Which college(s) should we visit at Durham Uni open day tomorrow?

[Mykingdomforanickname]

Off to open day at Durham University with DS tomorrow. DS does not know yet which university will be first choice and obviously we don't know yet which universities will want him! But working on the basis that he might end up at Durham, it seems sensible to look at colleges that he might end up applying to if he does decide he'd like to go there. (I believe tours of St Hild and St Bede are already fully booked, so can rule that one out for visit tomorrow.) If he does go to Durham, DS quite fancies the idea of a college with older buildings rather than all very modern! Beyond that he doesn't have strong views. Anyone have any recommendations? If he does go there, it will be to do a modern languages degree. In terms of interests, DS is quite an "all rounder" - likes playing guitar, acting in school plays, sports (on casual basis). Anyone know Durham Uni and have any thoughts?

Collingwood has just had a massive buildings upgrade - brand new huge gym, theatre with sound system, new bar/cafes etc - if he is interested in sport or the arts then definitely worth a look.

Thanks for that Namechange and stranger.

He has emerged bloodied but unbowed from the last year. He didn’t apply for Durham last year because he didn’t think he would get in. Having visited I think it will be ideal for him, and it may well be all for the best in the long run.

I do know what you mean about HB looking a bit grim, parts were quite shabby too. But many of the communal spaces had a nice atmosphere, with huge windows and lots of natural light, and the grounds are lovely (on a sparkling autumn day - probably less so when it’s pissing with rain in January ) and actually it’s the other students that make it what it is in the end.

it’s the other students that make it what it is in the end

100% this. Shabby buildings are really not an issue, and I don’t think H&B is any more unattractive than the rest! Some dubious building went on at some point all over the city.

Elvet Riverside and the union bring two such architectural delights 🤣

I did languages at Mildert (15 years ago). Ooooo who are youuuuuuu? (Fellow VM-er from 15 yrs ago!)

Is it true the union was designed by the same guy who designed the Sydney opera house? Or is that just Durham urban legend?!

Maybe on one of his off days he designed it? One of my favourite Durham memories is the blood donation people being set up in the main room in the union. Great plan. Lots of students donating. Who then nearly passed out halfway up the three/four(?) staircases on the way up afterwards and had to sit looking a bit pasty whilst recovering with supplies from the union shop.

www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/feb/12/durham-university-dunelm-house-threat-of-demolition-brutalism

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ove_Arup

Yes I used to go down to the ballroom for blood donation.do people know the new Inn has gone?

Apparently it is some super fancy architect. There’s a plaque on the big bridge. I mean I’m not a MASSIVE fan in all honestly but I don’t get much about architecture so that’s not saying anything.

the new Inn has gone WHAT? But I still have my yellow card somewhere. Where else will I get my cut price Smirnoff Ice?

I was in last year. They were still selling reef for £1.35

Reef! I had forgotten that entirely. £1.35!

I actually got proof

AMAZING

Ha! MissMarples one of them was me! Although I made it halfway up the first set up steps, went a bit green and sat down and had to be semi-carried back down where they made me drink barely diluted squash . I was tiny back then (thanks freshers 'flu), goodness knows what the nurse was thinking when she waved me through to the tables without weighing me . And I had low blood pressure. Gosh, I was an idiot.

I worked in the union shop (15 yrs ago). I actually really liked the DSU building. Kind of Like the southbank centre of Durham (but a bit more sicky on a Saturday morning post-Hound...)

The new in cannot have gone? Where will I get my post-hockey fish finger butty and chips, washed down with alcoholic slush? Near college there's nowhere else to go for first dates with random blokes you snogged in Klute either?!!

When I was there the New Inn was renamed The Scream . Glad to hear that didn't last long.

Although shame it's closed . It was shit, but we loved it.

That’s interesting- Scream was the name of the chain that owned it when I was there but it always went by the New Inn like a country pub or something! Obviously decided to make the branding more obvious later one!

They painted it yellow too. Inside and out. Was awful. I remember they were pretty cheap about it though, they had The Scream as the pub sign but left New Inn up too. The staff seemed rather confused about what it's name actually was!

• Its. Sorry, I don't claim to be a grammar pedant but I do know the difference between its and it's, thanks autocorrect

St Cuthbert's. Literally get to live in the shadow of the cathedral, right by the river. V special part of the city.