As 2025 draws to a close, Clip ‘n Climb is celebrating a standout year marked by international growth, exciting project milestones, impactful trade show moments, and ongoing innovation. Thanks to our global community of franchise partners, operators, suppliers, and team members, we’ve continued to build momentum and strengthen our position as the world leader in fun climbing.
From Europe to the Middle East, and from the UK to the Americas, Clip ‘n Climb has demonstrated commitment to delivering high-quality active leisure solutions tailored to markets worldwide.
One of the defining achievements of 2025 has been the scale and diversity of Clip ‘n Climb projects delivered around the world. The range of markets and facility types reflects the growing global appetite for fun climbing experiences, as well as our capability to support operators at every stage of their development.
In the United Kingdom, we announced one of the year’s flagship new sites at Gloucester Quays, set to open soon. This substantial 14,000 sq ft centre will feature 19 challenges including the iconic Stairway to Heaven and the popular Vertical Drop Slide, along with a four-level soft play area and a South Ridge Café. It represents the evolution of leisure destinations that combine active experiences, social spaces, and family-friendly design. We also marked the successful first anniversary of three of our franchise locations: Crawley, Halifax & Wandsworth. Looking ahead, we’re excited to confirm that six new franchise centres are currently in development, with details to be revealed next year. We’re especially pleased to share that one of these six new centres will become the third franchise location for Simon, the established franchise owner of Clip ‘n Climb Wandsworth and Clip ‘n Climb at the O2. Simon is part of a growing group of multi-site Clip ‘n Climb owners, alongside the operator behind our Reading and High Wycombe centres.
Across mainland Europe, a milestone moment came with the launch of our first European brand licence in Mons, Belgium. An important strategic step that highlights the flexibility of the Clip ‘n Climb business model and its compatibility with a range of venue types and investment strategies. This was complemented by various installations across Spain, France, Sweden, and Switzerland, spanning both compact and large-scale centres to meet the needs of diverse markets.
Momentum continued in the Middle East, a region of growing importance for active entertainment due to its expanding population and the relatively limited options currently available. Two of our 12 Clip ’n Climb projects being delivered for SEVEN’s entertainment destinations in Saudi Arabia, located at Exit 10 and Yanbu, were successfully installed this year. Both are set to open in Summer 2026, with the remaining projects rolling out through to 2030 as part of SEVEN’s wider leisure development strategy.
In North America, the brand licence model continued to gain traction. We delivered two new sites in Grande Prairie, Canada, and South Jordan, Utah (USA), bringing our total to three brand licence centres launched within just five months. This rapid adoption demonstrates the strong market potential for flexible, lower-barrier ways to bring Clip ’n Climb experiences into new regions.
Innovation has been a focus for Clip ’n Climb throughout 2025. A highlight of the year was the launch of Quadra, a modern reimagining of the classic Red Square designed by founder John Targett. With its bold geometric aesthetic, dynamic angled holds, and enhanced durability, Quadra not only elevates visual impact but also fits seamlessly into modern, space-efficient centre layouts. Early operator feedback has highlighted it as a highly engaging experience, complementing the range of challenges offered across the wider Clip ’n Climb portfolio.
Our design team has been working hard in the background, and has been progressing a wider programme to refresh several long-standing Clip ’n Climb challenges. This ongoing initiative focuses on elevating aesthetics, materials, and production quality, ensuring our portfolio continues to lead the industry. These updates will continue into 2026, with more revitalised designs set to be revealed soon.
2025 was also a standout year for industry engagement, with Clip ’n Climb’s presence felt across some of the most influential trade shows in the world. At IAAPA Expo Europe in Barcelona, we showcased our refreshed challenge line-up and engaged with a wide range of leisure operators and developers. The event emphasised the continued growth of active entertainment including fun climbing, across Europe.
Later in the year, we exhibited alongside our Sister Company Fun Spot Manufacturing at IAAPA Expo Orlando. The event welcomed a record-breaking 43,840 attendees, creating a strong platform for engaging conversations with multi-site leisure operators, new investors, and sector innovators. Early discussions are already shaping promising opportunities for 2026–2027 development plans.
Closer to home (Clip ‘n Climb Head Office UK), the three Franchise Exhibitions we attended provided an excellent opportunity to connect with prospective franchisees exploring resilient and scalable business models. The appetite for active leisure continues to grow across the UK, and Clip ’n Climb’s proven financial and operational model resonated strongly with attendees.
Our presence at SELI 2025 in Toulouse, created further opportunities to collaborate within the multi-activity leisure sector. As operators look for anchor attractions that are visually distinctive, safe, and profitable, fun climbing continues to hold a strong position in the market.
Beyond expansion and innovation, 2025 was also a year of strengthening core foundations that underpin Clip ’n Climb’s reputation worldwide. Safety remained front and centre throughout the year, with dedicated communications supporting operators and reinforcing best practice across our global network. Our longstanding partnership with Head Rush Technologies also remained a key pillar of trust, with operators continuing to rely on industry-leading TRUBLUE auto-belay technology to deliver safe, smooth, and reliable climbing experiences.
Working closely with partners such as NICAS and EP Climbing, we also supported broader climbing engagement initiatives, helping shape the future of hybrid climbing and leisure spaces across the globe.
As we look to the year ahead, Clip ’n Climb is poised for continued global growth. With new projects scheduled across Europe, the Middle East, the UK, and the Americas, and exciting product innovations already in development, 2026 bodes to be another successful year.
We extend our thanks to all our partners, franchisees, licencees, operators and suppliers who have contributed to a remarkable 2025. Together, we look forward to scaling even greater heights in the year to come.
