| Product: |
Halls Of Residence At Cardiff University in general |
| Date: |
02/01/04 (3730 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Large Rooms, Good location, Great communal spirit
Disadvantages: No internet, Small kitchens, Small laundry facilities
I’ve been living in Senghenydd Hall since last September, It wasn’t my first choice, nor my second or third but damn am I glad I ended up there. I’m going to try and give an honest review of the place, talking about all the minor details that first time uni-students tend to worry or wonder about. Here goes:
Senghenydd Hall is undeniably minute compared to the likes of University-Hall and Talybont. The three buildings, housing about 100 students comprise a single small courtyard; however, do not think ‘small residence’-‘small rooms’. The rooms in Senghenydd Hall are at least twice those in Talybont, all have en-suite bathrooms and yes, by ‘en-suite’ I mean a shower cubical with a door and a separate sink and toilet, not the traditional “porta-loo” shower-single combos that you’ll find in a lot of the other residences.
All the rooms in my block have desks that span a wall with enough room for a computer, TV and stereo. There are also triangular bay windows in each room that overlooks either the courtyard or the car park. Both have their good and bad points; if you have the courtyard view, its a lot prettier however, you can hear the drunks coming in on the weekend. If you have the car park view, it’s not so pretty, but a lot quieter.
There are no Internet connections however the twenty-four hour computer room is within rolling distance and it really is twenty-four hour. You have to sign in every time and there are always security guard and wardens around so if you want to walk over at 4 am in the morning, you can.
Don’t worry about space for clothes and belongings, there’s an average sized wardrobe in each room but loads of storage space under the beds. Yes, they are real beds, not the concrete blocks that stand out from the wall with a mattress on them. The shelves are detachable so you can have as many as four and as little as one.
Truthfully speaking, I can only think of one annoyance in the rooms in my block. The extractor fans in the bathrooms are loud and annoying and are turned on simultaneously with the light, moreover, they do not turn themselves off until 15 minutes after you switch the light off so it’s not a good idea to leave the light on right up until you want to go to bed.
As for the kitchens, in all honesty, they’re pretty small; however, as its part catered you don’t really need that much room. With 8 of you sharing a flat, you’ll probably have a single cupboard and a draw to yourself. As for the meals, they’ve been a godsend for me. In that first term, when people are getting to know each other, having meals there waiting for you is fantastic. There’s usually a choice of about 3 or 4 meals, one for which is always vegetarian. You also get a desert and drink. You have to take your pass every time; if you do not have it you will have to pay. Trust me, you’ll be glad of them in the freezing cold January exam period.
The kitchens do, however, have very sensitive fire alarms so beware; drunken cooking is not a good idea! I’ve been woken up a few times by that horrendous alarm and been a very angry little girl, especially when I have an exam the next day!! A lot of people have complained though, so I believe it’s being sorted out.
As for laundry, I wasn’t too impressed. Senghenydd hall adjoins to the much, much larger Senghenydd Court residence and the whole lot shares one laundrette consisting of about 8 commercial sized washing machines and 10 driers. Not great but my advice is ‘pick your time’ wisely. Go at an abstract time, like 10 o clock at night or 2 in the afternoon and you’ll have your washing done in an hour. Go on a Sunday afternoon and you probably wont get any done at all. If you really can’t stand it, there are a few laundrettes in Cathays
. They&
#8217;re about a five-minute walk and if you find them first, you’ll be fine.
The location of Senghenydd hall is by far one of the best things about it. You’re within a stones throw from the union. Literally, one minute you’re in the union bar, then next minute you’re in bed, its that close. Similarly, town is a two minute walk and Cathays stretches out behind you – with pubs a’ plenty, a 24 hour Tescos, post office etc.
As for fitness, ‘Park Place Fitness Centre’ has a gym that costs £3 to join and then a £1 a time. There are daily aerobic/dance/combat lessons that usually cost about £2 a time.
All in all I’ve loved every second of my stay in S.H and I wouldn’t move even if you paid me! And that’s saying something, as I am a student after all!
By the way, just a minor point – S.H is about a 15 minute walk from the furthest academic building, about 10 minutes from the Bute Library and there is a bookshop in the union where you can buy all your course material. That’s just in case the idea of academia popped into your head at all.
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