Liverpool Climbing Hangar
Liverpool
Product
Funding use
Sector
Amount
Fund
Summary
The Climbing Hangar is a Liverpool-based indoor climbing specialist that has grown from its Sandhills headquarters into a national success story. Through strategic support from River Capital’s Flexible Growth Fund, the company has expanded to 11 sites across the UK, employing 189 staff and serving over 22,000 members.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the leisure industry faced unprecedented disruption. The Climbing Hangar needed capital to expand operations and renovate existing facilities while navigating the uncertain recovery period. Traditional financing options were limited, and the company required flexible support to execute its growth strategy.
The Solution
In 2020, River Capital provided a £496,000 Flexible Growth Fund loan through Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram’s £20m Growth Fund. This investment enabled:
- Opening of the new Matchworks Unit in Speke (the company’s fifth location)
- Comprehensive renovation of the original Sandhills site
- Strategic positioning for post-pandemic growth in the leisure sector
The Results
The Climbing Hangar has successfully repaid the loan in full and achieved remarkable growth:
- Expanded to 11 sites nationwide
- Employing 189 staff members
- Serving 22,000+ members
- Over 1,000,000 check-ins in 2024
- Secured c£20m investment with Verlinvest
- Exploring international expansion opportunities
“Repaying this loan is a proud moment for us and reflects how far we’ve come since those challenging pandemic years. The Flexible Growth Fund support was crucial in helping us expand at a critical time.”
Ged Mac, Founder, The Climbing Hangar
