| Farewell and Thank You from the Team at Parthian Climbing Manchester
When we first discovered the St Benedict’s church building in 2003, we instantly saw its potential. With its impressive height, stunning architectural features, and proximity to central Manchester and its vibrant student community, it felt like the perfect place to build something special. At the time, Manchester was one of the only major UK cities without a large indoor climbing facility, so we set out to create a much-needed space for climbers, whether local or rained off in the Peak District.
Over the past 20 years, we’ve been proud to offer a unique climbing experience, introducing thousands of people to the sport and helping forge countless lifelong friendships and relationships. We also take pride in having saved a beautiful, historic building that was once on the English Heritage “at risk” register.
In the years since we opened, Manchester has grown into a major hub for climbing, now home to eight indoor centres. As the sport has evolved, especially with the rise of bouldering, the needs of climbers have changed. Modern climbing centres now require larger communal floor spaces and very different layouts to what was typical in 2005.
We’ve explored options for major redesigns and wall reconfigurations, but ultimately, the high build costs and the need for a six-month closure meant a full redevelopment just wasn’t viable.
So, with a mix of gratitude and sadness, we are announcing that we will be closing our doors from 1pm on 29th July 2025.
We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our amazing staff, past and present, who’ve grown and nurtured the centre with dedication and passion. And of course, to all our members and customers over the years; thank you for climbing with us and being part of our story.
We will be refunding all memberships, pre-bookings, and outstanding supplier payments over the next week. We will also be signposting our youth and adult climbers to alternative centres, so rest assured, your climbing journey can continue in and around Manchester.
Lastly, we remain committed to finding a new purpose for the church building and are excited about what the future might hold for this special place.
With gratitude,
John Dunne, CEO Parthian Climbing Ltd
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