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Original poster

Bristol university accommodations

85 replies

happyhebe · 27/05/2017 08:42

We're going to be applying for accommodation at the Uni of Bristol for DS next week, any tips please?

He's not sure whether to go for catered or self catered or even which hall to go for. He's sociable but also likes a quiet environment to work in.

TIA.

OP posts:
bojorojo · 31/05/2017 17:36

aginghippie. I could just have easily have said Jewish or Icelandic. The point I was making is that university is a time to embrace people who are not from the same background as you but share the same goals.

It is likely that not everyone will get their choice of hall by a long way so some may end up in self catering even if they didn't want it. I think the students who have the formal dinners enjoy them but you have to accept the food is not brilliant. I am sure she will find other like minded students in whatever hall she gets and don't always believe what you read. When my DD went, Hiatt Baker was the one to avoid! It changes. The Accommodations Office can help students move too. Occasionally students leave and vacate rooms so there is some movement even into popular halls, but not much. if anyone really does not settle then it is worth asking for a move.

blueskyinmarch · 31/05/2017 17:46

The students seem to move around a lot at the start of term. It doesn't appear to be an issue. I think they would rather have settled happy students rather than miserable ones.

With regards to the food, my DD is fairly fussy but has managed fine with the catered food. But the kitchen facilities are terrible. She has lived most weekends on pesto pasta, noodles and dominos pizza. It is the one thing about moving to a flat she is very much looking forward to! She is very, very sad however to be leaving scruffy old Badock behind. She has adored her time there.

fluffytail · 31/05/2017 18:00

Bristol graduate here. I lived in durdham in my first year. I think it has a boring reputation because it's arranged in flats - every room has an ensuite and there are 6 bedrooms to one kitchen so each flat can be a bit cut off. Suited me down to the ground as I just wanted to get on and study during the week (lots of medics, engineers and vets the year I was there). We used to all get taxis into town for a night out or go across to Churchill or Wills. Not sure what all this fuss is about getting buses to uni- we used to walk down in groups together!

JanetBrown2015 · 31/05/2017 18:06

Certainly formal dinners is a negative for my boys (although I am sure it would do them good to endure some of them). I'm pretty sure it was a big part of their rejection of their Durham offers but I don't think they are thinking about halls at all at the moment, just revision.

blueskyinmarch · 31/05/2017 18:10

The formal dinner are entirely optional. My DD went to all but one as she and her friends loved them but lots of the students didn't go to any. They weren't too formal - just slightly better food, served to them by waiters and with wine. I think the girls rotated the same dresses so they could wear something different each time at little expense!

goingmadinthecountry · 31/05/2017 20:43

Dd1 graduated in 2015 - 1st year in Clifton Hill House catered. She was glad she didn't get Wills because of the distance. Also known as the rah hall with more drugs than the other halls - true or not? Who knows, but that's the reputation.
She was catered but would have been happy cooking for herself in retrospect - often missed meals as they were early and she couldn't really be bothered heading back just for some fairly dull food. Kitchens were OKish. Lots of people couldn't cook - one friend offered her £5 to cook pasta for him. He came from an international background with staff and didn't have a clue! They cooked at the weekend. Dd2 was non-catered elsewhere. She liked it like that.
I'd say Clifton every time - but then again I love Clifton.Dd found a great flat there for years 2/3.
Formal dinners are fun. Not too formal. You don't have to go obviously. But if you are at university, you should definitely be up for it. Far less formal than Oxbridge etc

Questionsmorequestions · 31/05/2017 21:19

Ds3 is in 1st Year. He is in Hiatt Baker, self catered. Room is ensuite and a good size. The kitchen is well equipped and quite a sociable place so I think shy people would be 'picked up' by their flat mates. He has friends in private city centre halls and says they ar small rooms and slightly more expensive than his room.
The students seem to be a mix of backgrounds. He has made good friends and is moving in with 6 students next year in rented house nearer the university.
Moving in day was very impressive, organisation went like clockwork and lots of students around to help.

LondonMumsy · 31/05/2017 21:28

Glad to hear you DS likes Hiatt Baker self catered. I think DD will make it her first choice and Durdham Hall her second choice.
She knows self catered is better for a fussy eater. But she keeps going on about how she will miss out on all the formals in catered hall. I've told her she will live without them Smile

Peaceandl0ve · 31/05/2017 22:55

Hello Questionsmorequestions, my DD is also in Hiatt Baker self catered, she has also loved it, she feels quite sad to be moving out. Perhaps our kids know each other!

bojorojo · 31/05/2017 23:02

It's all about choices, isn't it. Eat what is put in front of you, like we had to, or cook for yourself and miss out on the formal evenings.

Drugs are everywhere but you don't have to join in. It would be ridiculous to say only one hall has a few who take drugs. I could suggest the city centre hall has drug takers in it because it's full of students who want to be near the clubs and bars but that wouldn't be fair either.

LondonMumsy · 31/05/2017 23:44

Yes DD knows it's about making choices. I was making a joke as to how she thinks the world will end because she can't go to formal dinners.

Ontopofthesunset · 31/05/2017 23:46

DS says his block at Hiatt Baker always reeks of weed. But that may be the same everywhere.

AuntieJuice · 01/06/2017 05:02

I was in Sinclair House (part of Manor Hall) 10 years ago. All accommodation in the hall is self catered and the floors/flats are single sex, main hall is corridors, the annexes (like Sinclair) were flats and houses. Nice, quiet, safe, in lovely Clifton, short walk to uni. Loved it, still great, great friends with the 5 girls who I shared a flat with that first year.

goingmadinthecountry · 01/06/2017 07:37

I think there's quite a bit of overthinking going on here - as people have said, many students don't get their first choice of hall/room type. Pretty well all get on with it and make great friends. Those who absolutely loathe it can usually change. It's the people you meet that make it fun. My dcs have friends from all kinds of schools/backgrounds/countries. Yes there are drugs in all halls but no-one makes you take them.

I wish I was 18 again!

Rosieposy4 · 01/06/2017 21:24

Auntie, floors/flats in manor no longer single sex, Ds was there in his first hear ( now fourth year ) and i think they were all moxed, if not all certainly the vast majority.

bojorojo · 02/06/2017 14:39

I agree goingmad. The choices are between the various areas of the city and whether that area suits your intended life at university. There is more choice at Stoke Bishop and students rely less on city centre entertainment. It is also nearer to the sports facilities. If you want to roll out of bed at the last minute and get to lectures, and don't like the idea of getting a taxi home occasionally, then stay around Clifton. If you love the idea of the city entertainment hubs, then go into the hall in that area and your bed will be handy after a night out. If you want catered, then your choice is limited anyway. No-one will avoid the odd annoying student but nearly everyone is happy about where they end up!

Questionsmorequestions · 04/06/2017 16:17

Peaceandl0ve
That would be funny, I expect ds wouldn't agree tho! Think he is in k

GladysKnight · 11/06/2017 19:40

My DC has just finished a year at Sinclair, part of Manor (you just apply to Manor, they allocate tho poss you could express a preference? DC has enjoyed this, socialised with the flat and with other students on their course as well. Small flat so fairly quiet (to small for any parties really!) - though their flat and the one across the landing did quite a lot together. Kitchen not huge but well-equipped, nice stove, fridge & freezer again not huge but enough space for people to bake cookies etc and not just heat up soup.

Just wanted to update on Auntie Juice's post to point out the flats on that staircase at any rate were mixed.

DE went to v bog-standard comp with just a sixth form at a grammar. I think all the flat mates were state educated, they all seemed 'normal' anyway, none conspicuously posh!

The hall is self-catered but they had monthly 'formals' ie formal dinners which I think were lots of fun, chance for everyone to dress up and socialise.

My DC seemed able to study without being disturbed in their room (good solid doors may have helped the soundproofing ). Also studied with coursemates quite a lot, I think their department (a STEM one) has a good studying facility which they met up at quite a lot, don't know if other departments do this but seemed to work well.

GladysKnight · 11/06/2017 20:01

They also did enjoy being able to just walk down from Manor hall to the Triangle etc to go out - for mine, a wonderful change after being a country bumpkin without even buses right though teenage years till then.

I don't think anyone in the flat had a job - 3 STEM students and at least one of the other two was doing joint honours so pretty big workloads I think. They fill in a kind of questionnaire about themselves when they apply for accommodation, and I had the impression the hall had matched them quite well, though of course it might just have been chance.

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday · 11/06/2017 20:09

Dd left Bristol 3 years ago. She went to Woodlands court in her first year. We live very rurally in a old house full of character so she chose the exact opposite to that! Very new accommodation in the middle of everything. She really did not want to be a bus ride away from the centre.
She still speaks fondly of that flat amd the people she shared with. The girls still meet up regularly. DD went to a bog standard comp and actually there were very few private school students in Woodlands.

Lucysky2017 · 24/06/2017 10:32

Mine may go for "catered", "en suite" and probably Stoke Bishop which narrows it down a bit. Wish they would get on with applying.

BubblesBuddy · 24/06/2017 13:25

Privately educated students are nearly all in Stoke Bishop. They sort of know the halls that have a larger numbers of privately educated students!

Catered and en suite may be at a bit of a premium so be flexible if yours don't get what they want. Also, when sharing a house in the 2nd year, no-one gets en suite unless you are very rich! Nothing wrong with sharing a bathroom and getting used to it before 2nd year. This is why all the ex boarding pupils end up sharing bathrooms in the catered Stoke Bishop accommodation!

Lucysky2017 · 24/06/2017 14:44

Thanks. Yes they are privately educated but never wanted to board and I am sure they would not need en suite in year 2.

I wish they (twins) would spend a bit of time looking at it in a bit more detail.

BubblesBuddy · 24/06/2017 14:49

If they want catered and en suite there is not so much choice. Look at Churchill and Wills. Just apply before the deadline! It used to be early July. They will be fine!

Lucysky2017 · 24/06/2017 17:36

Thanks. Their sister was at Wills. They are twins and I think they want a different hall each so probablyone will put Wills (and may well not get in) and the other Churchill. What I want is that they at least start looking at it as one goes abroad next week so as usual is cutting it fine.