• Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
    • Business News
    • Business Mag
  • Sport
    • Football
    • NAFC
    • Cricket
    • Durham Wildcats
    • American Football
    • Baseball
    • Rugby
    • Youth Football
  • Features
    • Blog
    • Picture Galleries
  • Community
    • A.T People
    • Services Directory
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Aycliffe Today
Aycliffe Today
  • Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
    • Business News
      International partnership to drive net zero innovation

      International partnership to drive net zero innovation

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 74

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 74

      New partnership to expand global access to online education

      New partnership to expand global access to online education

      Getting To Know You – Carol Gaskarth

      Getting To Know You – Carol Gaskarth

    • Business Mag
      Aycliffe Business: Issue 74

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 74

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 73

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 73

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 71

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 71

  • Sport
    • Football
      Aycliffe Youthy round-up

      Aycliffe Youthy round-up

      Aycliffe stay third with 4-0 away win

      Aycliffe stay third with 4-0 away win

      Aycliffe go top with four wins from first four games

      Aycliffe go top with four wins from first four games

      Unbeaten start for Sports Club

      Unbeaten start for Sports Club

    • NAFC
      FA Cup weekend for Aycliffe as Newtonians get first win on the board

      FA Cup weekend for Aycliffe as Newtonians get first win on the board

      League campaign returns for Aycliffe after summer changes

      League campaign returns for Aycliffe after summer changes

      More new signings as Aycliffe prepare to welcome Darlington in friendly

      More new signings as Aycliffe prepare to welcome Darlington in friendly

      New arrivals as Newton Aycliffe FC prepare for 2025-26

      New arrivals as Newton Aycliffe FC prepare for 2025-26

    • Cricket
      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

    • Durham Wildcats
      WILDCATS FIGHTBACK TO SECURE CUP WIN

      WILDCATS FIGHTBACK TO SECURE CUP WIN

      WOLVES EDGE IT AGAINST WILDCATS

      WOLVES EDGE IT AGAINST WILDCATS

      DURHAM WILDCATS 73, GLASGOW ROCKS 99

      DURHAM WILDCATS 73, GLASGOW ROCKS 99

      WILDCATS SLAY LIONS AGAIN

      WILDCATS SLAY LIONS AGAIN

    • American Football
      WARRIORS BEAT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

      WARRIORS BEAT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

      WARRIORS START SEASON IN STYLE!

      WARRIORS START SEASON IN STYLE!

      WOODHAM WARRIORS VICTORIOUS

      WOODHAM WARRIORS VICTORIOUS

      WARRIORS COACH TO TRAIN GB SQUAD

      WARRIORS COACH TO TRAIN GB SQUAD

    • Baseball
      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      COUNCILLORS 'PITCH' FOR LOCAL SPORTS CLUB!

      COUNCILLORS 'PITCH' FOR LOCAL SPORTS CLUB!

      SPARTANS UP FOR TOP AWARD

      SPARTANS UP FOR TOP AWARD

      NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPARTANS AT WOODHAM

      NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPARTANS AT WOODHAM

    • Rugby
      Aycliffe fall to heavy defeat against league leaders

      Aycliffe fall to heavy defeat against league leaders

      Aycliffe notch up another loss in local derby

      Aycliffe notch up another loss in local derby

      Rugby: Aycliffe in bottom two after Whitley Bay defeat

      Rugby: Aycliffe in bottom two after Whitley Bay defeat

      Aycliffe return to winning ways with hard-fought victory over Bishop

      Aycliffe return to winning ways with hard-fought victory over Bishop

    • Youth Football
      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Newton Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Newton Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

  • Features
    • Blog
      Covid-19 crisis update from your MP

      Covid-19 crisis update from your MP

      ‘Now we must move forward’ says MP

      ‘Now we must move forward’ says MP

      Business Advice: Cash Flow

      Business Advice: Cash Flow

      The Aycliffe Blue Blog

      The Aycliffe Blue Blog

    • Picture Galleries
      Picture Gallery: Duke of Kent visits Ebac

      Picture Gallery: Duke of Kent visits Ebac

      PICTURES: Hitachi Opening Ceremony

      PICTURES: Hitachi Opening Ceremony

      PICTURES: ROF 59 in progress

      PICTURES: ROF 59 in progress

      PICTURES: Ayclife dancers in national finals

      PICTURES: Ayclife dancers in national finals

  • Community
    • A.T People
      Spring 2015

      Spring 2015

      December 2014

      December 2014

      Aug - Sept 2014

      Aug - Sept 2014

    • Services Directory
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
Lack of footfall forces Rock Antics closure
Home
Business

Lack of footfall forces Rock Antics closure

March 20th, 2017 Martin Walker Business 0 comments 8049

top banner

Newton Aycliffe climbing facility Rock Antics has confirmed it intends to close at the end of the month due to a lack of footfall.

The facility’s owner/director John Crooks has told Aycliffe Today that “unless anything changes” he can’t see a way back for the struggling venture which opened less than two years ago.

Rock Antics is a stand-alone company which rents part of the ROF 59 activity centre, which is still very much open for business and continues to attract thousands of visitors every month.

When the plans for Rock Antics to relocate from Aycliffe Leisure Centre to ROF 59 were first revealed in November 2014, Crooks and his partner Vicky (pictured above) said they expected a 30% increase in footfall following the move.

“We get around 15,000 people a year using Rock Antics in the leisure centre and we’re expecting that to top 20,000 in this new facility,” Crooks said back then.

However, rumours have circulated recently that the business was set to close down.

And Crooks confirmed it to Aycliffe Today, by telling us: “It’s looking likely. You never know, but unless anything changes, I can’t see us turning it around.

“We knew it was going to be more expensive than the leisure centre but we’d forecast higher numbers and the footfall just hasn’t supported that, so it is down to footfall.”

Aycliffe Today understands Rock Antics has fallen behind in rent and payments in respect of the wall itself as Finley Structures supplied and installed the structure which was to be paid off over time.

Owners Finley Leisure refused to comment on the financial details of the tenancy, but a spokesperson for the firm said: “We have supported Rock Antics in their new venture over the last two years, assisting them in various ways to ensure they continue to trade from ROF 59.

“We’re well aware that Rock Antics have a loyal following but unfortunately their forecast for new business hasn’t transpired which has ultimately led to this.

“But as yet we have not received formal notice from Rock Antics about any intention to close.”

ROF 59 opened in a blaze of publicity in the summer of 2015 when the former World War II munitions factory was transformed into a state-of-the-art activity and leisure centre.

Finley Structures invested more than £1.2m in the facility, excluding the purpose-built, Olympic standard 22-metre climbing wall.

Since opening, ROF 59 has continued to expand with new facilities, including a Virtual Reality centre and a play area for small children, while plans are afoot for new outdoor activities including an army assault course, zip wire, outdoor laser combat and a ninja warrior course.

 

top banner

Share it!

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Next article Aycliffe secure point with goalless draw at Sunderland RCA
Previous article Aycliffe Rugby Club clinch promotion – eyes now on league title prize

Related News

International partnership to drive net zero innovation Business
September 2nd, 2025

International partnership to drive net zero innovation

New partnership to expand global access to online education Business
August 26th, 2025

New partnership to expand global access to online education

Getting To Know You – Carol Gaskarth Business
August 4th, 2025

Getting To Know You – Carol Gaskarth

LATEST VIDEO

This week on A.T

Sep 3rd 3:55 PM
Community

PCP re-awarded Volunteer Kitemark for fantastic volunteer experience

Sep 2nd 11:22 AM
Business

International partnership to drive net zero innovation

Sep 1st 12:19 PM
Sport

Aycliffe Cricket round-up

Sep 1st 10:08 AM
News

Work to improve County Durham’s bus stops

Aug 29th 10:11 AM
Business

Aycliffe Business: Issue 74

Aug 27th 6:16 PM
Sport

Aycliffe Cricket round-up

Aug 26th 9:47 AM
Business

New partnership to expand global access to online education

Aug 24th 2:25 PM
Community

GCSE success for students across County Durham

Aug 18th 12:25 PM
Sport

Aycliffe Cricket round-up

Aug 18th 9:47 AM
News

£17m invested into road resurfacing

Recommend
Follow @AycliffeToday
  • Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Community
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Back to top
© Aycliffe Today 2019. All rights reserved.
Developed by Thrive

Get our latest news direct to your inbox every Friday - subscribe to our free e-newsletter today.

Subscribe Now