A NEW climbing centre in Swindon is due to open at the end of October after securing a funding package worth £225,000 from HSBC Commercial Banking.

Rockstar Climbing Centre, which totals 7,000 sq ft and will house a number of state-of-the-art climbing walls at the IO Centre in Hobley Drive, will be Swindon’s first purpose-built climbing centre.

Sarah Lucas, area director for Gloucestershire and Wiltshire at HSBC, said: “HSBC is committed to helping British businesses realise their goals and Rockstar was no exception.

"The team is ambitious, innovative and has a great business model, as well as a vision to help people achieve better physical and mental fitness. By supporting this project HSBC is helping this vision become a reality.”

Mike Aston, owner of Rockstar Climbing Ltd, said: “I’ve done my personal banking with HSBC for a number of years so they were top of my list when I needed to get a commercial arrangement in place.

"They were incredibly proactive and they gave me the time I needed to consider my options.

“The funding has allowed us to build the centre to the highest specification and within a good time frame. We look forward to welcoming our first visitors in a few weeks’ time.”

The money provided by HSBC will help fund a state-of-the-art competition wall, slacklining, climbing equipment and clothing, a dedicated children’s area and an innovative touchscreen registration, insurance and payment system.

Swindon-based law firm Withy King advised Mr Aston on the lease of the new site in Hobley Drive.

Greg Callard, a commercial property solicitor at the firm, said: “This has been an exciting project to be involved in, not least because a lot of work was required to transform the original industrial unit into a dynamic climbing centre.

"It’s a great addition to Swindon’s leisure scene and I’m sure it’ll be a huge hit when it opens in a few weeks.”