What you can expect from Trafalgar Halls (Halls Of Residence At The University Of Portsmouth)

Member Name: Jozeyu

Product:	Halls Of Residence At The University Of Portsmouth
Date:	14/04/09 (228 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Security, room size + views, location, Spar shop underneath

Disadvantages: Fire alarm, sometimes noise levels (fault of students, not halls)

Looking for student accommodation at Portsmouth Uni? There are lots to choose from, but I stayed at Trafalgar Halls on the Guildhall Campus last year, so the bulk of this review is on these halls in particular.

Advice: The best thing to do is note where your department is and stay around there. For example, my main building is Eldon (Department of Creative Technologies), so I chose Trafalgar, which is literally right next to it. Harry Law, James Watson and Bateson accommodations are all nearby, as this is essentially the core vicinity of the University - all areas can be accessed from here. You can also stay at Langstone Student Village, but it's a far way out and you have to get the University bus there and back, which can be tiresome even though it's free. The other alternative is Rees and Burrel halls, which are out on the seafront about a 5 minute walk away from the Guildhall Campus. Rees is more expensive, but you get meals included (and a sea view) which might suit you better. Burrel is... cramped and cheap and behind Rees. And same-sex floors, if I'm not mistaken. Each to their own.

...Now, what can one say about Trafalgar Hall? ...Two words come to mind: Fire Alarm. And it's got a small paragraph all to itself because I hate it so much:
This was our biggest problem with these halls. Any time of the day (though usually at 2 - 4 AM at night) is a good time for immature idiots to stumble in drunk and set off the alarms. And Trafalgar alarms are about as enjoyable as repeatedly stabbing your ears with a kitchen knife. They may have had them replaced recently, but don't hold your breath. You'll still be woken up in the middle of the night at least once every week.

Ok, so let's talk a bit about the flats themselves. There are 14 floors, two elevators to get in from the entrance and a long, long, LONG flight of stairs connecting the bottom of the building to the top and all floors in between. Going back to my rant about the fire alarm - these stairs will murder you if you're above the 5th floor. Absolutely murder. You will be a moaning corpse trying to ascend these stairs at 2AM after a fire alarm. And you have no choice, because the lifts can't take all 300 of you back after a fire alarm. And sometimes you'll even get the luxury of going up them twice, as some prats find it funny to wait until everyone's back in their flats before setting them off again.
Of course, this isn't a problem with the halls, this is a problem with the students. And because 99% Freshers are morons, you're probably going to encounter some stupidity wherever you stay if it's a student accommodation. You want out? Look into renting a room in a house instead. First years sometimes find it better (though look soon!).

But I digress - let's talk about the rooms and what you'll be getting for your money. Each flat has a kitchen/lounge area, and 'lobby space' of sorts (which has no connection to the outside world and is in fact pitch black if you turn the lights off) where you can access all six rooms. The kitchen will be clean upon moving in, but won't be when you leave it. There's an electric oven and hob, a microwave, a table with four wooden chairs, lots of cupboards and some low-level seating in each kitchen.
The rooms themselves are quite large compared to some of the other halls. You get your own shower (which has a toilet, sink and... hole in it), a desk, drawers, a bed (without sheets etc, as you'd expect), a closet, a bedside table and a wooden chair. It's pretty cosy actually, and if you're lucky you'll get a nice view of the city from your window.

And then we can look at the laundry facilities on the ground floor. They aren't bad, all things considered. Four washing machines and four tumble driers, about £1 to wash your clothes (takes around 45 minutes) and £2 to tumble dry them. "Holy crap, you have to pay!?" I hear you cry - yes, you have to pay. It's all part of the University experience, paying more than you thought you would. My only problem with the laundry area is that it isn't really enough for around 300 students - you'll probably find yourself queuing once in a while.

Are there any real pros for Traf? ...Yes. I've heard many students (one being my cousin) have been burgled in Harry Law, because people can literally peer in your windows (and if they're open, take things from them) if you're on the ground floor. The beauty of Traf is that no one can see into your room, and the security is so tight that there's no chance of someone breaking in unless they have your card key. And even then, they'll have trouble finding your flat unless they've navigated the halls before. This card key offers 3 walls of protection: You have to use it to get into the building, you have to use it to get into your flat, and you have to use it to unlock your bedroom door. It takes a little getting used to, but it's a worthwhile feature.

One more pro - if you haven't noticed, there's a great big Spar underneath Trafalgar. This is a godsend if you need a quick pint of milk (or some alcohol) and don't want to trudge all the way to Tesco down Commercial Road. You might even see students going down in their pyjamas - which you get used to.

Summary: Overall, despite the nitty gritty I'm glad I stayed at Traf.