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Founders Building, Royal Holloway
Royal Holloway
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Butler, Tuke and Williamson or Founders? - RHUL

I'm just wondering which I should go for...
Excluding price, I reeeally wanna know which one is better for me. I'm quite keen on having my own bathroom, but if the ones in founders are decent then i wouldn't have a problem... i've heard they're awful though. also what is the catered food like? i'm vegetarian so i don't know if that's a problem. i think the social side of founders looks great, but the rest of it, i'm not so sure about. how is the social life in the other places?? it's something i'm really looking forward to about uni and wanna make the most of. ^^
Quite literally anywhere. You'll have a fantastic social life wherever you are, so I'd go for Butler/Will/Tuke since you don't need to share your bathroom and you can learn how to cook.
Founders Building, Royal Holloway
Royal Holloway
Egham
Visit website
Reply 2
*TSR Exclusive*

Over the summer of 2012, founders is being completely renovated (for the first time in it's 126 year history) so everywhere is getting a full re-decoration, new bathrooms fitted etc etc.

However back to the point, there are more accommodation options available than just founders and WTB such as Reid and Runnymede - which are a good middle ground - theres more info about these in the prospectus / online
I lived in WTB last year and I think it really depends on who you get as flatmates for the social bit. If you're really keen on having your own space and your own shower then WTB is great, plus if you like cooking then it's even better. I have friends who lived in Founders and they pretty much said that you get used to sharing showers after a while plus you'll get to know everyone on your floor. The downside about Founders is that you're likely to get your food stolen at some point by someone since the pantry is accessible to anyone :/ not too sure about the catered food but if I can recall correctly, you get a 50% off normal price.
Reply 4
Original post by dmoorcroft
*TSR Exclusive*

Over the summer of 2012, founders is being completely renovated (for the first time in it's 126 year history) so everywhere is getting a full re-decoration, new bathrooms fitted etc etc.

- really? do know any more about it..? or if it's definitely happening?
Reply 5
[QUOTE="hollymarie;35787393"]
Original post by dmoorcroft
*TSR Exclusive*

Over the summer of 2012, founders is being completely renovated (for the first time in it's 126 year history) so everywhere is getting a full re-decoration, new bathrooms fitted etc etc.

- really? do know any more about it..? or if it's definitely happening?


It's definitely happening; I'm a Student Ambassador and we were allowed to tell people about it on Open Days so it's official.

I've heard vegetarian options in Founder's can be a little limited, but aside from that, it's worth considering whether you really want to eat at set times and not be able to cook your own food, or if you think that's better because it's less hassle.

I know people tend to say "Founder's is great socially!", and I'm sure it is, but that doesn't mean that none of the other halls can be great socially either. And, likewise, you could end up in a particularly quiet corridor in Founder's, meaning that you'd have to look a little further afield for the social life you desire. I was walking by Tuke the other night and there was easily 30 people in a flat having a little rave-up, so my point is, the social life depends on the people- it's just that the corridor system of Founder's sort of encourages socialising that little bit more.

Plus, as dmoorcroft said, there are other in-between options (though personally I wouldn't consider Runnymede one: it's pretty much as expensive as the newest halls and has a similar layout but is just slightly older, which is why few people seem to put it as their first choice, from my experience anyway). If you want to be catered and still have an ensuite, Reid is a good choice, for example.
Reply 6
[QUOTE="hollymarie;35787393"]
Original post by dmoorcroft
*TSR Exclusive*

Over the summer of 2012, founders is being completely renovated (for the first time in it's 126 year history) so everywhere is getting a full re-decoration, new bathrooms fitted etc etc.

- really? do know any more about it..? or if it's definitely happening?


Definitely happenning - i've seen the plans but they've not been published online yet.

In other campus related news, the branch of natwest is definitely going to be replaced with a 2 storey santander and natwest will be putting in a cash point near the students union
Reply 7
Original post by dmoorcroft


In other campus related news, the branch of natwest is definitely going to be replaced with a 2 storey santander and natwest will be putting in a cash point near the students union


I'm glad to hear this! Hope it's soon, though.
Reply 8
Reid block. Thats the one I'm in at the moment. The room is pretty big, and you have an ensuite toilet/shower etc.
I think it's the 2nd cheapest halls and in same location as the most expensive ones.
Social life isn't a problem.
Only downside is that you only have a microwave and fridge, no cooker because it's catered halls.
Reply 9
Original post by Bizzleboy
Reid block. Thats the one I'm in at the moment. The room is pretty big, and you have an ensuite toilet/shower etc.
I think it's the 2nd cheapest halls and in same location as the most expensive ones.
Social life isn't a problem.
Only downside is that you only have a microwave and fridge, no cooker because it's catered halls.


Is Reid just identical to Runnymede (in terms of rooms) but uncatered? Also, is laid out as flats?
Reply 10
[QUOTE="dmoorcroft;35793400"]
Original post by hollymarie


Definitely happenning - i've seen the plans but they've not been published online yet.

In other campus related news, the branch of natwest is definitely going to be replaced with a 2 storey santander and natwest will be putting in a cash point near the students union


I am also thinking about which accomodation to choose (if I get an offer, which I really hope for :biggrin:) and at the moment I tend to choose WTB since it looks very modern (I am strongly driven by modern architecture :smile:) and has en-suite. I also love Founders (who the heck would not want to live in something looking like a castle?!?) but heard so many bad news about it (which have been uttered so often that I consider them more than just rumours), therefore it would be very interesting to know what exactly is going to happen with Founders.

Will shared showers be replaced by en-suits? Will there be a major, visible refurbishment regarding all the facilities, rooms etc. (also regarding furniture)? Will the heating issue be solved? Will prices rise?

I know you may not be able to answer all the questions, but any piece of help would be greatly appreciated :smile:
It'd be physically impossible to put an ensuite in every room in Founders unless the only thing you wanted in the rest of your room was a bed and room to open the door. I'm sure a lot of the furniture will be standardised (which is a shame, i love the individuality of each room). There was never a heating issue for me, it was on full blast when i got there in september, turned it off that day and never turned it on again so idk.
Reply 12
Original post by lareneg
Is Reid just identical to Runnymede (in terms of rooms) but uncatered? Also, is laid out as flats?

No the rooms are bigger in reid and we are in a block of 22 +/-.
It's catered and IMO better.
Reply 13
I prefer having my own shower, and having the flexibility to eat when i want, so living in butler works for me.

As people have said the social aspects really depend on the people you live with not where you live, so dont worry too much about that. However people in founders seem to all know each other which i guess is a good thing.
Reply 14
when will they publish info online about the founders renovation?
i'm a bit unsure about putting it as my first choice without knowing for sure it's being renovated....

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