Our last blog post was on the expansion of Flashpoint Bristol – now for one better:
We’re honoured to announce that The Church and The Mothership, two of Bristol’s (and the UK’s) most iconic climbing walls, will be joining the Flashpoint family this autumn.
After 17 years at the heart of Bristol’s climbing community, The Climbing Academy (TCA) has made the decision to step back from its Bristol operations. It’s a significant moment in the city’s climbing history, and we’re proud to carry the torch forward.
“This has been an incredibly difficult decision, and not one we’ve taken lightly,” said TCA Co-Founder and CEO, Rich Emerson. “Bristol is where TCA began – it’s part of our DNA. We’re deeply proud of the community we’ve helped build here, and of the thousands of climbers who took their first steps on our walls.”
The Church (originally UCR) was one of the UK’s first indoor climbing walls, helping to pioneer the modern indoor scene. Years later, The Mothership defined what a bouldering centre could be, laying the foundations for the dedicated boulder gyms we know today.
They’ve played a huge role in shaping climbing in Bristol, but more importantly, they’ve become vibrant community hubs, where people found the sport they love, made lifelong friendships, and in some cases, even got married.
We deeply respect that legacy, and we’re committed to keeping what makes these centres so special: the people, the personality, and the climbing. That means the same friendly staff, the same creative setting, and the same welcoming atmosphere that have defined The Church and The Mothership for years.
This isn’t the first time we’ve welcomed a beloved wall into the fold. When Roc-Bloc became Flashpoint Cardiff, our aim was simple: keep the team, the soul, and the setting style intact. A few years on, we’re proud to say that transition was a huge success, and we’re approaching this new chapter in Bristol with the same care and commitment.
Jack Griffiths, Chief Executive Officer at Flashpoint Climbing Group, said:
“We have long admired what The Church and The Mothership have done for the industry and their unique climbing culture. 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.”
We’re currently aiming for completion by the end of September 2025. For now, TCA and Flashpoint memberships remain separate, and you won’t yet be able to use a single pass across all centres.
We’ll be in touch with members and punch card climbers as soon as we’re ready to merge systems and streamline access. The plan:
With access to our fantastic South Wales gyms, in Swansea and Cardiff, as the cherry on top.
Bear with us over the summer while we make this vision a reality.
– The Flashpoint Climbing Group Team
Q: Will I be able to climb at all sites with my membership?
A: Not just yet, but that’s the plan. We’re aiming to unify access across all four Bristol centres this autumn.
Q: Will the prices change?
A: Prices will remain the same for now. We will be reviewing the pricing structure over the summer with the aim of a simple system across all sites.
Q: What’s happening with Punch Cards and Memberships?
A: We plan to merge the membership and punch card systems across all sites, but this won’t happen until Autumn at the earliest. In the meantime, there’s no crossover between Flashpoint/Redpoint and The Church/Mothership Memberships or Punch Cards.
Q: What’s happening with the downstairs at The Mothership?
A: We still intend to complete the renovation, including wall updates and a brand-new training board.
Q: What about the other TCA sites?
A: We’re only purchasing The Church and The Mothership in Bristol. The Arc, The Newsroom, and The Prop Store will continue to operate under TCA. We will continue to support the Arc as needed.
Q: What will change?
A: Not much to begin with. Gradually, you’ll notice small changes like staff uniforms and signage shifting from TCA to Flashpoint/Redpoint branding. But the core things, the staff and the setting, will stay the same. And that’s what really matters.
Q: What’s happening with the Youth Groups and Squad?
A: We hope to create more opportunities for young climbers by allowing them to experience different coaching styles across multiple walls.
Q: Will the setting change across the Bristol sites?
A: We already aim to keep differences between Redpoint and Flashpoint, and we’ll continue that approach. The in-house teams at The Church and The Mothership will remain, so the setting will feel familiar, hopefully with a few shiny new holds in the mix!
Q: Will all four Bristol walls stay open?
A: Absolutely. Our goal is to offer incredible value with:
Four centres. One city. One membership. One community.
(With Flashpoint Cardiff and Swansea included as the cherry on top.)
Q: Will I be able to get a 1-site membership or a 2-site membership
A: Currently, the plan is for one membership with the incredible value of 4 walls in Bristol (and 2 more in South Wales). We’ll keep you updated with any pricing or membership structure changes.
We’ll add more FAQs here as needed. If you have a question, just ask, chances are someone else is wondering the same thing.
