RivingtonHark has announced that bouldering wall centre, Indirock, has officially opened in Southend in a 7,500 square foot former retail unit on the first floor of the Victoria Centre.
Conceived by husband and wife Emily Vermont and Gordon Conroy in 2019, Indirock seeks to give locals and visitors the opportunity to take part in one of the UK’s fastest-growing pastimes: bouldering, a simple form of rock climbing that requires no need for ropes or harnesses.
The centre caters to everyone from experienced climbers to complete beginners and is currently welcoming adults and children aged 6+, with classes starting for younger children in April.
Emily Vermont, founder and CEO of Indirock, said: “We are beyond excited and relieved to finally have opened our doors to the public after three years of tireless work. We felt strongly that we didn’t want to be one of the voices complaining about our high street – instead, we wanted to be part of a new chapter.
“With the council buying the Victoria Centre at the end of 2020, and Southend’s new status as a City, the opportunity is even greater for Indirock to contribute to the area which we love and call home.”
Mark Harvey, executive director and head of asset management at RivingtonHark said: “This letting is an important first step in our journey to revitalise the centre and, in particular, our aim of bringing in more leisure and community-based facilities.
“It has been great to deal with the Co-founders of the business who are passionate about the project and the positive impact this initiative will bring to the local community.
“We share their vision and think that Indirock is the perfect catalyst for our wider plans for the asset and we are thrilled to have them open within the centre and ready to go for Easter”.
