Finley Leisure managing director John Finley with ROF 59 lead climbing instructor Matthew Breadin (left) and consultant Nick Pilling.
Finley Leisure managing director John Finley with ROF 59 lead climbing instructor Matthew Breadin (left) and consultant Nick Pilling.

Member Article

Newton Aycliffe climbing facility to relaunch with £350k investment

Newton Aycliffe activity centre ROF 59 is relaunching its climbing facility following a £350k investment.

Based on Aycliffe Business Park, the venue will soon install five new elements of adventure walls, speed climbing walls, a tower climbing area, mosaic climbing walls and ‘bouldering’.

Bosses at ROF 59, which is owned by local businessman John Finley, have used Lancashire-based firm Entre-Prises to make the move.

With the help of local climbing consultant Nick Pilling, of Redworth-based Mountain Activity Company (MAC), the four-month programme has created two new full-time and 10 part-time roles at ROF 59 after the closure of Rock Antics earlier this year.

ROF 59 has also appointed Matthew Breadin as its new lead climbing instructor.

Finley said: “It has been a long project and months in the making but we’ve been determined to make it a climbing facility to attract people of all abilities, and we’re delighted with the end result.

“In Entre-Prises we’ve used the world’s leading manufacturer of climbing walls and holds, and together with the expert guidance of local climbing consultant Nick Pilling we’re confident we’ve created something really special for people who either love climbing, or want to try it out.”

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