Term Time Hours

Yes, we have a car park at the front of the Centre. Please park sensibly within the marked bays.

We are also a short walk from Bicester Village Train Station and Bicester Town Centre.

Check out train times on Trainline

Yes, we have wheel chair access, if you require further assistance please speak to a member of staff.

We have two dedicated parking spaces next to the entrance, our disabled toilet is located in the cafe area.

Clip ‘n Climb Bicester Assistance Dog & Emotional Support Dog Access Policy

1. Purpose

This policy sets out the rules for access to Clip ‘n Climb Bicester, which includes both the café and the climbing arena, for individuals accompanied by Assistance dogs and emotional support dogs.

Our goal is to ensure that we remain welcoming and inclusive, while maintaining health and safety.

2. Legal Context

• Under the Equality Act 2010, where a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the ability of an individual to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Assistance dog users must be permitted entry, with their dog, to most public places, including food and drink establishments and leisure facilities.
• Emotional support dogs (ESDs) do not have the same legal status as Assistance dogs in the UK. They do not have an automatic right of access but may be admitted at the management’s discretion.

3. General Principles

• We welcome Assistance dogs into all areas of the building centre, with exception to the climbing arena.
• We will not require proof of registration, though handlers may offer it voluntarily. Staff may ask two polite questions if unclear about a dog’s status, before allowing the dog beyond reception:
  • Is the dog required because of a disability?
  • What tasks has the dog been trained to perform?

     

4. Café Area

We provide an accessible café area where Assistance dogs must remain, with another non-climbing adult, whilst the individual is in the climbing arena.

• Assistance Dogs: Fully permitted.
  • Well-behaved and under control (on a lead).
  • Not disruptive to staff or other customers.
  • Not on furniture or food preparation surfaces.
• Management reserves the right to ask owners to remove a dog if it is causing disruption, posing a hygiene risk, or behaving aggressively.

5. Climbing Arena

• Due to the nature of the activity, Assistance dogs are not permitted into the climbing arena as they are unable to support the owner at height and be controlled by the owner when on the wall.
• Dogs are not permitted in the climbing arena due to:
  • Risk of injury from descending climbers.
  • Hygiene requirements for high touch sporting environments.
  • Potential distraction to climbers and instructors.
  • Damage to climbing health and safety equipment.

Types of Assistance Dogs

Assistance dogs are highly trained to support a wide range of needs, providing a variety of services to their user. At Clip ‘n Climb Bicester we respect that they are not a defined breed and can come in all shapes and sizes.

Guide Dogs:

Although a guide dog can assist a visually impaired climber around the climbing arena, the owner cannot keep hold of them whilst climbing and the dog cannot assist with clipping in and out.

The dog must remain in the café with another non climbing adult. Clip ‘n Climb Bicester will provide assistance in the means of 1:1 climber: instructor support to enable the individual to partake in the activity.

Hearing Dogs:

Although a hearing dog can assist a climber with hearing loss around the climbing arena, the owner cannot keep hold of them whilst climbing and the dog cannot assist with clipping in and out.

The dog must remain in the café with another non climbing adult. Clip ‘n Climb Bicester will provide assistance in the means of 1:1 climber: instructor support to enable the individual to partake in the activity, ensuring 1:1 communication for session structure and in case of emergency.

Mobility Dogs:

Individuals to contact Clip ‘n Climb Bicester in advance to arrange suitable adjustments. If an individual books and does not make prior contact and is unable to climb – the Duty Manager will arrange for an alternative date to be rebooked.

Medical Dogs:

As per the waiver

“It is not the responsibility of Clip ‘n Climb Bicester to know whether or not a customer is medically fit and able to climb. All participants must make Clip ‘n Climb Bicester staff aware of any past or existing injuries that may affect your participation. If you are in any doubt about your ability to participate, we advise you to speak to a member of Clip ‘n Climb Bicester staff. By taking part, you acknowledge that you are in a fit state of health to participate and do not have a medical condition that may be triggered or aggravated by participating in activities in the climbing arena.”

Individuals need to be medically fit to climb. Should an individual have a medical dog for conditions such as seizures and diabetes – the dog must remain in the café with another non climbing adult. And Clip ‘n Climb Bicester recommend that the climber leave the arena to be near the dog every few climbs to ensure the dog can support their owner.

Autism and Neurological Assistance Dogs:

Although an Autism and Neurological Assistance dog can assist the individual climber around the climbing arena, the climber cannot keep hold of the dog whilst climbing and the dog cannot assist with clipping in and out. The dog must remain in the café with another non-climbing adult. Climbers can leave the climbing arena during their session to access emotional support and reassurance from the dog between climbs. Clip ‘n Climb Bicester staff will support the individual climber, where needed, with moving around the arena, with clipping in and out and entering/leaving the arena during their session to access support from their Assistance dog in the café area. Due to the set up of the building – climbers can easily see and access dogs within the café.

Emotional Support Dogs

Emotional Support Dogs do not have an automatic right to access the building, but may be admitted to the cafe area at the discretion of the management.

7. Responsibilities of Dog Handlers

All dog handlers (assistance or emotional support) are responsible for:

• Keeping the dog under control and on a short lead or harness at all times.
• Ensure that there is an individual to hold onto the lead at all times e.g. a carer if the dog’s owner is climbing.
• Where the Assistance Dogs owner is a child, who needs adult support in the climbing arena, it is the responsibility of the individual booking, to ensure appropriate supervision for both the climber, in the climbing arena and the Assistance Dog in the café.
• Ensuring the dog does not pose a risk to other visitors, staff, or climbers.
• Ensuring the dog has gone to the toilet before entering the building.
• Cleaning up after their dog promptly and hygienically.
• Informing staff if the dog needs any reasonable adjustments to support safe access.

Both our toilet areas have baby changing facilities and high-chairs are available in our café.

Check out our café page for our menu.

Unfortunately not. All food and drink must be purchased from our café, the only exception to this is for weaning babies. You can bring your own filled water bottle to drink during your session and we are happy to refill these.

Please note birthday cakes cannot be consumed within our centre unless you are part of a Clip ‘n Climb Bicester organised party in our designated party rooms- this will be explained by our Party coordinator when making a birthday party booking.

This is as part of our commitment to Natasha’s Law.

Yes, we have lockers, they are big enough for coats and  bags; these are free of charge.

BY FOOT OR BIKE

We are a short distance from: Bicester town centre and Bicester Village train station. Simply take the Launton Road, go past Garth Park (on you right hand side) and you will find Bessemer Close on the left hand side opposite Aldi supermarket.

BY BUS

Nearest Bus Stop: the S5 Gold stops a short walk away on the Bristol Road. Walk along Churchill Avenue towards the Launton Road, turn right on to the Launton road, you will find Bessemer Close on the right hand side opposite Aldi supermarket.

BY CAR

Clip ‘n Climb Bicester, Unit 3 Bessemer Close, Bicester, Oxon, OX26 6QE

We are located at the end of Bessemer Close, on the left hand side. Bessemer Close is just off the Launton Road.