Freeklime secures £150k from NPIF to open third indoor climbing centre in Lincoln
This article covers Freeklime, a Yorkshire indoor climbing operator, which has borrowed £150,000 from NPIF II, managed by Mercia Debt Finance, to open a third venue in Lincoln. The loan will fund the venue fit-out, support the creation of seven jobs and marks the company’s first expansion outside Yorkshire, backing regional leisure and community-focused businesses.
Freeklime, a Yorkshire indoor climbing operator, has borrowed £150,000 from NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance to open a third venue in Lincoln. The loan will fund the venue fit-out, support the creation of seven jobs and marks the company’s first expansion outside Yorkshire, signalling continued investor interest in regional leisure and community-focused businesses.
Why it matters
Regional leisure operators are competing for consumer spending in a tighter market. A modest debt facility like this can be the difference between a planned opening and delay for small, asset-light leisure businesses. Freeklime’s move into Lincoln also illustrates how regional investment programmes, such as the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II, continue to back experiential and community-driven propositions outside major city centres.
Inside the product
Freeklime runs indoor bouldering centres, a form of climbing conducted at heights under 5 metres using crash mats rather than harnesses and ropes. Bouldering emphasises short, technical movements and problem solving, and tends to attract a broad demographic because sessions are shorter and less equipment intensive than roped climbing.
The business opened its first site in Huddersfield in 2019 and followed with a York centre in 2023. Together those two sites attract about 100,000 visitors a year and have more than 1,000 monthly subscription members. Freeklime currently employs 16 staff and has begun construction on the Lincoln venue, which is due to open early 2026. The new site is expected to create seven jobs and complete the company’s immediate expansion work.
Founder perspective
Freeklime was founded by Chris Whitehead, who is the managing director, alongside his father Rob Whitehead, who serves as a non-executive director. Rob also runs the Serious Sweet Confectionery Group in Harrogate, bringing experience of running multiple retail and leisure-facing sites. The founders say the company aims to operate five profitable sites by 2030 and target £3m in turnover.
Who’s backing the round
Who’s backing the round
Freeklime received a £150,000 loan from NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance. The facility is managed by Mercia Debt and forms part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II). The funding was provided as debt to complete the Lincoln fit-out and support job creation as Freeklime expands beyond its Yorkshire base.
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The bigger picture
The deal underlines the continuing role of regionally focused investment vehicles in supporting local leisure and community businesses across the UK. For operators like Freeklime, modest debt packages can unlock new sites without diluting ownership, while funders look for businesses with repeat visitation and subscription revenue. As the UK leisure sector adapts to post-pandemic consumer patterns, regional funds and debt providers are likely to remain important backers of growth outside London and the South East.
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