Meet Chris...
He was climbing here three times a week and when a kitchen position opened up he saw the opportunity to combine two things he loves; cooking and climbing, a winning situation.
“A friend introduced me to climbing and I was hooked immediately.
I’m still at a point where I am progressing, I love that I can do something today that yesterday was completely impossible.
I recently found out that my uncle climbed Old Man of Hoy when he was younger so I think it’d be pretty cool to do that, but I don’t really know a lot about climbing outdoors yet.
My goal is to get stronger and climb with everyone I can, I need to start training soon if I want to keep improving”.
Meet Colvin...
Colvin is one of our instructors and, alongside lots of skiing and longboarding, he’s been climbing for about 6 years, starting like most on the boulders but swiftly moving on to ropes.
“My time climbing in the Blue Mountains, Australia really hooked me. I climbed a massive 8 pitch sport route called Bunny Bucket Buttress, which was a big achievement.
I love big multipitch trad, and the routes at Llanberis Pass especially. The rock type, Rhyolite, is solid and full of epic features to climb, that plus the exposure make the routes just cool!”
Meet Danielle...
Danielle is one of our amazing Head Coach/Instructors with over a decade of experience working with climbers and gymnasts across the whole spectrum of ages and abilities from GB and Para athletes to those coming back from a hiatus or anyone wanting to try climbing for the first time.
She runs our Free Friday Night Coaching and Womens Coaching sessions, Private Coaching, a range of safety courses, NICAS sessions and Wild Climbers.
Her coaching repertoire is not limited to The Boardroom as she coaches at climbing events and runs workshops on Mental Skills and Performance for climbing, as well as Coach Education and development courses for the BMC and NICAS.
Danielle’s been climbing for some time and enjoys hanging out at the crag with her husband Danny, daughter Astrid and their crag cat Marla Parla. She’s no stranger to trying hard on sport, or cruising up some multipitch in the mountains, her favourite rock type is slate and her favourite climbing destinations are Los Mallos de Riglos and The Verdon Gorge.
She’s been dancing for longer than she’s been climbing though; so you’ll probably see her dancing at our comps and events, not taking herself seriously and soaking up all the best things about The Boardroom; the vibes, the tunes, funky moves on and off the wall and the wonderful community.
Meet Dave, owner/director
Meet Dave, co-owner of The Boardroom.
His pre Boardroom work experience was somewhat extensive and varied, from territorial army, to photographer, to life model, to teacher to outdoors instructor, he’s always been active whether that be via swimming, cycling or climbing and he has always remained intensely creative.
He and Lee make the place work because they compliment each other so perfectly. While Lee keeps the place ticking over behind the scenes, The Boardroom looks and feels the way it does because of Dave and a passion to create something beautiful, unique and visually striking.
“There’s something truly magical about climbing. Those moments on a climb were time stands still and the earth stops spinning.
Pushing our bodies and souls, strength combined with a still, calm mind. The vertical dance, a moving meditation. Intricate shifts in the hips seeking balance in a three dimensional world. Pushing friction to its limit, grasping at those fleeting moments of effortless flow…
“We are game-playing, fun-having creatures, we are the otters of the universe.”
Richard Bach
…And in pushing ourselves to our limit, chasing those moments and succeeding on harder climbs, it takes more from us; more tries, more attempts, more effort and more time. Precious time.
As a result we slowly become aware that climbing is teaching us to enjoy the journey, whether we succeed or not. That climbing is more than just a way of life, it is life.
Creating The Boardroom was and is a way of sharing that journey. Enabling more people to experience what climbing has to offer and how it can enrich our lives.
Seeing so many people climbing together, working together, enjoying this place… that’s what it’s all about for me now. A happy place, a place for us to experience and share our journeys together. “
Meet Ella, reception
You’ll most likely meet Ella if you’re one of the early birds. She’s been climbing here since the early days and when she isn’t climbing she is working as a piano tuner/fixer, she also enjoys a spot of trail running.
“I danced a lot when I was younger and climbing felt like dancing again. I soon met lots of new people and that helped to keep me coming back and trying harder!
My most favourite climbing experience was at Waterval Boven in South Africa. High mileage, accessible, great rock and amazing climbing. Just had to ignore the occasional baboon and terrifying lightning storms.
My best climbs usually come from the least expected, and Raquel 6c+ in Albarracin was one of those. I didn’t expect to get it and my head wasn’t in the game that day, but it’s a super techy slightly highball beauty and my best grade to date.
I love the community I have met through climbing, I have watched The Boardroom grow from pretty much the start and it has been a big part of my life. If such a thing as soulmates exist, I’ve met them here.”
Meet Emily, reception/shop/bookings manager
Meet Emily O
“I’ve wrestled with poor mental health since my early teens, and sport of one kind or another along with creative hobbies have always been a crutch. I got hooked on climbing on Christmas Eve of 2019 at The Ballroom bouldering gym in Coventry whilst visiting family – I was captured by both its physicality and creativity! I found this hybrid between my two emotional support worlds irresistible and started climbing at The Boardroom as soon as we got home to Chester.
Climbing is my emotional container: a vessel into which I can pour all my fear, rage and self depreciation, feel it all in its purest form, and filter it into hope, peace and motivation. On a rope is where I feel most calm and centred. It’s just us and the wall. Time doesn’t exist. I am weightless and free.
I have had a love-hate relationship with bouldering since an injury took me out for a few months in the early days of my climbing obsession – but I am working hard on overcoming
my fear of bigger moves and high cruxes and looking forward to crushing some V3-5s. I’m also gunning for my first 7a on top-rope and 6c on lead by the end of 2022.
I adore and appreciate the climbing community that has welcomed me and changed my life in so many ways.
Alongside climbing I’m a huge nerd and proud! I love all fibre crafts and try to fit as much knitting, crochet, spinning, sewing and weaving into my life as I can (which isn’t much these days with all the climbing to be honest). I also love gaming and really enjoy D&D RPGs such as Baldur’s Gate – which I have been playing for 20 years! During the lockdowns, my partner and I remodelled our garden and I’m super stoked to be in my second year of our cottage-garden adventure. I love being able to pop into the garden and pick a handful of different veggies for James and I, and some herbs for our beautiful bunny boy, Orion.”
Meet Erica...
Erica runs the marketing and socials for the wall, she makes the posters and flyers and is most responsible for that nagging feeling you might get that you’re being watched because she’s always hiding behind a wall or pillar with a camera trying to get pictures of the setters, the climbing or to just capture the magic of the place.
She is a bit scared of heights but still enjoys climbing, especially the nice easy non scary roped routes.
“I started climbing when I started my job, it’s something I had never before thought I would ever do as I was/am still very scared of heights! But I have been climbing on and off now for just over 8 years and I still really enjoy just taking it easy. I’m not pushing myself on hard stuff I just love the movement and the time spent with lovely people.
Apart from having lots of creative freedom and a role that is always interesting and challenging, what has kept me here most of all is the community, I just adore it. Marketing is an easy gig when the place sells itself. It’s just brilliant.
Everyone is just so wonderful and friendly and the building itself is so uplifting to be in. I love sitting back with a brew and watching all the climbers try their problems, working them out, and to see it just click for them … that part is magic.”
Meet Evan: stripper, hold polisher and the wizard's (Ghandy's) apprentice!
Evan is a jack of all trades, master of coffee! We have him route stripping, hold washing and when he works on reception he makes amazing coffees.
Ev stumbled upon climbing after some bad weather in the Lakes rained him into Kendal wall and he has been addicted to climbing ever since.
“I was in need of a hobby to replace skateboarding because I was tired of breaking bones. After my first trip to The Boardroom I became addicted! The challenges, achievements, community and friends!
I love climbs with tiny crimps and techy footwork, the delicate balance between pulling hard whilst being slow and measured.
My biggest achievement in climbing so far has been Searching 7a at Llandulas, but I worked hard to get my first 7b indoors and I plan on taking it further.
The Boardroom has had an enormous impact on my life. The community is wonderful and there is an atmosphere like nowhere else. It feels like a second home!”
Meet Ghandy...
Ghandy is our resident safety inspector, gear checker, instructor and conversationalist. Handy, very handy!
He is a lighthouse of positive energy and a jack of all trades, having worked at one time or another in about every type of job going, teaching Cubs, Scouts, Duke of Edinburgh gold and lots of multi activity instructing.
He has climbed for about 38 years, all over Britain and Europe “living the dream”.
About working at The Boardroom; “I instruct to be able to pass on skills and encouragement so that others may have as much pleasure from climbing as I still get, kids are just honest and funny and generally without any expectation other than fun!”
Meet Jack...
“Hi, I’m Jack.
You’ll usually find me stripping holds off the wall and making sure our equipment is safe for you all to use. I also work on reception and instruct the occasional session.
I first got a taste of climbing when I was a wee lad in the Scouts and dabbled when I was at University, but only fully got into it when I started working at The Boardroom in 2020. Spending time on rock clipping draws is now my main focus in life!
I’ve been lucky enough to have climbed in Costa Blanca, Kalymnos, and of course here in North Wales. My goal is to climb as much as possible, although I’m currently on a side quest training for a Marathon! ”
Meet Josh...
osh used to do a lot of climbing with summer camps growing up but just recently got back into it. He is also very enthusiastic about mountain biking and snowboarding, “nothing beats throwing yourself down a mountain at high speeds on two wheels or a plank of wood!”
“I love the social aspect of climbing. Knowing that you are surrounded by like-minded people makes you feel at ease. The mental game of solving a climbing problem is also very rewarding.
Josh’s main goal in climbing is to make sure he doesn’t stress himself out on higher grades just focusing on just having fun.
“The Boardroom has a super friendly work environment which I love, it’s also great getting to watch talented people smash their projects and seeing newcomers fall in love with climbing.”
Meet Lee, owner/director
Lee started The Boardroom with Dave and together they have built quite a wonderful place to work, climb and hangout.
His favourite music is still happy hardcore.
He wasn’t always a climber believe it or not, in fact he was much more comfortable throwing himself down monstrous rapids in a man sized fibreglass banana.
“I once said to Dave, “are we gonna build this climbing wall we’ve been talking about for years?” He said yes, one thing led to another and now The Boardroom is a thing, the best thing! (maybe I am a little bit bias).
We have tried to create a place people wanted to be, as well as include the best climbing we could imagine. We are climbers, we like climbing, so we built The Boardroom.
It isn’t really just one persons dream or one persons idea, its grown organically through the interactions and input of all the wonderful staff, wonderful customers and even Bob the Milkman. Collectively the community makes it what it is today.
Before The Boardroom, I was a paddler, not the best but not bad, reaching international level with a few races in Europe.
I’ve been a climbing instructor since 2004 and now, well, I mainly fly a desk and do boring Director type stuff.
If I’m not doing the paperwork or business development or being a dad, then I’m bouldering whenever I can, with as many people as I can, and avoiding being a grown up as much as I possibly can.”
Meet Liam, 2nd head route setter!
Liam Halsey ‘The Dark Horse of Climbing’ has been climbing since he was 15 years old.
He used to cycle 12 miles to get to Amersham climbing wall where on occasion he would meet one of his biggest influences to date, Kev Noon, who took Liam outside and coached him on the rock.
Liam has been a strong and respected contender on the British comp scene across all disciplines.
He first came to The Boardroom to deliver a climbing master class in 2014 since then he would set for us here and there before we finally collared him on a more permanent basis.
We love having Liam set here with Nick and the team, and not only because sometimes he’s accompanied by his and Esther’s Burmese cat Sydney, but because he has a unique and valued setting style.
“Numbers are a speck of dust in the grand scheme of things. Climb to climb!”
On his to do list are underdeveloped areas of Patagonia, Greenland, Kjerag etc…
Meet Luke...
Luke works on reception and started climbing about 5 years ago with friends.
He uses climbing as a way to relax and decompress, get a great workout and also give his brain something to focus on. “Climbing helps to keep me focused on other aspects of life and relieves all kinds of stress”
He has some outdoor sport climbing goals but is currently working towards V6-V8.
Meet Nick, head route setter...
Nick is two fifths of our Head route setting team alongside Liam Halsey and Joe, he also does a spot of coaching on request “No I don’t”. He has been here since day one and we’re extremely privileged to have him on the team. He has bouldered V11 (recently Diesel Power at Cromlech) and climbed 8b+.
He started climbing at school, mainly trad in the quarries of Lancashire and on Peak District grit. He worked at Boulder UK when he was 16, on reception, washed holds and watched master setter Ian Vickers intently.
He spent a lot of time at Longridge and started to really focus on his training and technique.
He began competing when he went to uni, visiting walls all over the UK and Europe, he was also on the Senior British Lead climbing team.
‘I used to visit Thailand every winter and I’ve been to most places around Europe but I really love Yorkshire Limestone, there’s nothing like it. I’ve got my eye on a few things at the moment, on my list amongst others are some projects at Kilnsey, Bat Route 8c at Malham and Liquid Amber 8C+ at LPT.”
Meet Renée
Meet Rhys, main manager...
Rhys is one of our managers and an integral part of The Boardroom family.
The Drawing Room exists because Rhys was nice enough to build it for us, and the shop, the climbing twister, most of the kitchen, lots of The Wimbledon Wall the list goes on and on.
Dave and Rhys met when they both worked at Llandegla. Rhys worked in the bike workshop building and customising.
He left for a bit to live and work in Canada and when the dream of The Boardroom started to become a reality Dave knew that he wanted Rhys to be part of it.
He makes us all very happy.
Outside of work he likes cycling, running, Enduro and goes on many a weekend adventure exploring mountains and welsh wilderness with his family.
Outside of work he likes owls, and trees, he churns mud about in Enduro and goes on many a weekend adventure exploring mountains and welsh wilderness. He lives with lovely Jen, new baby daughter Edie and the two cats Gary and Margaret.
Meet Seren...
Seren started volunteering here in 2020 and now works on reception. She has been climbing for nearly 6 years and completed her NICAS course here, she’s now smashing 6b on lead and V4-V6 on boulders.
Outside of climbing she plays saxophone, skateboards and is studying maths, further maths, physics and chemistry, hoping to pursue environmental engineering.
“The thinking/planning side of climbing sparked my interest initially. I often have to find my own beta for routes because of my height so it keeps it interesting when you can’t steal other peoples beta.
I love slabs, crimps and am starting to enjoy overhangs more now Im not as scared of them. I think I prefer the techy stuff, that favours balance and flexibility over powerful stuff as I’m still in the process of building up strength.
No matter what mood I’m in when I arrive at the wall, I always leave with a smile on my face. I spend so much time at The Boardroom that it’s become a second home and the people like a second family.”
Meet Tom...
Tom works here as an instructor and when he isn’t working enjoys running and paddle boarding to relax amongst other things.
When he was younger he would drive 4 hours to Portland for a day of climbing, and his love of the outdoors never faded.
“I enjoy all types of climbing from trad to bouldering, but I really love Welsh slate, it’s unique and there is nothing else really like it. I also love Scottish winter climbing because type 2 fun is the best”!