Golden Gecko Climbing Ltd
BEST FOR
Ages 5-18
ENTRY
from £5
WHERE
Romsey
What it’s like
Auto-belay walls, bouldering and top-ropes for climbers aged five up, with a café for the ones watching from the sofas.
Climbing here comes in three flavours: auto-belay walls where the rope does the safety work for you, a bouldering wall with no minimum age, and top-rope walls for anyone assessed as competent or being supervised. Five-year-olds can get straight onto the auto-belays, which is younger than a lot of climbing centres allow, though anyone under 18 needs a registered climber supervising them on the ropes and the bouldering wall unless they're an experienced climber the centre has cleared by phone.
Kit's included in the price, which is a small relief when you're totting up the day. Auto-belay sessions run £17 for adults and £16 concessions, with a self-supervised session at £19, or £5 flat if you're under five. If you're going to make a habit of it, the monthly membership at £48 (£38 concessions) or the ten-visit punch cards work out cheaper per go, and there's a family add-on at £10.50 per under-18. Registered climbers pay less per visit too, £12.50 standard or £10.50 concession, which rewards the regulars.
There's a comfy seating area for whoever's watching rather than climbing, and the café does hot food, paninis and cakes, so a session doesn't have to mean a hungry wait. Opening hours stretch late on weekdays in term time, 10am to 10pm Monday to Thursday, dropping earlier on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Parking's free outside, which takes one cost off the list at least.
Birthday parties get exclusive use of the auto-belay walls and the party room for up to 19 guests, with catering from £55 for ten people if you don't fancy sorting food yourself. The auto-belay does have a 150kg weight limit, worth knowing if a bigger teenager or adult is joining in.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 5 to 18, though adults climb here too
- Parking
- Free parking outside the centre
- Food
- Café with hot and cold drinks, hot food, paninis, cakes and snacks
- Dogs
- Not stated on site
- Parties
- Up to 19 guests with exclusive auto-belay walls, party room and optional catering
- Kit, shoes, harness and helmet are all included in the entry price, no extra rental fee
- Under-18s need a registered climber supervising them on ropes and bouldering unless the centre has cleared them as experienced
- Monthly memberships and ten-visit punch cards work out cheaper if you'll be back often
- Party bookings get exclusive use of the auto-belay walls, not a shared session
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Auto-belay sessions are £17 for adults and £16 concessions, £19 for a self-supervised session, and £5 flat for under fives. Registered climbers pay £12.50 standard or £10.50 concession per visit.
How old do you need to be to climb?
Auto-belays are open from age five. There's no minimum age for bouldering, but under-18s need a registered climber supervising them on both bouldering and the ropes.
Do we need to book?
There's no booking link listed, so it looks like turning up works, though calling ahead never hurts if you want a particular session.
Is there parking?
Free parking right outside the centre.
What if my child has never climbed before?
An unsupervised auto-belay session is the quickest way in, or you can go for an instructed session. Kit including shoes, harness and helmet is included in the price, no extra charge.
Can I climb alongside my child?
Yes, you're welcome to climb the auto-belays together.
What's there to eat?
The café does hot and cold drinks, hot food, paninis, cakes and snacks. They can't guarantee anything is free from allergens, so flag it if that matters.
Can I just watch?
There's a seating area with sofas for supervising adults, plus a hot drink and something from the café while you wait.
What are the opening hours?
Term time it's 10am to 10pm Monday to Thursday, 10am to 8pm Friday, 10am to 7pm Saturday, and noon to 7pm Sunday.
Can we book a birthday party?
Up to 19 guests get exclusive use of the auto-belay walls and the party room, with catering available from £55 for a base of ten people.
Is there a weight limit on the auto-belay?
150kg maximum, so it's worth bearing in mind for bigger teens or adults joining in.
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