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Parsons field

I have applied to cuths and I'm still unsure whether I should go catered (on south bailey) or self catering (at parsons field).Ive only been to south bailey so far so I have a couple of questions for those who went to parsons field in their first year:

1. Did you regret doing self catering?
2. What is parking like on the parsons field site?
3. How much more did you end up spending that you would have at south bailey?
4. How nice is the first year accomodation?

Thanks :biggrin:

Reply 1

iliketurtles

12

eggman

1. Did you regret doing self catering?
2. What is parking like on the parsons field site?
3. How much more did you end up spending that you would have at south bailey?
4. How nice is the first year accommodation?

Hi,

1. Last year i was semi-catered in Refounders House, which was good as it offers the best of both options. It's totally up to you what you want to go for, everyone has different preferences and it's good that Cuth's gives you the flexibility unlike other colleges. There isn't any 'better' or 'worse' option :smile:

2. Parking is limited, in fact, you're not even meant to park here unless you have a student parking pass which are like gold dust. I've noticed that warning notices have been placed under car wipers this week saying that they aren't permitted to park there, and also that they are also blocking access for emergency vehicles. The university has every right to clamp/remove vehicles and in fact they are actively opposed to student vehicles. http://www.dur.ac.uk/student.cars/

3. Just the cost of any food

4. It's all good. You should note that Brooks House is primarily for second and third years, so as a fresher you're lucky to be in Brooks anyway. Also Brooks seems really dead socially, compared to last year (when I was in Refounders) at least. I hardly know anyone living in Brooks House other than my well established friends, unlike last year when the entire building seemed to know each other.

Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and mine is that Fonteyn/PFC/Refounders are much more social for freshers. Parsons Field is much more modern than the Bailey, hence the 'cleaner' rooms. The properties on the Bailey are all listed buildings, so naturally they are quite old and alterations to the rooms/buildings are limited.

Reply 2

frizzy_locks

2

have your accommodation forms been sent to you yet?

Reply 3

eggman

OP

5

got mine this morning.
Still can't decide on self catering/catered.
The rooms in parsons field look very good, but i've never seen a bailey room.
Does anyone have any pictures?

Reply 4

sarbruis

8

Are accommodation forms being sent to everyone now?

Reply 5

Applying4Maths

Not for Collingwood or indeed any colleges except Cuths - at Cuths there are different accommodation options such as Parson's Field / Bailey and catered / self-catered. At the other colleges everyone gets the same so accommodation isn't sorted out til after results (16th Aug).

Reply 6

Kingers

eggman

I have applied to cuths and I'm still unsure whether I should go catered (on south bailey) or self catering (at parsons field).Ive only been to south bailey so far so I have a couple of questions for those who went to parsons field in their first year:

1. Did you regret doing self catering?
2. What is parking like on the parsons field site?
3. How much more did you end up spending that you would have at south bailey?
4. How nice is the first year accomodation?

Thanks :biggrin:

Ok - may as well clear the air a little bit. Parsons fied = Brooks house, Parsons field court and refounders house. They are all very different..

Im at refounders by the way, but ive been in the others as well as the bailey.

1. No, self caterings great, i can eat what i want, rather than manky school dinner food.My mate is catered for and he eats with us most nights because he prefers the food we make. Even if you cant cook, its better to go self catered if you are going to be PF, so you dont have to walk all the way up to the bailey for meals. Of course bailey has the convenience of a close Dining hall. But, its a hassle, to have to go and sit down in a hall and make random conversation with people you might not know. Ok, this sounds antisocial, but during exams or just sometimes you cant be bothered and you will know what i mean. You can of course just grab a pizza or a snack and miss dinner, but thats kinda wasting cash.

The kitchens in refounders house are actually *****e, but we managed for a year, even thought 3 in 5 housemates actually did NO cleaning. Brooks house have amazing kitchens, more of a communal dining hall + kitchen + lounge in one. And Not quite sure about PFc, think they are ok.

2. Parking - sucks. theres maybe 4 or 5 spaces outside refounders - 2 of which are taken up by society members, and the rest by visiting families.(weekends mostly). Theres a bit of "parking" space by the laundry room at PFC, but not much and i wouldnt park there unless you want to get your car scratched. i would not advise to bring your car anyway. You dont need it and its likely to get damaged by all the drunks that walk past on fridays and saturdays, oh and mondays and tuesdays, ok pretty much every night..

3. no idea. wasn't at south bailey. Im not sure what the food costs at south bailey but i spend about 35-65 on food a week. but i get takeaways. Id imagine you spend a bit more on drink at bailey.

4. Ok well refounders first - rooms are tiny, pretty much enough room to roll over on the floor, but theres a decent sized bed, a pc counter and a wardrobe. Stacks of draws and a sink also. The rooms in Brooks house are probably smaller, but they have a shower too, which adds to the luxury. Much nicer rooms in brooks, infact they are like swanky london pads of some sort. Whereas refounders is pretty much 1940s holiday camp :biggrin:

Refounders showers and toilets are not bad, but are shower was working for 5 days, it broke for 7 months, they fixed it, broke again after 3 minutes. They fixed it 2 days from the end of exams, and it broke again. The kitchen is pretty bad, we had a broken extractor fan which was about 200 degrees hot, 2 hot taps and no cold taps, a broken table, broken freezer, broken lights. door handles and door frames which just fall off, a kettle which blew up, a toaster which set on fire and subsequently blew up. The only thing thats not broken is the chairs, an d god how they hurt when you kick them. From what i have heard on the bailey, the accomodation is fairly basic, but nice at the same time, The rooms seem to be random, from what i have seen. I went to one guys room which was bigger than my entire corridor of 6 flats, 2 showers, a toilet and a kitchen.

facilities wise - bailey has a gym, library, pub, music room. all the shops and supermarket are closer. as well as the majority of pubs - jimmys, studio and walkabout, as well as the bailey bars.

PFC has a bar, and thats about it... apparently its getting a gym in refounders house, where our communal lounge used to be, which sucks ass.

PFC is closer to elvet - anthropology, philosophy and some other rubbish, also probably easier to get to the science site via whinney hill - which is where physics is - if im mistaken and i misread your profile - sorry.

All in all i think i made my point - PFC kicks ars lol

Reply 7

eggman

OP

5

there isn't an option to choose between the buildings on the application form. So i guess its a lottery.
What about fonteyn court?

Reply 8

eggman

OP

5

keep the opinions coming! I need to decide by wednesday as i'm on holiday for 3 weeks after then.
Are parson fielders isolated from the south bailey? Which site has the better freshers atmosphere?
I'm swaying slightly towards catered but I keep changing my mind.
More opinions please!!!

Reply 9

Agbonlaheto

My two penneth for what it is worth.

In your first year go for the Bailey and catering. The Bailey is where it is at vis-a-vis Cuths life with access to the main bar). Unless you become a proctor or special-case you will have only one opportunity to live there. Make the most of it. Sharing a room (which becomes likely on the Bailey) is not as bad as you think it will be and the college food is convenient and, again, not that bad.

Bare in mind that there is no way of determining who your mates will be once you get here. Depending on the type of person you are and the things that you want to do, your friends could be from all around the place. If so, you accommodation in the first year is just a place where you sleep.

There is no way of guaranteeing you a place on the Bailey, but you might as well try to get a room there since you can live in Brooks House in other years if you so wish.

Parsons field

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