An indoor climbing group that has been operating in Bristol for 17 years has announced plans to sell its two centres in the city for an undisclosed sum.
The Climbing Academy (TCA), which also has sites in Glasgow and Chippenham in Wiltshire, has agreed a deal with Flashpoint Climbing Group.
The Mothership and The Church will rebrand at the end of September following the deal, the company said, and will remain open as TCA sites until then. As part of the transfer, current TCA Bristol staff will move to Flashpoint under TUPE regulations.
The sale comes in response to "mounting economic pressures" including inflation, increased operational costs and the impact of new competition opening in both Glasgow and Bristol, the company said on Tuesday (June 17).
TCA added that "ongoing recovery" from a major redevelopment had also made it difficult to continue operating the Bristol sites.
鈥淭his has been an incredibly difficult decision, and not one we鈥檝e taken lightly,鈥 said TCA co-founder and chief executive Rich Emerson. 鈥淏ristol is where TCA began 鈥 it鈥檚 part of our DNA.
"We鈥檙e deeply proud of the community we鈥檝e helped build here, and of the thousands of climbers who took their first steps on our walls.鈥
Flashpoint already has an activity centre on Mead Street in Bristol and a climbing wall in Bedminster in the city. It also has sites in Swansea, Cardiff and Swindon.
Jack Griffiths, chief executive at The Flashpoint Group, said: 鈥淲e have long admired what The Church and The Mothership have done for the industry and their unique climbing culture.
"The Church (originally UCR) was one of the original pioneering climbing walls, and has been open for over 30 years. When The Mothership (originally TCA) came along 16 years later they were one of the very first boulder-only facilities in the country, again paving the way for a new generation of walls and climbers.
"We all owe a debt to these two walls, their founders and their communities. None of us would be here without their vision and the responsibility now falls to us to build upon this legacy for future generations.鈥
The announcement comes less than a year after TCA secured 拢460,000 from the British Bank's South West Investment Fund to transform its Mothership venue on Charlton Street.
TCA said the sale would allow it to focus on "strengthening" its existing centres in Glasgow and Wiltshire where it operates a wall for Chippenham Borough Lands Charity.
鈥淭CA Bristol has meant so much to so many,鈥 added Mr Emerson. 鈥淲hile this chapter is ending, we know the community spirit will live on 鈥 and we鈥檙e grateful for every person who鈥檚 been part of the journey - including many who have been with us since week one.鈥
