Walk into the hall and you will see tape in six colours across the wall: green, blue, yellow, coral, violet and black. Each colour is a circuit, which is a set of problems at roughly the same level. The colours run in a fixed order, from easiest to hardest, and they are the same on every part of the wall. Once you know the order you can pick a level and climb anywhere in the building.
The six circuits in order
Green is the easiest circuit, the one we send total beginners to first. Blue is a step up: the holds are a little smaller and the moves ask a little more. Yellow is the steady middle of the wall, where a lot of regulars spend most of an evening. Coral is for strong, confident climbers, violet is for the very strong, and black is our hardest set. The names are the colours, so you never have to learn a number to get started.
We do not print V-grades on the wall. The circuit colours are the main guide, and they tell you more about the climbing than a single number can. A problem on the coral circuit might suit you better than one on yellow if it plays to your strengths. That is fine, and it is exactly why we set by colour.
Circuits also make it easy to climb with friends at different levels. You can each pick a colour and stay on the same part of the wall, taking turns on problems that suit you. When one person moves up a circuit, the others can try a problem or two from it without committing to the whole set.
New sets every week
Our setters reset part of the wall every Tuesday and Thursday, so there are always fresh problems to try. Around 40 new ones go up every week, and a set stays on the wall for a few weeks before it is taken down. If you liked a problem, get on it while it lasts.
Setting and safety
Every problem is set by one of our team and checked before it goes live. If a hold spins or feels loose, tell the desk and we will sort it out. Do not climb on a problem that is marked off with a tape or a sign, because it is either being set or waiting to come down.
Take care on the mats as well. Keep bags and bottles off the landing area and give anyone on the wall room to fall. The mats are there for everyone, so a tidy space keeps every session safe.
How to choose your level
A good way to start a session:
- Warm up on the green circuit, even if you climb harder.
- Move to the circuit where you finish most problems in two or three tries.
- Try one problem from the next colour up to push yourself.
- Finish on something you enjoy, not the hardest thing you can find.
That rhythm, easy first and one stretch at the end, keeps a session productive without leaving you worn out. If you are not sure where to begin, ask at the desk. The setters are around most evenings and are always happy to point you at something good.
