Sheffield adventure festival at centre of the action for 2016

The celebration of the outdoors lifestyle is now in its 10th year, and this July activities will be spread across various locations such as the Peace Gardens, Barker’s Pool and Devonshire Green.

Dedicated areas will be provided for cycling, running and climbing, with Devonshire Green playing host to the British Mountaineering Council’s Bouldering Championships, featuring a wall the size of three double-decker buses.

The relocation has been backed by the city centre’s Business Improvement District. Firms have started paying an annual levy on their business rates, bringing in £5 million over five years with the intention of making the centre of Sheffield busier and more vibrant.

Coun Leigh Bramall, the council’s deputy leader, said Sheffield’s reputation for climbing and adventure sports had ‘driven a strong outdoor economy in the city’.

“Moving the festival to the city centre creates further opportunities for businesses to tap in to that and reap the benefits of an event of this scale, and makes it more accessible for those who want to attend.

“And this year we are able to host the event free of charge which will attract even more people to try something new, show off their skills and, for some, take their first steps to leading more active lifestyles and adventurous hobbies.”

Diane Jarvis, the BID’s manager, said one of the initiative’s aims was to ‘enhance the city centre’s image as a vibrant destination, boosting visitor numbers and driving economic growth’.

“Cliffhanger can deliver on all three of these outcomes,” she added.

The event, over the weekend of July 9 and 10, is sponsored by Reward Health, Sheffield Hallam University and Pentagon Jeep.

n Visit www.theoutdoorcity.co.uk/all/cliffhanger for details.