Here you will hopefully find all the info you need about joining the club.
This club is open to anyone of any ability, from beginner to Olympic champion. We are an LGBTQ+ club, and providing support in a safe space for our community is our priority. Allies are also welcome to join the club but must be willing to support and work with the club and support our community.
The club is run by volunteers, and we do our best to meet the needs of all our members. If you need any support to join us, please email us and discuss this with us so we can work out the best way to accessible to you.
Being a BMC-affiliated club provides us and all our members with support and benefits. It also allows us to help improve the inclusion and diversity of all people within the climbing and outdoor communities.
Club membership also includes these benefits:
Free kit hire at the Quay Climbing Centre and discounted entry to Plymouth Life Centre
A voucher for 20% off at Taunton Leisure’s Exeter store
Discounted leggings from Funky Fitness (ask us for the code)
BMC member discounts on outdoor kit, travel, and accommodation at hundreds of shops and businesses nationwide
£15m personal liability insurance for all your climbing, hillwalking and mountaineering anywhere in the world
Access to BMC training courses and specialist travel insurance
Supports the excellent work the BMC does for all climbers, including access and conservation
Helps raise the profile of LGBTQ+ participation in climbing
Some of these benefits – particularly those provided by the BMC – are only available once you’ve paid for membership.
You can “try before you buy” as a prospective club member, free for up to three months.
Check out our fees page for membership prices.
A discounted rate is available for anyone who is unemployed, has benefits, or is a student - please contact us for details.
Our club-run sessions happen every Monday at The Quay Climbing Centre. We usually meet in the café from 6pm and climb from 6:30pm. The Quay is open until 10pm and some of our members choose to stay until closing time, but you can arrive and leave whenever works best for you.
We don't charge anything for our sessions, and your first 3 months of club membership are free! You'll still need to pay to enter the Quay. You can check out their most up-to-date prices here, but as of February 2025 they charge us £9 a session - they kindly charge us the off-peak rate for our Monday evening sessions, so let them know you're with us! Once you've been with us for 3 months you'll be asked to pay our club fees as an official member!
If you have them, bring your harness, belay plate and climbing shoes. If you don't have these, you can borrow them from the Quay for no extra cost.
It's a good idea to bring a water bottle and maybe a snack, but snacks and drinks are also available from the Quay Café.
When we asked the Quay in March 2025, they said they had the following equipment available:
Climbing shoes from children's size 11.5 to adult's size 13.
Climbing harnesses in children's sizes, up to 50kg.
Climbing harnesses for people who are over 50kg and need a very slim waistband (DMM Brenin).
Climbing harnesses in a range of sizes up to a maximum of 105cm waist circumference and 71cm thigh circumference (Edelrid Zack Gym II; and DMM Viper size L).
The Quay has "male" and "female" toilets upstairs, and two gender-neutral cubicles downstairs, plus a disabled toilet downstairs.
There are three small individual gender-neutral cubicles for changing clothes.
You should wear clothes you feel comfortable exercising in and can move freely in. Gym wear works well, or a comfy t-shirt and jogging bottoms or shorts.
Please make sure you remove rings and any other jewellery that could get caught or snagged.
Changing facilities are available but many people come already wearing their climbing clothes.
Check our calendar for the date of the next Beginners' Night - they're on the first Monday of the month, every other month. Then please send us an email or DM via Instagram to let us know if you're planning to come a long! Also don't forget to fill in the membership form below!
If you arrive between 6pm and 6:30pm, you'll be able to spot us sitting in the café. We are usually surrounded by rainbow bags. If you're not sure or are feeling shy, the Quay staff member at the front desk should be able to point us out.
Continuing after Beginners' Night
After Beginners' Night, it typically takes a few practice sessions before you can climb and belay independently. The climbing centre will need you to be supervised by an experienced climber until then (we're very happy to do this!) If you enjoyed climbing and would like to come back, please let us know when you'd next like to come in so we can make sure somebody from the club is available - just drop us an email.
Before coming to your first session, please fill in the membership form below. You can do this before or after contacting us to say that you'd like to come along.