Climb Newcastle

Climb Newcastle is a fantastic indoor Bouldering Wall in Byker next to the Metro Station. Bouldering is climbing without a harness, normally climbing many short routes with crash pads below. It's a great form of exercise that can be as relaxing and stretching or hard pushing and challenging as you like. 
Climb Newcastle was set up three years ago by three climbers with a vision, they retro-fitted the Byker Swimming Pool into an accessible centre for climbing. They run introductory and intermediate classes while also running a dedicated children's climbing wall for parties or classes.


The staff are friendly and relaxed, the atmosphere is casual. When I visited, it was quiet enough to really get stuck into the climbing, but busy enough to chat with the more experienced climbers. Who were open to talk over technique and the routes.
The climbing wall has colour coded routes that indicate varying difficulty (difficulty is graded in numbers, the higher the grade, the harder the climb) and average twenty routes for each category. Which is great if you are not sure what to. Don't let that number fool you, although it takes between one and five minutes to complete a route, it's a good burn. Due to my unconditioned soft hands my climbing was cut short, but Climb Newcastle also has a conditioning room with various exercise toys to build strength and condition climbing muscles, this room also leads into a smaller climbing room that is for serious climbers that want to strengthen their hands by gripping impossibly small hold, and I mean Impossible!!

Happy with myself for being so active, I treated myself to a cappuccino, at their own coffee shop! Serving a range of tea's, energy drinks and the usual range of coffee's, I happily relaxed with my cappuccino in the small cafe area that plays climbing video's, nice inspiration for climbers. The notice board advertises lots of events and competitions that they host or take part in, these guys are serious about climbing.
Climb Newcastle also has a equipment shop, selling climbing shoes, chalk, clothing (both climbing and casual), crash pads and a range of other climbing dedicated stock.


Climb Newcastle is a great place to learn to climb with enthusiastic and friendly staff, various courses and a great range of things to climb! There is a small annual membership for £3.50 with a day session session costing £7(concessions available). Which felt pricey considering my fitness limited my climb, but there is no time limit and the option to sign out and come back later in the day (with the option of getting fitter). Shoe hire is an extra £2.50.


Climb Newcastle is convenient, relevant to beginners and seasoned climbers with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. For more information, visit their website.
www.climbnewcastle.com


Open:
Monday-Friday: 12-10pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10am-8pm

Salsa Amor

It's Friday night and time to celebrate the end of the week. So what can we do while wearing the "I Buy Newcastle" badge?


An alternative to a meal at Zizzi's then a visit to the cinema or a few pints at the Weatherspoons, is dancing the night away at Salsa Amor. It's a Salsa evening at the Black Swan pub in the center of town near the O2 Academy, through a charming entry way into a small continental style plaza and down the stairs. It starts at 7.30pm with a beginners class, followed by a intermediate class at 8.45pm (they also run the beginners class again in the bar, really useful for first timers and improvers!) then the floor opens to everyone from 9.30pm. It's a friendly and lively environment where anyone can ask anyone to dance, men asking women and women asking men. The dance floor is buzzing and there is always space on the edges for new dancers. The night is made to cater for experienced dancers, but is truly enjoyable for beginners. There is lots of space to sit and watch or hang out and enjoy the music at the bar with new friends.


There is no need to bring a partner or book, it's a casual affair. Wear smooth soled shoes and something light, salsa dancing the night away gets surprisingly warm. The charge is £6 (£5 Student) for the class and the rest of the night, if you don't need the class or come after 10pm it's £4 (£3) Student.


Visit the website for more information.
http://www.salsa-amor.co.uk/