Grad job in Chichester - where to live?

[Delphigirl]

Bit of an odd one this and I don’t know Sussex at all so would appreciate any thoughts.

DS has 3.5 month internship which may turn into grad job. Hydrographic survey. That means 4 weeks on ship, 4 weeks on holiday for c. 6 mths a year, remaining 6mths of year in office.
Office is in Chichester.

He will be 22 rising 23 on graduation. Loves the sea, sailing, diving, nature, hiking, but also DJs (house, electronic) (gets £250 a night for that in Devon) and plays drums. Loves clubbing. Will need to make whole new social life as has no connection there. Assume earning quite nicely - £30k basic but quite a lot of extra arising from time at sea. Say £40k.

Where would he live? Has Chi got stuff to interest a young grad, will he make friends there or will he spend all his three months off for half the year wishing he was living somewhere more lively? Should he pay the very high rents to live in Brighton/Hove for the youthful community and clubbing, even though he will not be there at all for 3 months a year? Would daily commuting to Chichester for 6 months a year from Brighton:Hove be doable - and if so by train or by car?

is there another nice option to commute from that maybe cheaper and faster? What is Worthing like for a 20 something? Or even Southsea/old Portsmouth?

Finally he could live cheaply lodging in his siblings flat in Balham but that looks pretty impossible for daily commute to Chi - is that right? might that work if he is only needed say 3 days/week in the office?

as I say any thoughts much appreciated!

Living in Balham and commuting to Chi, would mean a very early start. It’s about 90 minutes on the train, or longer if it stops more frequently.

Chi has a thriving university near the town centre, so he could maybe see what the students do. There’s also a uni campus at Bognor Regis, very close to the sea and cheaper. The South Downs are on the doorstep for walking and hiking and there are walking clubs where he could meet people. Chichester Harbour has sailing, or there are sailing clubs at Bognor and Felpham too.

Southampton and Portsmouth are possibilities for more nightlife and student communities. Brighton is very expensive. Worthing isn’t really a young person’s town. Trains from Chi to Portsmouth, Southampton and Brighton are frequent and there are buses from Chi too, but they take longer.

The problem with travelling by car if you’re unfamiliar with the area is the A27, which is always busy and always unpredictable. Locals find ways round it, but you would need to be familiar with the area which he isn’t.

That’s very helpful, thanks @Bluevelvetsofa . Yes I have read that Worthing is getting funkier but I was sceptical and it is good to have that confirmed. I’ve never been a great fan of Portsmouth or Southampton - would you say he should try Chi and see what he thinks before moving to eg Portsmouth if it is a bit too sleepy for him?

Probably! Chi is more expensive to rent of course, but there are lots of lets near St Richard’s hospital, which is also near the university. The A259 to and from Chi has a good bus route, so he could try somewhere a bit out of the town centre. A night club has recently reopened by the pier in the centre of Bognor. The town centre itself, I wouldn’t recommend.

Southernbrook Lettings do a lot of lets, so do Martins, Leaders, White and Brooks and several others.

I don’t know what the nightlife is like in Chi, other than restaurants. I’m past the age where clubs have any appeal I’m afraid, but there is a student village with a cinema, fast food, leisure centre, fairly near the canal.

Chichester born and bred here, I love it. My daughter is 22 and about to come back here after uni. It's not the most lively of places but there are good pubs with live music etc, for eg The Hole in the Wall and Fountain. It's easy enough to get to London or Brighton for gigs and more nightlife if he wants it. There are lots of students here and the city centre is always busy. Housing is expensive though and the A27 a massive pain as PP said. There are places around the outskirts which may be cheaper, I'm in a village just outside but can still walk to town if I need to. Bus services are generally good.

I was going to mention the reopening of Sheiks ha ha!

Who can resist a nightclub called sheiks 🤣🤣
thank you!

Anyone else have any thoughts? Would be v grateful.

Chichester is a good area to live for water sports, outdoor activities etc and has some great nearby beaches. However, despite there being a university it’s not very ‘lively’. As someone previously mentioned, there are some nice pubs which do have live music but no regular DJ’s or clubs. Portsmouth is only a 25min drive/train journey and a much bigger city, so perhaps this would be a better option for your son. I think the commute from London (esp daily) would be too much unless he enjoyed leaving very early. Once or twice per week would probably be manageable.

Love Chichester

Honestly I'd choose Portsmouth, Chichester is nice and is well located for watersports etc but it has a decidedly middle-aged vibe IMO, both my two went to open days at the uni and decided against it. Portsmouth is a great city, big uni, loads of bars and nightlife, Victorious Festival, lots of historic interest, it's crowded but still has nice open spaces and a lovely long seafront, I really like it (retiring to Southsea is something I would consider). Parking is a major issue in many areas but trains to Chichester are straightforward.

I grew up in Chichester and spent all my going out time in Portsmouth and Southsea.

There is a lot more going on now though than there was 25 years ago.

It’s easy to commute by train from Southsea. Worth seeing what the rents are like. Nightlife is v lively. More do with the u I than with the navy these days I would think.

I live near Balham and have friends in Chichester. A daily commute is not an option but perhaps could be something for weekends.

I would avoid Hove/Brighton. Too far and likely a lot more expensive.

Chichester is pretty quiet for nightlife, but you can get to Southampton / Portsmouth / Brighton easily enough by train for nights out (although from experience the last train back from Brighton can be unreliable).

Lots of sailing opportunities at the nearby marinas, and the South Downs NP is on the doorstep.

There is a train to Gatwick so easy to make the most of his time off if he wants to travel during his 4 off.

Portsmouth would be a fairly easy commute, Brighton would be quite a hike each day (and you wouldn’t want to drive it, the A27 is not great).

This is all great stuff, thank you so much. Masses to be getting on with. Particularly helpful that you all agree Brighton is too far/too expensive/not worth it so that can probably drop off the list of options. Interesting to see so much love for Portsmouth/southsea. Would also put him in striking distance of home (oxford) - a lot more than Brighton anyway. Thank you!

I love Portsmouth / Southsea and think it’d be a great place for your DS.

Portsmouth to Oxford is a pretty straightforward journey by train or car, yes.

I’m 52, was in Chichester for the first time a couple of months ago, and thought the vibe was ‘considerably older than me’!

I work in Chi, live outside Portsmouth. I commute down the dreaded A27 and it's the bane of my life!

In your son's position, I agree with others that Southsea/Portsmouth for home would be better, especially when walkable to one of the stations. Chi station is nicely central so it would be a nicer commute than driving (I don't live anywhere near a station, sadly).

I love Chichester, but I am a MC, white, mid-thirties mother. The young ones are not as keen and, as others have said, the 'nightlife' is pretty non-existent.

I'm not a fan of Brighton or the surrounding area in general tbh. Overpriced and overwanky.

Portsmouth is fantastic - he could live in walking distance of Frstton train station in Southsea and have a whale of a time. Southampton no where near as fun nowadays. Loads of sailing of course but there’s also other water sports at Hilsea, live music scene is good, food is great.

I don’t know the area, but for short term rental for the 4 weeks on land, could he book a couple of Airbnbs and try different areas before he commits to a longer term rental.

I grew up in Chichester and was going to suggest Southsea too. Chichester has more going on than it used to but Southsea is so much fun when you're in your 20's- lots of lovely independent bars/restaurants, seaside, shops etc. If he was getting the train to Chichester it would be an easy commute (I'd personally not want to drive it, I did that for a few years and the Eastern Road was awful at rush hour)

Another vote for Southsea

This is a tremendous idea, yes! He could! Brilliant.

This is all fab thank you, Southsea seems to get 2 thumbs up. His girlfriend is currently at Southampton uni (until end of next year) so I will suggest to him he investigates southsea next time he is down there for a long weekend. I think it sounds right up his alley. Many thanks!

You can get the hovercraft from Southsea to the Isle of Wight.