The Student Room Group

Storthes Hall - AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Storthes Hall is an absolute Joke!

you get treated like a herd of animals, moving in day is a farce - 4 people processing forms and issuing keys to over 1000 people when there are at least 25 people stood about the place in stupid orange t shirts doing sod all. on arrival you will have to queue at least 2 hours just to recieve your key!

once you get into your room you will be greeted with crippling paintwork, leaking windows, a disgusting and inequipped kitchen, and at the end of the year all of this will be blamed on you!

the staff are the rudest people i have ever had the misfortune to meet. you ask for your post and they look at you as if you are something that they have scraped off their shoe. the shop staff are even worse. please and thankyou are 2 words not in the vocabulary of any member of staff at the place.

any excuse to keep your deposit or fine you for something and they'll take it

the buses are a joke - they give the students all the old skanky buses that they woudln't dare use on public services, the seats are always disgusting and there is barely enough leg room to accomodate a gnat!

living 6 miles out of town you have to rely on the buses! and sometimes, especially early in the mornings when there are lots of people going into uni there are not enough buses. they are overcrowded, many people have to stand up and the drivers are totally incompetant.

your day is run by the buses - you cant just nip into town if you need something, you have to wait for the bus and when you come back you must wait for the bus! and after 6pm in the evening you must pay £1, regardless of whether you have a pass or not. the last bus back from town is 11:30, so if you're in town after this time you must get a taxi home.

the staff actually stuck a notice onto my car with glue when it was parked in the wrong place! that is criminal damage! and they are quite prepared to do whatever they feel.

if this was any other kind of buisness it would have failed by now as every customer would never use it - but as you are contracted they treat you however they feel. its disgusting and its an absolute disgrace

they hide behind the pretentious attitude on open days and the country setting of the buildings. no doubting its a nice place environmentally, but it is a living hell once you're in!

DO NOT LIVE AT STORTHES HALL IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A GOOD FIRST YEAR!!!!!!

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LOL. I agree.
Plus Storthes Hall used to be a psy-ward hospital.
Reply 2
budbellybottom
LOL. I agree.
Plus Storthes Hall used to be a psy-ward hospital.

The old hospital was demolished, so the only part of the halls that was part of the hospital is the reception building. The main admin building of the hospital is still standing but for how long I dont know as they are building houses in that area (supposedly).
Reply 3
JonnyEFC
Storthes Hall is an absolute Joke!

you get treated like a herd of animals, moving in day is a farce - 4 people processing forms and issuing keys to over 1000 people when there are at least 25 people stood about the place in stupid orange t shirts doing sod all. on arrival you will have to queue at least 2 hours just to recieve your key!

once you get into your room you will be greeted with crippling paintwork, leaking windows, a disgusting and inequipped kitchen, and at the end of the year all of this will be blamed on you!

the staff are the rudest people i have ever had the misfortune to meet. you ask for your post and they look at you as if you are something that they have scraped off their shoe. the shop staff are even worse. please and thankyou are 2 words not in the vocabulary of any member of staff at the place.

any excuse to keep your deposit or fine you for something and they'll take it

the buses are a joke - they give the students all the old skanky buses that they woudln't dare use on public services, the seats are always disgusting and there is barely enough leg room to accomodate a gnat!

living 6 miles out of town you have to rely on the buses! and sometimes, especially early in the mornings when there are lots of people going into uni there are not enough buses. they are overcrowded, many people have to stand up and the drivers are totally incompetant.

your day is run by the buses - you cant just nip into town if you need something, you have to wait for the bus and when you come back you must wait for the bus! and after 6pm in the evening you must pay £1, regardless of whether you have a pass or not. the last bus back from town is 11:30, so if you're in town after this time you must get a taxi home.

the staff actually stuck a notice onto my car with glue when it was parked in the wrong place! that is criminal damage! and they are quite prepared to do whatever they feel.

if this was any other kind of buisness it would have failed by now as every customer would never use it - but as you are contracted they treat you however they feel. its disgusting and its an absolute disgrace

they hide behind the pretentious attitude on open days and the country setting of the buildings. no doubting its a nice place environmentally, but it is a living hell once you're in!

DO NOT LIVE AT STORTHES HALL IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A GOOD FIRST YEAR!!!!!!


Hmm, took me half an hour to queue, I moved in mid-afternoon on the Saturday.

I wouldn't call the paintwork crippling, my room's pale yellow, not crippling in the slightest. The kitchen was tidy and well equipped - 2 fridges, 2 freezers, 2 sets of hobs, 2 sinks, 2 microwaves, 2 kettles and a toaster. Underequipped my arse.

I actually find the reception staff quite friendly when you ask for the post/parcel. The shop staff could be better, especially the old woman and the bald guy. And the blonde girl. The others I've come across are actually quite nice and do have manners.

Not every bus is skanky, you do get a modern one sometimes. Most of the drivers aren't incompetent, especially not Pat or the jolly Asian guy. Oh, and you forgot to mention that while we have to pay going into town after 6pm, it's free if you're coming back after 6. Service could be better on the weekend though.

Don't want a notice stuck to your car? Park it in the car park then.

Oh well, everyone's entitled to an opinion. This is mine.
Reply 4
I have recently visited Storthes, plus im from huddersfield so i know alot about it and the area.

I have visited the accomodation at '10' different unis, 5 this yr, 5 last yr. I also spent the last yr living in ensuite halls at UCLAN (Central Lancashire Uni).

Storthes is by far the best student halls i have come across. Most of what is said above is true, but its also true for all the other halls out there. Most students treat halls like ******, its a fact and its also the reason they are harsh with deposits.

Addressing the kitchen issue, its true that kitchens have '2' of everything supplied between 6 people..At UCLAN we had '1' of everything between 7 of us...so storthes is much better. The quality is about the same as everywhere else..but like i said..we're students..we won't be given luxury, but at storthes you get twice as much of it.

Buses are probably poor..but who cares? it costs hardly anything... every other student at huddersfield over the years has survived, so why cant we? Why do students want to be so lazy... get up earlier to catch an earlier bus and go grab a coffee or summat with sum mates...Taxi to storthes on a nyt is fixed at £5 from huddersfield taxis, this has been arranged..located near the kingsgate shopping centre...want the number? 01484 515615..4 mates on a night out? £1.25 each to get home...nothing..

The rooms are alot bigger than most i have seen, and are definately the largest en-suite. There is more storage space and more desk space also. All halls are run down.. expect it, its just the way it is. There is a shower flooding issue that alot of people seem to be commenting on, but they don't understand it.. its not flooding..its doin exactly what is was designed to do..being that when you have a shower the water will run everywhere in the washroom/toilet..'not' into your room. This is pretty common for many halls, including where i stayed at UCLAN, and isn't such a big deal.

And thats not even sayin owt about the fact there over a thousand students living in a completly private place..able to do wot eva they want..

there fun to be had...if ur up for it..I'v bin to a few parties at storthes over the yrs and they were all gud fun.

It's not luxury..but its better than most..and do you really need all those silly little things that bug you in the back of your mind? once you'r there u wont care, trust me.
Reply 5
D@nnyB
I have recently visited Storthes, plus im from huddersfield so i know alot about it and the area.

I have visited the accomodation at '10' different unis, 5 this yr, 5 last yr. I also spent the last yr living in ensuite halls at UCLAN (Central Lancashire Uni).

Storthes is by far the best student halls i have come across. Most of what is said above is true, but its also true for all the other halls out there. Most students treat halls like ******, its a fact and its also the reason they are harsh with deposits.

Addressing the kitchen issue, its true that kitchens have '2' of everything supplied between 6 people..At UCLAN we had '1' of everything between 7 of us...so storthes is much better. The quality is about the same as everywhere else..but like i said..we're students..we won't be given luxury, but at storthes you get twice as much of it.

Buses are probably poor..but who cares? it costs hardly anything... every other student at huddersfield over the years has survived, so why cant we? Why do students want to be so lazy... get up earlier to catch an earlier bus and go grab a coffee or summat with sum mates...Taxi to storthes on a nyt is fixed at £5 from huddersfield taxis, this has been arranged..located near the kingsgate shopping centre...want the number? 01484 515615..4 mates on a night out? £1.25 each to get home...nothing..

The rooms are alot bigger than most i have seen, and are definitely the largest en-suite. There is more storage space and more desk space also. All halls are run down.. expect it, its just the way it is. There is a shower flooding issue that alot of people seem to be commenting on, but they don't understand it.. its not flooding..its doin exactly what is was designed to do..being that when you have a shower the water will run everywhere in the washroom/toilet..'not' into your room. This is pretty common for many halls, including where i stayed at UCLAN, and isn't such a big deal.

And thats not even sayin owt about the fact there over a thousand students living in a completly private place..able to do wot eva they want..

there fun to be had...if ur up for it..I'v bin to a few parties at storthes over the yrs and they were all gud fun.

It's not luxury..but its better than most..and do you really need all those silly little things that bug you in the back of your mind? once you'r there u wont care, trust me.



with all due respect, you have not lived there so you dont know!

peoples experiences are different and mine has been a terrible one, and trust me, i do care!

and why does the fact that we're students mean that we are treated like ****? we're still human beings - i bet theres terrorists in guantanamo bay being treated better than we are here!

anyone can say whatever they like about storthes and about all student halls (which i personally completely disagree with, as the halls ive visited have been of a much much higher quality than storthes), but my experience has been a living nightmare and i am simply advising anyone who comes to huddersfield not to live at storthes hall, if they then choose to live there after everything that i and many other people i know have said then thats their own fault. i daresay that the vast majority of residents will agree with everything that i have said
Reply 6
kobrakai
Hmm, took me half an hour to queue, I moved in mid-afternoon on the Saturday.

I wouldn't call the paintwork crippling, my room's pale yellow, not crippling in the slightest. The kitchen was tidy and well equipped - 2 fridges, 2 freezers, 2 sets of hobs, 2 sinks, 2 microwaves, 2 kettles and a toaster. Underequipped my arse.

I actually find the reception staff quite friendly when you ask for the post/parcel. The shop staff could be better, especially the old woman and the bald guy. And the blonde girl. The others I've come across are actually quite nice and do have manners.

Not every bus is skanky, you do get a modern one sometimes. Most of the drivers aren't incompetent, especially not Pat or the jolly Asian guy. Oh, and you forgot to mention that while we have to pay going into town after 6pm, it's free if you're coming back after 6. Service could be better on the weekend though.

Don't want a notice stuck to your car? Park it in the car park then.

Oh well, everyone's entitled to an opinion. This is mine.



your experience has been different than mine then - mine has been a nightmare. my kitchen is underequiped and dirty, my paintwork is crumbling, all of the security and reception staff are rude and stuck up, as are the shop staff. and a simple mistake when i parked my car in the wrong place does not give them the right to criminally damage it! if they wanted to put a note on the car then simply slip it under the windscreen wiper like any normal person would!

im not paying my money to be treated like this!

you've been lucky, the vast majority of people have not been lucky. this place is a disgrace
Reply 7
Your right, I havn't lived there. But my point of view is the same as everyone else who hasn't lived there. I, however, have lived in halls b4..so perhaps I felt I have something to compare it to..from first impressions.

It's true that everyone has different experiences and I dont dispute the fact that everything your sayin is your experience, but you are trying to convince people not to even have the experience...

And the reason students get lower standard accommodation is very simple. To get a decent place to live, as an adult, requires references, credit checks, proof of income, larger deposit, 'up front' payment etc. Students are not in a position to supply this sort of thing so really, you are being given a place to live and the owner has no idea about your background, your financial history, attitude etc... so these people are essentially doin us all a favor.. Wud you let some stranger you havn't even met have access to all your best things when they could potentially wreck them all?

Also, newcomers should be aware that when people are happy about something..they don't feel the need to post all over the internet how much they enjoy it. In the case of someone not being happy, they feel the need complain. See what Im sayin? The people who like it at Storthes..are busy enjoyin thier lives, rather than tellin us about it.
Reply 8
I'm going to Storthes Hall, I have heard all of these things before on this forum, but the main reason why I am choosing this accommodation is what i think is the same reason most other people are choosing it, i think it is a students dream, a whole community of 1500 students set miles out of town where you can do what you want, obviously there are going to be rules, the fact that (for example) we wont be able to play loud music and party after 11pm is the same in any street in the UK.
As for the facilities, as long as I can make food and store food and drink in the kitchen then it fulfils its function. I went to storthes on an open day and i loved it, i saw the rooms and i didnt see rubbish conditions, the rooms were massive for one person with it still be nice and cosy, the ensuite looks OK, not great but its better than sharing a bathroom with other ppl. I think that Storthes is going to be a great place to live, ok i might have problems with certain aspects such as the internet which is quite important with what i do, but im sure that will improve at some point and if not, i know people at storthes hall who has their own internet connection. I do think it is a bit overpriced, but as a student i dont think you worry too much about it, loans cover it easily. I will not be avoiding storthes hall at any cost, one thing i wouldn't like to do though is wait for 2 hours to get my key, but i think that depends on what time you turn up to collect the key.
Reply 9
With all the excitement on welcome weekend I wouldnt think a 2 hour wait would bother than many people..gives you chance to take a look at and maybe talk to some of the people you'll be gettin to know ova the next few weeks..and the rest of the year...

Although from my experience alot of people dont open up right away, probably to do with parents being with them and stuff..
Way over the top Jonny, it hasn't been that bad at all, you must have been very unlucky or you are viewing university life with the wrong attitude.

People who are coming to Storthes in Sept please take this thread with a pinch of salt.
Reply 11
After viewing quite a few universities through myself, and with my brother when he went, i can comfortably say that the facilities i viewed on the Open Day at Storthes were easily the best i have seen.

Obviously, with you being there you have more of a say than myself, but they are miles better compared to the shambolic facilities at Leeds University.
WOW my eyes hurt after reading that!!!!

I've not seen what Storthes looks like but i dont really care!!

Life is what you make it and if the rooms n stuff r rubbish then just well get drunk! haha!

Not sure how many times this has been put but ... everyone has their own experiences so I thank you for your advice!

WOO LEAVING HOME!!! :biggrin:
Reply 13
hahahahahaa. this thread is hilarious.

SO GLAD I'M MOVING INTO ASPLEY!

and thanks to budbellybottom i have actually been there and seen what it is like and i have to say i am well impressed!

WOO ROLL ON SEPTEMBER!
Reply 14
wat a load of bull! im just about to move out of storthes after my fresher year here and its been immense, yer so its a bit out of town and maybe the kitchens and rooms arnt top of the range, but it is faaar better than many other unis and during the summer when the weathers nice its like a festival with everyone out on the grass havin bbqs and the like. from friends opinions its far better than staying at aspley / firth / snow island cuz the majority of people who live there are 2nd+ years so already have their group of friends etc where as at storthes everyone is in the same boat as freshers so u get to meet a lot more people. i really enjoyed my time at storthes, i think it helped that i had a car here as the buses can b a pain in the early mornings.
overall i enjoyed my year here loooads and all of the people ive spoken to have been really glad that they stayed at storthes and wouldnt have chosen to live anywhere else cuz we've had a ball. plus my room was pink so i couldnt complain. x
Reply 15
I think the facilities in Storthes Hall are great. I think the bedrooms, kitchens, etc are nice. My room had a few knocks n stuff, but I expected alot worse from a student halls room :biggrin:

The problem with Storthes Hall is the business attitude, which seems to be "get as much money as you can out of these suckers in any way possible!". Campus Digs are a very unmoral organisation :frown:

I also agree that they have serious attitude issues with their staff. For some reason, being a student means you're much less important than the rest of society to these people.
Reply 16
before i say anything i would like 2 point out that i have had many gd and only a couple of bad experiences at storthes... but not everything in life is gunna b constantly beautiful is it?!!

everyone i have lived with and met at storthes agrees that nomatter how great or **** it is... it is the only place to live in ur first year... all 1st years are there and through gaining friends living at aspley and firth point, they wished they had gone to storthes.

i queued half an hr for my key at 11am... everyone tends to turn up at the same time... around 3pm and thats wen the crowds really pick up. if u are willing o get up early enough and travel 3hrs as i do, u will appreciate the work of the officials inside. it only takes u 2hrs 2 get through because of the ppl just loitering around. this was v. well organised regardless.

u are given a sheet to rite dont complaints about the rooms, kitchen and facilities wen u arrive and mine was full but what do you expect from student after student living there?! there was writing all over the walls of our hall but u soon 4get about it all when u meet ya flat mates.

appreciate the facts...
every single room at storthes hall has an ensuite which many uni halls u have 2 pay A LOT extra 4 and image wat it wud b like without one and sharing with 8 ppl like i did :s-smilie: wud b a laff.
even with an ensuite the rooms are quite huge 4 the majority of student accomodation and a lot bigger then the cupboards of aspley. this is a rarity in student accomodation as i have seen from various friends rooms and flats across the country.

i found the shop staff, the security guards and the receptionists rather delightful... it is wen u meet the bosses that u get a hard attitude but then it is there job to make order out of everything.

it doesnt seem johhny checked out storthes before he stayed there as he seems to have gained this idea of luxury at the centre of huddersfield before he got there.

the buses are well maintained, and always on time. we quite often had brand new buses turning up... at weekends and peak times however u r likely to get the ****ty old ones because the new ones r being used all over the city... its a large place you kno!!! jees.
and the bus company give up their spare time and money to shuttle student to and from the town centre in the evening as the council r unable to fund this. we should b grateful or half our money wud b spend on taxi's.

my bf lived there the year b4 me and he (and all his flat mates) got fined 4 a burn on the carpet that was made after he had moved out, which was a bit gutting 4 him but u should b fully aware that the responsibility of the flat is fully urs until the end of ur contract. i have yet to recieve my deposit.

i compained many times about the lack of parking and they explained that they never had so many cars in years before and i can quote this by telling u the year before wen my bf lived there all cars were able o fit in the car park. i saw this with my own eyes, lol.
if u choose 2 park where the bus is unable to park itself or infront of the reception where lorries cannot get through it is ur choice and u will quite rightly be warned... i was many times. even threatened with a fine of £70 but they let u off cuz they kno ur a student and just wanna frighten u which is understandable. but ive never known them 2 glue something.. maybe if it was raining... it was the paper stickin 2 the windscreen (like mine) or maybe it is ur fault u dont have windscreen wipers, HA! jks.

security is ok wen it comes 2 loud, unconventional noises but wen it comes 2 actual security of camera's it doesnt seem they pay attention. if u live on a bottem floor make sure ur window in shut and front doors are shut properly wen u are not around as many laptops and other pocessions are a quick snatch away from ur desk... this goes the same 4 kitchens... my bf's flat got the contents of their kitchen stolen (just food) when their door was not shut properly by the last person. and unfortunatly storthes refuse to reimburse u as food is not included in insurance, lol.

i had a dramatic time wen i was about 2 drive 2 work and found my car had been vandalised, HUGE dents all over the place, wing mirror ripped off, stratches everywhere... i informed the security asking 4 their help, as being a young female i am have no idea what 2 do wen ity comes 2 these situations.
but the security could do nothing as their camera faces the wrong way. so i couldnt report it 2 the police which was devastating... asll it wud have taken was a quick 2 sec camera shot. crazy! so watch were u park... do ur best to get a place in the car park or dnt bring ur car at all. i brought mine because I work at the tesco's in huddersfield town center and its a bitch getting a bus and waiting around. plus my bf lived in a house in the city and i would travel home most weekends... unles it is critical like me... DO NOT risk taking ur car!

another warning would be to watch the bar staff at D-Bar carefully and be carefull where or who u trust ur drinks with! i have always been cautious with my drinks and even though i remained in the company of my flat mates and a couple of course mates all night it did not stop me getting spiked... which we believe came from a member of staff serving drinks. this did not just happen to me. so be warned and please be careful... it is noway an experience u want 2 remember!

i hope this does not scare anyone but this is uni life... u have 2 be careful, there are some strange yound adults out there. lol.

other than these last experiences the rest pof my time at storthes was simple amazing... the amount of ppl i met and friends i have gained is irreplacable. the parties are the best and everyone is willing to help everyone. yes it is an extremely large place but being that u should expect a lot of students and a lot of noise wherever u live.

i made some pretty amazing memories at that place and i can imagine my 1st year without it now... god bless storthes hall. HA!!! :cool:

end of rant. peace xxx
Reply 17
If I find out staff at the d-bar are still spiking drinks I will get everyone I know from round huddersfield and tear the place apart...

that **** does not fly with me...
Reply 18
d-bar staff u hav been warned
Reply 19
I want a job at the d-bar actually lol

but i wudn't put up with any of that stuff happening on my watch...

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