[KatyPiee]

I'm hoping to put Keele as an insurance university or something but I've heard from some friends who know people there that it has like nothing to do there?

Does anyone have any info?

[multiplexing-gamer]

Hi, I'm not a student there (I'm in year 11) but I live near by. I think there are night clubs and stuff in Hanley and Newcastle. It's quite a nice places to live but by far not the best.

[Harpoon]

(Original post by KatyPiee)
I'm hoping to put Keele as an insurance university or something but I've heard from some friends who know people there that it has like nothing to do there?

Does anyone have any info?

Keele actually has a fantastic student life. As an insurance student, if you get into Keele you'll have to live Off-Campus, however as the 2012-2013 Off-Campus Rep for the Student's Union, I can say that it doesn't affect the university experience, it enhances it if anything. The main reason for this is you can do everything the Uni has to offer, so the nightlife, the social community etc but you also have easy access to Newcastle or Hanley!

Any further questions, feel free to ask

[MarieChantelle12]

Ive just finished my first year at Keele and tbh i think there is plenty to do. During the day if you dont have lectures you have the gym, sports training (specially on wednesday), you can also go into newcastle and hanley (not the best of places but they do have a decent selction of shops, cafes etc.)
Now at night time its totally different, just on the campus alone you have the union which includes the ballroom (used mostly for big events its also has the bomb bar), the scruffy squirrel (lots of people, tv screens, main bar and a shot bar), k2 (dancefloor + bar) and another one which i cant remember what its called, also theres the bubble which is like a sit down area (with nice seats ).
Thats just the union, you also have pig and rat bar (Barnes hall), horwood bar (obv horwood hall), lindsey bar (obv lindsey) and also TEMPLAR BAR (Hawthorns hall).
Pig and Rat - only been there twice quite big looks pretty decent and also had a big event called pigfest this year.
Horwood bar - Very small, but very busy on KRAP nights only go on KRAP related nights and drink the bar dry but it is one of my favourites.
Lindsey bar - Never been.
TEMPLAR BAR - I lived on hawthorns so i was in here alot and know pretty much all the bar staff and i maybe bias. But this is the best bar on campus favourite nights were POUNDED on thursdays - decent music and pound drinks till 11pm. I would recommend Templar over anywhere else :P.

Now I dont know much on Hanley and Newcastle, but I dont think its awfull from what i heard. I know in Newcastle you have a very good cinema, decent restaurants. Hanley im not so sure on.

Hope that helps

[pillowshot]

If you're from a big city then it's going to be a step down in things to do obviously.

In newcastle and hanley there are plenty of pubs, bars and restaurants. To be honest what you find is it's not where you go but who you go with that dictates how good a time you have.

[JamesR1993]

I'm hoping to join Keele in September to study Educational studies & English and i can say i'm thoroughly looking forward to it. I'll be coming from pretty much the most south-easternly point in the country in a small town so can't wait to be near a big city with constant access

[tamimi]

It's certainly small as a city. So it's a major step down in terms of night life, but it's not non-existent.

There are quite a few student bars and pubs embedded around the campus and Stoke isn't that far either, there are a few places down there, not that I've ever been.

The campus is massive area-wise, but most of it is woods and fields.

I guess it depends on what sort of stuff you're into. I just like sitting on grass and playing guitars, and I'm coming from Gloucestershire which is virtually empty, so Keele works great for me.

Overall, it's a nice bubble place, but you may find it uncomfortable if you're a big city girl.

[Keele-Nomad]

(Original post by MarieChantelle12)
Thats just the union, you also have pig and rat bar (Barnes hall), horwood bar (obv horwood hall), lindsey bar (obv lindsey) and also TEMPLAR BAR (Hawthorns hall).

To avoid confusion when freshers get to Keele:

Horwood Bar - Closed for good now.
Templar Bar - Closed for good now.
Pig and Rat - Soon to be closed for good.

So that's just Lindsay and the union left.

[JamesR1993]

(Original post by Keele-Nomad)
To avoid confusion when freshers get to Keele:

Horwood Bar - Closed for good now.
Templar Bar - Closed for good now.
Pig and Rat - Soon to be closed for good.

So that's just Lindsay and the union left.

Why are they closed?

[Leon Trotsky]

There a couple of bars in the student union that are really good, and I think most people go there and they also put on a lot of live music and stand up comedy and that. There are also bars in some of the halls, but I've never been to them. Also a lot of people go out in Hanley and Newcastle. Hanley at night is full of chavs and students from Staffordshire University though (hard to tell the difference) so I wouldn't recommend it.

[Keele-Nomad]

(Original post by JamesR1993)
Why are they closed?

Spiralling debts I believe.

[Harpoon]

(Original post by Keele-Nomad)
To avoid confusion when freshers get to Keele:

Horwood Bar - Closed for good now.
Templar Bar - Closed for good now.
Pig and Rat - Soon to be closed for good.

So that's just Lindsay and the union left.

Is there official conformation for this?

[Keele-Nomad]

Well it's common knowledge really. Templar has been closed for months, Horwood had a closing down party in May and word is that the Union wouldn't bail the Pig and Rat out again so it's closing too.

[Harpoon]

(Original post by Keele-Nomad)
Well it's common knowledge really. Templar has been closed for months, Horwood had a closing down party in May and word is that the Union wouldn't bail the Pig and Rat out again so it's closing too.

I haven't heard anything about this at all. There's been talk about the 2013 Pigfest so I doubt the Pig and Rat is true. And the closing party for Horwood was just for the end of the year, there's no talk on the Facebook page about it closing for good.

[JamesR1993]

I hope not, be a bit disappointing if the bars are all closing before i even get there

[~ Purple Rose ~]

I know someone who works in Templar and I'm sure it's been open (and I was in it not too long ago as well)

[Mr Dangermouse]

Stoke is only 5 miles away, and Keele's right on the M6 so it's like 40 minutes up the road to Manchester or Liverpool.

[DanChorley]

Katy,

Whoever has told you that there is nothing to do at Keele is misinformed.
I was in your potential situation, as an insurance offer student. My firm was Nottingham, Uni of.

I will be completely blunt with you right now, if you put Keele as your insurance offer you will not get accommodation on campus. It is only guaranteed to international students and firm offer students (and those with disabilities etc). So if you do put Keele as your insurance offer, and you do end up going to Keele, start looking for a house and potential house mates.

Other than that, this year has been great. It's been a slow start, and the second semester has definitely been better than the first. Keele will be what you make of it. If you immerse yourself in the societies, sports and social (or immerse yourself in only one of these) you will have a good time.

The union nights are great, and you very quickly work out which ones are for you and which are the more popular. Fancy dress nights seem to be a heck of a lot more popular than the standard nights.
There's also Carnage in Hanley (Stoke) which is pretty decent, although slightly more expensive.

If there's anything else you want to know, let me know.

[Keele-Nomad]

(Original post by Harpoon)
I haven't heard anything about this at all. There's been talk about the 2013 Pigfest so I doubt the Pig and Rat is true. And the closing party for Horwood was just for the end of the year, there's no talk on the Facebook page about it closing for good.

Hmm, maybe you're right. It's just what I had heard from several sources. I'm hoping Horwood stays open at least because Krap in the union is nowhere near as good.

[Keele-Nomad]

Ok, just had an email today from the university saying all student bars are being bailed out and took over by the Uni because of debt therefore they will be re-opening in september under new management.