April 12th Re-opening!
The Government has now released information on the roadmap back to reopening businesses. We have been given an opening date of 12th April for reopening, we hope to see you then. We can’t wait to open our doors and welcome you all back.
Roadmap to Re-opening
Step 2 (12th April)
- Redpoint reopens*
- Kids lessons and Rock Monkeys Clubs are back
- Private lessons for households or bubbles.
- Outdoor Courses start**
- Café will remain closed
* You will be able to come and climb at Redpoint again but you must not socialise outside of your household. You will also need to wear a mask, and adhere to all the centre rules below to keep everyone safe until we can return to normal!
** Outdoor courses for upto 6 people or 2 households
Step 3 (17th May)
- Rule of 6 indoors**
- Adult group lessons are back***
**You will be able to socialise with 6 people (or two households) in the climbing wall again!
***Scheduled courses including Adult Tasters, Learn to Climb, Learn to move for adults will be back!
Step 4 (21st June)
Back to normal?
Centre Rules relating to COVID until we can get back to normal!
Health Declaration
DO NOT attend if you or anyone else in your household are showing any symptoms of COVID-19 or if you are self isolating. Entry will be on the understanding that anyone persistently coughing or displaying other possible COVID symptoms may be asked to leave. Anyone coughing or sneezing must do so into a disposable tissue, or something similar (and dispose of), or into the crook of their elbow.
NHS guide to self isolation
Face Coverings
You are required to wear a face covering in all areas of the centre.
This includes the climbing area and when belaying. You don’t have to wear it whilst your actually climbing but we recommend you keep it on
If you do take it off to climb remember hand Hygiene is extra important.
Under 11’s and people with certain health reasons will be exempt from this.
We reserve the right to refuse entry or ask a customer to leave for not following this policy.
Social Distancing
Please adhere to the 2m distancing rule wherever possible in the none climbing areas unless climbing in a family bubble, or similar. There is some guidance on distancing while climbing further down the page.
Regular washing and sanitising of hands
Unlike ‘normal’ gyms where the equipment can be cleaned after each use, climbing walls will have to sanitise the climbers rather than the ropes and holds etc.
To enable this we will have sanitising stations on entry and at other points in the centre, but we will rely on customers using their own sanitiser throughout their session, ideally before and after climbing a route.
We will have small personal bottles of sanitiser (with a mini karabiner) and refills available at reception for a nominal fee. We have tested these and reckon that each bottle is good for around 100 goes.
In case you are wondering, tests have shown that hand sanitiser has no detrimental effect on ropes and harnesses.
There has been a lot of talk regarding liquid chalk; you are welcome to use it but only in addition to sanitising as liquid chalk is not something that you would use after a route. Rock On has a good stock of this if you want to try it.
Incidentally, a soon-to-be-published study seems to indicate that climbing chalk is very effective at de-activating viruses very quickly, which would be great news for climbers!
Coming climbing
We are currently intending to avoid pre-booked time slots for climbers that don’t need instruction. We would like everyone’s return to climbing to be as normal as possible but with additional social distancing and sanitising.
Signing in
Everyone who has been to the shops will be used to queuing in a socially distant manner, so you might need to do this on entry and logging in at reception. We will try to get everyone into the centre as quickly as possible but please be aware that at busier times this may involve queuing outside so please come dressed appropriately.
Please also use the NHS Test and Trace APP and scan the QR code on entry.
Payment
Contactless payment will be preferred, as well as pre-paid options. If you do wish to pay cash, we will not be accepting old (paper) £20 notes as we have to sanitise them.
Number of climbers
There will be a limit on the number of people in the building at around 70 people. Looking at previous footfall, the proposed limit is rarely reached but if it is, we may have to refuse entry at the busiest times, until space becomes available. This is unlikely but we need you to understand this.
Allowed time climbing
Currently there will be no limit on how long you can stay, but to make this work it is essential that everyone not only logs in, but also logs out at reception, and don’t forget to sanitise on your way out.
Changing Rooms
We only have very ltd use of the changing rooms currently. The best option is to turn up ready to climb please.
We are not making additions to our Conditions of Use to accommodate the risk that COVID-19 poses, although we have added it to our own Risk Assessments, it is a fact of life now and anyone taking part in the activity will be assumed to accept this as a risk (along with gravity)
Climbing Area
Customers will be expected to observe the 2m distancing rule wherever possible, unless climbing in a family bubble, or similar. This will mean choosing your climbing route to keep this spacing either vertically or horizontally. Belayers will need to position themselves accordingly and climbers will need to stagger their starting times if other climbers are on an adjacent route.
The ‘1m +’ rule may be followed in the brief moments where climbers need to pass one another (e.g. one ascending and one descending) by facing away from each other. This will also be applied at non-climbing ‘pinch-points’ on the ground and on the stairs.
Climbers on any of the lead-climbing link ups will only be able to do these routes when capacity allows as these cross over multiple lines.
A quick note on lead climbing.. if you are one of the many who have the habit of putting the rope in your mouth whilst clipping, it would be a good idea to break that habit. It may be your own rope but remember how many fingers have been on the quickdraws before you.
Bouldering Area
As with the rest of the centre, we will rely on climbers to apply the 2m and 1m+ distancing rules as appropriate.
Hire Equipment
All hire equipment will be available as usual, except for chalk bags.
This equipment is sanitized and used on a rotational basis.
Rock On Shop
The Rock On shop will be back to its normal opening hours. Rock On will be subject to the government rules that anyone entering the shop must wear a mask or face covering.
Opening hours
Our ‘normal’ hours will still be 10am till 10pm on weekdays and 10am till 6pm at weekends and bank holidays. We may review our opening hours based on demand, we will update these on the website.
Climbing Times
With so many people working from home, this gives some flexibility for when people might be able to come climbing as the centre is generally quieter during the daytime. Please consider coming in the daytime if you can. Midweek evenings tend to be busier but Monday and Friday evenings are quieter.
Café and reception restrictions
Initially we will be unable to sell any prepared food in the café, but we will be able to sell pre-packed snacks, bottled drinks and cuppas. You will NOT be able to refill your own water bottles.
Seating will also be restricted in reception to help with social distancing.
Spectators
At present, in keeping with many other centres we will be unable to accommodate spectators, including parents of children on lessons. Any lessons that can be run will be on a drop off and pick up basis wherever possible.
Lockers
We would be grateful if customers could arrive as ready to climb as possible to minimise the need to use lockers or changing rooms. Some lockers will be available, but we need to avoid ‘pinch points’ around them. Changing rooms will be available on request, anyone needing to get changed is requested NOT to do so in reception.
Contact Tracing
Please use the NHS track and trace Barcode on entry. We are required to assist with contact tracing, so we will need to have a valid current telephone number for everyone entering Redpoint. We’ll check this with you on your first return visit. It is essential that everyone not only logs in, but also logs out at reception
Cleaning
Key touchable surfaces will be wiped down frequently with appropriate cleaning products.
Even with our regular cleaning we strongly recommend that you sanitise your hands regularly and avoid touching your face.
Something to consider..
For those of you that haven’t belayed or tied in for a while, please feel free to ask us to check that you can remember the necessary skills.
If you haven’t built a home climbing wall and been training throughout lockdown, please be kind to yourself when you start climbing again. You might not equal your personal best on day one. Remember to warm up and take things easy to start with.
Post-lockdown, you will be allowed to add a grade to every route if it makes you happy