The Student Room Group

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Hiya,

I'm going to Bham in 2006. I went to see the accommodation at an open day and I can definitely say that Shakleton is COOL!!!!! It is quite expensive but is defitely worth it. The food is delicious and it is quite near to campus (10-15 minute walk). I didn't see the catered accommodation but Shakleton is the best. Shakleton rules!


:lollypop:
Reply 2
If you can afford it then go for it. It's a hugely positive contrast with the depravity of Mason and Chamberlain!
Reply 3
yeah i love shack! ive applied to stay there!
Reply 4
yah ima apply shack
Reply 5
it's about a half hour walk into town, but there's also a free bus (the number 44 - take your uni ID card along to housing services and they'll give you a pass) which runs every 10 minutes or so.

shackleton is gorgeous, and brand new. it's about a million times better than some of the other places available. that said, all the catered halls eat at shackleton so the 'delicious food' is for everyone, not just shackleton residents.
Reply 6
Yes Shackleton is gorgeous and you get so much more in the kitchen even though you're not self catering [3 fridges, microwaves, double feezer, toaster, kettle in contrast with self catering tennis courts; one fridge freezer, no microwave, no toaster, no kettle, rubbish gas oven] but apparantly, as I was notified by the plumber whenhe was fixing my radiator, as it is newly done, it was hurried and they have problems there all the time. The plumber said that he gets called out there at least once a day.
pai_mae
it's about a half hour walk into town, but there's also a free bus (the number 44 - take your uni ID card along to housing services and they'll give you a pass) which runs every 10 minutes or so.

shackleton is gorgeous, and brand new. it's about a million times better than some of the other places available. that said, all the catered halls eat at shackleton so the 'delicious food' is for everyone, not just shackleton residents.

Does that mean bus fares are free?
Reply 8
pai_mae
it's about a half hour walk into town, but there's also a free bus (the number 44 - take your uni ID card along to housing services and they'll give you a pass) which runs every 10 minutes or so.

shackleton is gorgeous, and brand new. it's about a million times better than some of the other places available. that said, all the catered halls eat at shackleton so the 'delicious food' is for everyone, not just shackleton residents.


Pai mae do you go to birmingham uni? I was under the impression that the free bus pass was only to sainsbury's, which, from Shackleton is in the opposite directio to town. I would say the walk is a little longer than half an hour, but from the university trainstation it's only 2 stops into bham new street, which costs 95p return with a student rail card :smile:
Reply 9
95p return?! bargain!

that couldn't even get you a bus one way to a train station here in london.
your all going about this the wrong way. shitty halls = normal people. expensive halls = planks more often than not. trust me, been to uni and stayed in both types of accom. i know ill be applying for the cheapo stuff thats for sure!
Reply 11
From what I've heard Shak is a lot nicer than the others. I'm in tennis courts and it is kinda a mess however we've done it up a bit - brought our own microwave, put posters on the walls, I've brought my pool table and we have poker nights too. So I suppose it depends on what kind of person you are. If you want a nice place then go shak but if you don't mind roughing it for a bit like me then tennis courts is fine.
Reply 12
Chubb
From what I've heard Shak is a lot nicer than the others. I'm in tennis courts and it is kinda a mess however we've done it up a bit - brought our own microwave, put posters on the walls, I've brought my pool table and we have poker nights too. So I suppose it depends on what kind of person you are. If you want a nice place then go shak but if you don't mind roughing it for a bit like me then tennis courts is fine.


You have a pool table in tennis courts?? Where are you and can I come round?? :biggrin:
Reply 13
Chubb
and we have poker nights too.


:biggrin: I can't wait till October :biggrin:
Reply 14
silence
95p return?! bargain!

that couldn't even get you a bus one way to a train station here in london.


I know right? Damn high prices of public transport. Although it is easier to take a bus and that's £1.10 one way into town.
Reply 15
shack is nice, but i know a lot of people who live there who've found it hard to make friends with other people who live in those halls ...
elgar are really nice, with the benefit of being on the vale too, so you get the whole vale experience ... the bars in shack do make a huge difference tho, theres always something going on right on your doorstep!
Reply 16
^ so if you could pick any halls to be in on the vale where would you say?
I visited a Shak flat the other day....I was a bit disappointed to be honest - it was really dark - only tiny windows, and a bit claustrophobic to be honest. It was also a lot smaller than i expected.

I would recommend Tennis Courts - although it is not technically on the vale, its as good as. Its a lot cheaper than Shak and Elgar, the flats are nice (well, there are 3 different types of flat - new/old/centre court. In my opinion the Centre Court ones are best - they're bigger than the others and the same price/cheaper. Also, if you dont want to cook, you can go on the Meal Plan (like I am) - the best of both worlds! - and its closer to uni (trust me, those extra 5/10 mins in bed in the morning will make all the difference!)
Reply 18
if i was gonna live on the vale id probably choose to live in elgar! i really liked the rooms there!
Reply 19
Yeah Tennis Court is great for being so close to the uni but if you're not in the new sections it's pretty scummy.