The opening date for a new rock climbing centre has been revealed.
Chimera Climbing will be opening its latest Kent branch at Pier 5, Chatham Quays, near Chatham Dockside Shopping Outlet, on May 24.
The new centre will be replacing Flip Out trampoline park, which closed suddenly in February.
Chimera, which describes itself as an “indoor rock climbing gym boasting one of the finest bouldering walls in the south east of England”, already has a facility in Tunbridge Wells and an indoor rock climbing gym in Canterbury.
Bosses have said the Chatham location will be the company’s “biggest wall yet” and will be its first with an outdoor boulder.
It will also have a yoga room and training areas as well as a café area.
The centres offer climbing for all ages and abilities. Children aged over five can have a go and they offer children’s parties too.
There are children’s lessons for ages five to 16 and school holiday clubs.
They offer a range of adult lessons including a taster session for newcomers and women-only classes.
The new wall will have a dedicated children’s zone and there will be routes for all abilities as well as a training area.
Chimera will work with schools to make sure as many pupils get to give it a go as possible, and there will be film nights as well as a shop and cafe.
The walls have been designed by a British-based, eco-friendly company along with an award-winning architect.
There will also be yearly competitions and special events with guest speakers from the climbing community.
On the opening day, visitors will have the opportunity to have one-on-one instruction time.
There will also be a few “surprise areas” at the centre for climbers.
