistant Head of Asset and Property Management: “Aitch Group are pleased to announce the lease of the 12,500 sqft commercial unit to Stronghold Climbing Centres. The installation of one of the largest indoor climbing centres in East London will be a great asset to those at Canal Place and the surrounding community. We look forward to seeing it in action.”

Patrick Hammond, MD of Stronghold Climbing Centres says “Right from our first contact with Aitch Group it has been a fantastic experience. They understood what kind of space we were searching for and how our plans for expansion would fit into their building. The Aitch Group team have been brilliant in getting the Canal Place site ready for us to move in and now that we have the keys, we are cracking on with our internal fitout. This site will be a real step forward in what climbing walls are like in London and the U.K. We are really looking forward to getting these beautiful doors open soon for the large East London climbing community and are looking forward to working with Aitch Group again in the future.”