When will The Climbing Experience in Maidstone open and what can customers expect?

The opening date of an indoor climbing facility and leisure centre has been revealed.

The Climbing Experience will cater for as many as 400 people of all ages and levels of experience when it welcomes the public to the Powerhub Business Centre in Maidstone on Saturday, August 17.

It is set to offer themed fun wall climbing, a 30-metre competition and 12-metre traverse wall, and a dedicated bouldering space measuring more than 700 square metres.

The state-of-the art facility - which describes itself as Kent’s first multi-discipline indoor climbing centre - will have a yoga studio, cross-fit and body building facilities, soft play area and café.

Co-founders Robert Woods and Ed Neil say The Climbing Experience say it will also cater for children with after-school clubs and for adults, with space available for business meetings and team-building experiences.

The sport is identified as one of the best for building up fitness, with an intense climbing session burning between 600 and 1,000 calories an hour.

Work to bring the building, off St Peter’s Street, up-to-scratch has intensified over the last few months and the finish line is now in sight.

Mr Woods said: “The whole energy and sense of urgency has shifted up, especially now we’re putting the wall in place.

“They’re done by building a steel frame and then plywood panels are put on after that.

“The other elements are coming together in stages, it’s been a case of doing bits simultaneously rather than finishing one area and then moving onto another.”

He added: “There’s still a couple of things that need to happen but we’re well on target to open on August 17.”