MCR Handbook - Durham University

Trevelyan College
MCR
Handbook
2011-12
Contents
President’s Introduction ...................................................... 3 The Collegiate System in Durham ........................................ 4 The MCR ............................................................................. 5 MCR Exec ....................................................................................................5 Social Events ...............................................................................................7 The College ......................................................................... 8 College Staff ................................................................................................8 The Porters and Reception ..................................................................... 11 Household Staff ....................................................................................... 11 College Committees................................................................................. 12 The JCR ............................................................................ 13 Social Events ............................................................................................ 14 Clubs & Societies ..................................................................................... 15 The SCR ............................................................................ 17 Associate Membership ............................................................................ 17 Social Events ............................................................................................ 17 Formals ............................................................................ 18 Joint and JCR ............................................................................................ 18 MCR .......................................................................................................... 18 SCR ........................................................................................................... 18 General Facilities .............................................................. 19 Mowlam Common Room ......................................................................... 19 Bar ............................................................................................................ 19 Buttery ...................................................................................................... 19 Gym ........................................................................................................... 19 Library ....................................................................................................... 20 Undercroft ................................................................................................ 20 Music ........................................................................................................ 20 Computing ................................................................................................ 20 1
TV & Video ................................................................................................ 20 Board Games ........................................................................................... 21 Sports ....................................................................................................... 21 Living In ........................................................................... 22 Dining ....................................................................................................... 22 Laundries ................................................................................................. 22 Pantries .................................................................................................... 22 Living Out ......................................................................... 23 Durham ............................................................................ 24 Other Colleges .......................................................................................... 24 DSU ........................................................................................................... 28 Things to Do ............................................................................................. 29 Pubs & Bars ............................................................................................. 31 Nightclubs ................................................................................................ 33 Restaurants .............................................................................................. 34 Takeaways ................................................................................................ 36 Taxis .......................................................................................................... 36 Local Area ........................................................................ 37 Newcastle ................................................................................................. 37 Other Places to Visit ................................................................................ 37 2
President’s Introduction
Hi everybody, and congratulations on joining Trevs,
undoubtedly the best College in Durham at which to
conduct your postgraduate studies, or at least in my
mind anyway! The warmest of welcomes to both
those who are about to arrive at Trevs for the first
time and to continuing students. I am looking
forward to seeing you all very soon!
This is the MCR Handbook, which will provide a
wealth of useful (and not so useful) information on
life in the MCR, Trevs, and Durham University. Read on to find out how
you can get the most out of the MCR, what the beautiful city of Durham
has to offer its students, and other bits and bobs.
The MCR is expanding this year, and so it looks set to be another busy
and memorable year. We are a body independent of the undergraduate
JCR, and provide a range of academic, social and pastoral services
exclusively tailored to the needs of postgraduates. We also collaborate
with the JCR at a number of points throughout the year to bring you the
very best of social and cultural events. The MCR is a fantastic community,
and I am sure that you will all enjoy being part of it!
If you have any questions, queries, issues or just want a chat, before you
arrive or at any point during the year, please do get in touch. I’m sure that
I will get to know you all well before too long, so please don’t hesitate to
come and find me, or knock on my door, which is always open
(metaphorically and literally). But in case you need to email or phone,
especially before we all arrive, then my contact details are below.
Enjoy the last few weeks of summer, and I look forward to seeing you all
in Trevs at the end of September!
All the very best,
Ollie Bartlett
MCR President 2012-13
o.j.bartlett@durham.ac.uk
07702301173
3
The Collegiate System in Durham
Every student at Durham belongs to a College as well as to the University.
The College is very much a focus for the social life of its students; courses
of study are run entirely separately by the academic departments (this
lies somewhere between the slightly less collegiate systems at places
such as York and Lancaster and the slightly more collegiate systems at
Oxford and Cambridge). Colleges offer a great deal to their students,
including pastoral care, a chance to get involved and the many facilities
outlined later.
Each College has its own subtly different, indefinable character, and,
being appropriately biased, we would of course say you are very fortunate
to have chosen the very best one. You will have plenty of contact with the
other Colleges during your time here, whether competing in a sports
match, sitting next to someone in a lecture, having a quiet drink in a bar
or attending a seminar, formal or other event at one of their many MCRs.
We give a quick account of each college later on.
Term times can be found at www.dur.ac.uk/dates/.
4
The MCR
The MCR is the student body for postgraduates. As well as organising
regular social events such as formal dinners, cocktail nights and trips out,
we also represent postgraduate students in College and across the
University on issues ranging from the price of port in the Senior Common
Room to the provision of desk space for research students. As we are a
student’s union, you have the right to ‘opt-out’ of the MCR if you do not
want to be represented by us. Further details of how to do this can be
found in the College Handbook.
www.dur.ac.uk/trevelyan.mcr
MCR Exec
The MCR is run by an Executive Committee, known as the Exec, which is
elected once a year in July. The Exec for 2012/13 is composed of:
President: Ollie Bartlett
o.j.bartlett@durham.ac.uk
My role is to represent the views of all postgrads in
Trevs, at both College and University level, in order
to get the best deal possible for postgraduate
students. I also oversee the day-to-day running of
the MCR, and have responsibility for keeping you all
up to date with relevant comings and goings within
the University.
Vice President: Rafa Maldonado
rafael.maldonado@durham.ac.uk
My job is to assist the President in the running of
the MCR as well as sitting on a number of the
College's committees and managing the MCR's
facilities.
5
Treasurer: Chris West
c.w west@durham.ac.uk
As MCR Treasurer, it is my job to take as much
money off you as I can and use it in whichever
nefarious schemes the MCR has planned. I love
money!!
Social Secretaries: Fleur Baikie and Pete
Lock
fleur.baikie@durham.ac.uk,
peter.lock@durham.ac.uk
Hi, we’re Fleur and Pete, and as Social Secretaries
we organise all the MCR's social activities. We have
a lot of formals, cocktail nights and other events
planned for the year, so we look forward to seeing
you all there!
Welfare Officer: Vacant
To be elected in the first MCR meeting of term. If
interested contact: trevelyan.mcr@durham.ac.uk.
Secretary: Tahnee Blakemore
tahnee.blakemore@durham.ac.uk
My roles are to take minutes during exec meetings,
general MCR meetings, and the AGM, to make
these minutes available to all MCR members, and
to send emails informing MCR members of these
meetings.
6
Social Events
Postgrads at Trevs have a long history of being very sociable; most nights
of the week a group of us can be found in the College Bar. As well as
this we organise a variety of social events to offer the opportunity to
interact with postgrads from the College and across the University.
A favourite is the Cocktail Night. These involve an informal context of
background music, conversation and of course cocktails, with a small
charge on the door to cover the costs of the event.
Perhaps the core interaction of the MCR as a community has become the
MCR Formal Dinners, at which we dress smartly and sit down together
for an evening meal and often invite members of other colleges. The
annual Inter-MCR Formal has become a recent tradition, which sees
Trevs host a special formal gathering together postgrads from all the
other colleges in celebration of the ‘birthday’ of the MCR in early
November. There is an entire section on formals later in the handbook for
further details.
We also have close connections with Wallington House, the ancestral
home of the Trevelyan family after which the College is named. The MCR
organise occasional trips to this beautiful National Trust property, usually
during the holidays, to carry out a variety of volunteer conservation and
research work to assist in maintaining and promoting the natural and
cultural heritage of the Estate.
Other activities
The main formal purpose of the MCR is to represent postgrads, and as
such the MCR holds regular MCR Meetings, which are your chance to
air your views, elect your Exec and other Officers, and have a general
discussion about the business of the MCR.
We have also recently initiated the GM Trevelyan Research Prize,
which is open to all postgrads to enter. This gives postgrads the
opportunity to share their work, whether you are a taught or research
student, with their peers and other members of the College.
7
The College
From the University Calendar:
"Trevelyan, founded in 1966, has been a mixed college since 1990. Its
buildings, which are set in five acres of attractive grounds, are of
considerable architectural interest and lie within easy walking distance of
University teaching departments, the main library and laboratories, and
close to five other colleges. It has a high reputation in a wide range of
academic disciplines, in its pastoral care, its sense of community and the
individuality of its members. It has a good sporting record and is actively
involved in the visual arts and in music. "
College Staff
Principal: Professor H Martyn Evans
h.m.evans@durham.ac.uk
Prof. Evans has been College Principal since 2008.
His time is split 50:50 between College and the
School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health, where he
specialises in philosophy of medicine and medical
humanities, and is co-Director of a Wellcome Trust
funded research centre. In College he is an active
member of the community as well as having a more
formal role leading and representing the College
and giving strategic direction.
Senior Tutor: Dr Ian J Latham
i.j.latham@durham.ac.uk
An astrophysicist by training, Dr Latham has been
Senior Tutor since 2007. His role in College might
most broadly be defined as student experience. He
deals with admissions, all matters academic and
general welfare. He is also responsible for room
allocations in College and discipline. As you can
imagine, such a wide remit means he is always
busy. Nonetheless, his door is wherever possible
open, so if you need to ask a question just pop in.
8
Bursar: Mr Martin Clemmett
martin.clemmet@durham.ac.uk
Martin’s job is to make sure that the roof doesn’t
leak and that we are all fed and watered. He’s our
landlord too, so he’ll be the one chasing you if you
don’t pay your bills! He is also Bursar at St. Mary’s,
so it’s worth making an appointment if you need to
speak to him.
Chaplain: Rev'd Dr Paul Regan
p.j.regan@durham.ac.uk
Paul is now into his 4th year as Chaplain. As well as
being our Chaplain, he is Chaplain at Van Mildert
College, Lead Anglican for the University and an
Assistant Priest at St. Oswald's, the local church.
His main role is as a welfare figure and he is always
happy to have a chat.
Hospitality Services Manager: Mrs Janice
Miller
janice.miller@durham.ac.uk
Janice's role in College encompasses the hospitality
provision, including catering, porterage, student
events and maintenance services as well as
deputising for the Bursar in his absence. If you need
advice, she is always happy to help.
College & Principal's Secretary: Mrs Fiona
Pentland
f.e.pentland@durham.ac.uk
Fiona is a key cog in the machinery that keeps
College ticking. She should be your first port of call
if you are ill or need to change any of your details
with the College as she also maintains the student
files.
9
Librarian: Mr Tim Fowler
t.s.fowler@durham.ac.uk
Tim, as well as being a Durham graduate himself, is
also a College Tutor. He's run the library here since
January 2003 and together with his team of
Student Librarians and library assistants he
provides a first-class library service and relaxed
working environment
Admissions Secretary: Mrs Anne Allen
anne.allen@durham.ac.uk
Anne deals with all aspects of College Admissions.
This includes showing round prospective applicants,
processing offers, sending out offer letters, Open
Day information, Freshers' packs, and dealing with
all enquiries prior to the new academic year.
Bursar's Secretary: Mrs Karen Fisher
karen.fisher@durham.ac.uk
Karen deals with bookings for College facilities for
sports sessions, rehearsals etc.; or to arrange a
chat with the Bursar. She also organises additional
accommodation and maintains the College website
and the foyer plasma screen.
Assistant Bursar: Miss Jane Matthewson
j.k.matthewson@durham.ac.uk
Jane is responsible for the operation of the
household department of the College, assisted by a
team of part-time staff. They are happy to resolve
any related queries and requests. She’s the person
to contact if your room or landing hasn’t been
cleaned.
10
Food Service Manager: Ms Hayley Carr
hayley.carr@durham.ac.uk
Hayley is responsible for all food service: Meals,
Formals, Balls, BBQs and any other functions the
dining hall is used for. If you have any special
dietary requirements get in touch, and any
information will be passed on to the head chef who
will be only too pleased to discuss them with you.
The Porters and Reception
The Porters are a great asset to the college. Present in the Porter’s Lodge
24 hours a day they are your best bet for information out of office hours.
Incredibly helpful, they are always happy to help for minor maintenance,
mail, and if, for instance, you get locked out of your room... Kath Cullen in
Reception is also a good first port of call for information during the day.
The Household Staff
These are the lovely ladies who take on the role of mother and make sure
that you keep your room habitable. The fortnightly insurgency to rooms
with Hoover and cleaning products as well as daily cleansing of
communal areas ensures the College remains a pleasant place to live.
11
College Committees
The college has a number of committees that take action on specific
issues. Anyone can get involved, so if you're keen, speak to Ollie.
The Grounds Committee is charged with keeping the external parts of
college looking nice. They are always looking for volunteers, so if you
would like to do some digging, do join in. Contact: The Chaplain
(p.j.regan@durham.ac.uk)
The Fine Arts Committee has responsibility for the paintings and other
art in college, including termly art exhibitions in the bar. Contact:
trevelyan.arts@durham.ac.uk.
Green T are responsible for environmental issues (such as recycling) in
College. Contact: Janice Miller (janice.miller@durham.ac.uk)
12
The JCR
The JCR is run by the JCR Exec as well as a number of other officers and
committees (e.g. Social Committee, DUCK (Charities) Committee or IT
Committee). As a member of the MCR you have the right to access all
social events, services and facilities run by the JCR. If you live out you will
have to let the MCR know that you wish to take part as an ‘active
member’, so that we can pay the JCR some money on your behalf. (This is
done automatically for those who live in.)
JCR President: Nick Cooper
trevelyan.president@durham.ac.uk
Their Exec profiles and responsibilities can be found on the JCR website
or in the JCR Handbook, copies of which are available on request. I'm sure
they will be happy to discuss with you anything within their remit, although
of course there is usually a relevant MCR representative who can also
help.
www.dur.ac.uk/trevelyan.jcr
13
Social Events
The JCR run a number of social events throughout the year, to which the
MCR are invited, the most notable of which are:
The Informal Ball
At the end of Michaelmas term, just before
Christmas, this is a fancy dress ball. Starting
with a meal in College, the night proceeds with
discos and other frivolities until about 2am; a
worthwhile end to the term.
The Summer Ball
Run after undergraduate exams have finished
in June, the Summer Ball is like the Informal
Ball, but scaled up and a little more formal,
this one runs right through until dawn, with a
survivors' photo to prove you made it.
Trevs Day
Generally the week after the
Summer Ball, Trevs Day is an
opportunity for the entire College
to get together celebrate being a
Trevelyanite. The back lawn
becomes awash with sun-bathers
enjoying a Pimms on tap,
fairground style attractions and a
themed formal.
Trevstock
Trevs’ very own end of year music
festival, Trevstock gives the best
musical talent that Trevs has to
offer the chance to perform in a
relaxed
and
convivial
environment. Usually held out in
the Quad.
14
Clubs & Societies
Trevs offers you the chance to get involved with a huge variety of different
Clubs and Societies, and virtually every single person in college gets stuck
in to something or the other. There is so much choice that you are certain
to find something you enjoy. College Clubs and Societies are exactly the
right place to develop an interest you already have, or, even better, to try
something new. Clubs and Societies are administered by the JCR so more
details can be found on their website. Amongst the ones currently running
are:
Musical and drama:
Trevelyan
College
Musical
Society
Hill College Theatre Company
Trevelyan Choir
Trevelyan Orchestral Society
Trevelyan Flute Choir
Trevs String
Trevs Jazz
Other Societies:
Film Society
TAMPACS (for more obscure films)
Hex (College Magazine)
RASTA (Art)
Photography Society
Wine Society
Brewing Society
Chess Society
Sports:
Badminton: Men's and Women's
Tennis (and one for this)
Squash: Men's and Women's
Netball
Lacrosse (Mixed)
Rugby: Men's and Women's
Martial Arts
Hockey: Men's and Women's
Ultimate Frisbee
15
Cheerleading
Rowing
Skiing (usually one trip at
Easter)
Football: Men's and Women's
Basketball: Men's and Women's
Table Tennis
Cricket
Pool: Men's and Women's
Darts
Indoor Climbing
In Durham, there are two levels of sport competition: College and
University. In general the University sports clubs compete on a more
serious level, travelling to other universities all over the country, whereas
the College teams will only compete against each other, and will require
much less commitment. The sports charge, which insures you for all
sport, is required for most things, and also gives you access to sporting
facilities at Maiden Castle, 25 minutes' walk from Trevs.
16
The SCR
The Senior Common Room (SCR) is made up of College Mentors,
academics attached to the College and other people from the local area,
and further afield, who are attached to the College. Its President is
currently Dr Sally Brown (s.r.brown@durham.ac.uk) who is also a College
Mentor, its Treasurer Gloria Latham (gloria.latham@durham.ac.uk),
Membership Secretary Janet Evans and Secretary Nicola Field
(nicola.field@virgin.net).
The SCR is also a comfortable sitting room in College with some nice
paintings, newspapers and a TV, open for the use of all members of the
SCR.
Associate Membership
As a member of the MCR, you are also afforded associate membership of
the SCR. This is not much different to ordinary membership, though we do
not have to pay anything and may not take guests to events or into the
Senior Common Room.
Social Events
Again, the main event in the SCR social calendar is the SCR Formal. The
annual BBQ is a must and there are also walks and other outings
organised. Look out for the termly SCR newsletter for more details.
www.dur.ac.uk/trevelyan.scr
17
Formals
You may already have noted in this handbook that formal dinners are an
important part of college life. Gowns can be purchased on arrival from the
MCR Exec, for the price of £30.
Joint and JCR
These happen once a fortnight, alternative Tuesday and Thursday nights;
they are £2.50 for livers in and cost £4.50 for livers out. Generally,
gowns are compulsory and wine must be purchased beforehand and
taken (uncorked) with you into the dining hall. Signup is through the MCR
Social Secretaries.
MCR
These generally occur twice or three times a term and cost depends on
numbers and the quality of the meal. They are smaller, more formal
affairs than JCR formal although gowns are not compulsory. Sign-up
procedures vary from formal to formal, although generally involve
emailing one of the MCR Exec. As mentioned previously, we will often
invite members of one or more other colleges to attend.
SCR
These take place on the alternate Thursdays to JCR formals. A usually
exemplary four course meal is provided with pre-drinks on sale
beforehand in the SCR and they are often followed by a talk (further
details are available in the SCR Newsletter). Once a term there is a
research formal after which current members of the MCR and SCR give
talks on their current academic work. The meals cost around £6.60 for
livers in and just over £7.80 for livers out, but wine and pre-/post-formal
drinks are bought by the glass. Gowns are not compulsory. Bookings are
made via reception (0191 3347 011). 18
General Facilities
All facilities in College are available to postgraduate members whether
livers in or livers out. Some are administered by the JCR, though any
member of the MCR Exec can help you if you have a problem.
Mowlam Common Room
As well as being the MCR's common room, the Mowlam Common Room is
also open to resident finalists. The room is open for a variety of uses,
such as quiet study during the day, playing board games or watching films
at night, social events or any other function which may require such a
room.
Bar
The Bar forms the hub of College
life. It is open every night of the
week until 11pm and 12pm on
Friday and Saturday nights. It also
hosts several bar nights a term,
usually themed and always with a
DJ. Applications to work at the bar
usually open around twice a year,
and are advertised on an on-going
basis. The Bar is run by the
Sabbatical Bar Chair Chris Wastell
(christopher.wastell@durham.ac.uk).
Buttery
The Buttery sells general provisions, and anything you might expect from
a tuck shop, as well as toasties. It is open 8-11pm Sun-Thurs and 8pm12am Fri-Sat and there are a number of jobs available which will be
advertised throughout the year. The Buttery is run by the Buttery
Committee, which is chaired by Sarah Suess (s.e.suess@durham.ac.uk).
Gym
The Gym is situated in the Upper JCR (above the Buttery). Anyone can join
after payment of a very reasonable membership fee (£10 for your entire
time at Trevs) and completion of an induction.
19
Library
The Library stocks a wide range of books covering all subject areas which
can be borrowed by all members of College. It also offers a quite study
area with wireless internet, and a DVD and Fiction section.
Undercroft
Corridor-cum-common room, this is a favourite location for late night
discussions on subjects as wide ranging as politics, X Factor or the
meaning of life. This room also gets daily newspapers during term time,
which makes it into the perfect environment for quiet reading during the
day.
Music
Trevs is one of the more musical Colleges and as such has musical
facilities to match. There are pianos in the Chapel, the music practice
room in B-ground, in the Dining hall. We have a fully featured recording
studio that can be booked out by anyone in college, which houses its own
electronic piano, drum kit and other recording equipment. Any of these
areas can also be used for general music practise of various kinds. Our
Tech Team can also provide you with a whole variety of amplifiers,
keyboards and other gizmos. A drum kit is also available for use in the
practice areas.
Computing
The College has two computer rooms for general use, with computers
connected to the University Network offering a full range of academic
software as well as printing facilities. Wireless internet is also available in
all communal areas in College and all bedrooms have Ethernet ports to
connect to the network via wire. It is recommended that you browse the
Computing Information Service website (http://www.dur.ac.uk/cis/) to
look over technical requirements to make things easier when you arrive.
TV & Video
TVs and DVD players can be found in: the MCR, SCR, the Undercroft and
E-ground TV Room, where SkyTV is also available. There are also projector
screens in the Bar (also with access to SkyTV) and in G-Ground, (with a
DVD player and Freeview).
20
Board Games
A wide selection of board games is available from the JCR office in
exchange for a campus card. The MCR also has a complementary
selection of its own which is kept in the Mowlam Room.
Sports
The tennis courts are at the far end of the Back Lawn, and should be
booked through the JCR during term time or through the Porters
otherwise. The badminton court can be booked from Karen Fisher. For
those who count them as sports, there is a dartboard in the Bar, a pool
table in the Lower JCR and a table football table in the Undercroft.
21
Living In
This year, postgrads will be taking up J block as usual, and some of G and
H blocks. Some basic details of the arrangements for living in can be
found below.
Dining
Meals are served three times a day seven days a week during
undergraduate term time. You are required to show your meal card at
every lunch and dinner in order to receive your food. The times for dinner,
which may be subject to change during the year, are as follows:
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Breakfast
08:00--10:00
08:00--10:00
08:00--10:00
08:00--10:00
08:00--10:00
08:00--09:00
08:00--09:00
Lunch
12:00-13:45
12:00-13:45
12:00-13:45
12:00-13:45
12:00-13:45
11:00-13:45
12:00-13:45
Dinner
17:15-19:00
17:15-19:00
17:15-19:00
17:15-19:00
17:15-19:00
17:00-19:00
17:00-19:00
On Saturday instead of lunch, a cooked breakfast or 'brunch' is served.
On Joint and JCR Formal nights, if you are not attending formal, you will
have to sign-up for 'early formal'. This may be achieved by writing your
name on a list posted on the dining room door.
Laundries
Laundries are available in K1, D1, B1 and G1. There are washers and
dryers which are both coin-operated as well as irons and ironing boards. If
you have any problems contact the JCR Services Officer, Matt Sermon
(matthew.sermon@durham.ac.uk).
Pantries
Pantries are located on every landing. Please keep them clean and tidy. If
you are short of anything or have any other problem, speak any member
of the Exec, and we'll see what we can do.
22
Living Out
By now you will know whether you have
secured at room in College or have chosen to
live out. Durham is a relatively small city which
can easily be crossed on foot from the far
residential regions of Gilesgate and Neville’s
Cross in under an hour, so you are never far
away from Trevs. Livers out have access to all
the College facilities in exactly the same way
that Livers In do. In addition we hope to run a
few socials out of College in town during the
year, so that the Livers Out among us aren’t
always the ones having to walk up for events!
If you are living out and don’t have your own method of transport, the DSU
runs the Nightbus which can take you between all the major parts of town
for £1 a journey (http://dsu.org.uk/content/?page=172585) although it
only runs during term-time. As for getting food, there are a range of
places available. There are the three incarnations of Tesco in Durham, a
supersize one in Gilesgate, a medium one in Market Square, and a
smaller Express one on North Road. There is also a Sainsbury's in the
interestingly named suburb of 'Pity Me' to the North of the city, an Iceland
on North Road and a Marks and Spencer's near Market Square. Durham
also offers a range of good takeaways, as mentioned later.
23
Durham
Founded in 995 AD by the monks of Lindisfarne, the city of Durham has a
lot of history behind it and a surprising number of hidden corners around
which one may find all manner of cafés and boutiques as well as the odd
Norman priory. The University itself was founded in 1832 by Bishop
William van Mildert seeking to prevent the government from taking
control of the lands which had belonged to the Prince Bishops of Durham.
Despite its religious foundation, the University is now run as a secular
institution, though we make the Cathedral the location of our major
ceremonies such as matriculation and graduation.
Other Colleges
Hill Colleges:
Collingwood
Collingwood, often referred to as 'The Hotel on the
Hill', is rather like a larger, squarer version of Trevs.
Renowned as being good at sport, it's only across
the road, and they do have a pizza bar to
complement the usual set of facilities.
Grey
Between Collingwood and the Science Site lies
Grey. They have a fantastic view of the cathedral,
and they are also renowned for their yearly
fireworks display, which is certainly worth going to
at least once in your time here.
Josephine Butler
Durham's newest College, Josephine Butler College
is based around a pile of left-over building waste
which has been imaginatively named the 'Mound'.
This very modern college is certainly worth a look
(the grassed roof is cool), particularly as a welcome
break on the arduous 5 minute walk to Ustinov.
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St Aidan's
Another 100 or so steps up the hill from the other
colleges, one finds a picturesque view of Durham
and St. Aidan's College. Interestingly, Aidan's does
not have an MCR, instead having all postgrads as
members of the SCR.
St Mary's
Our nearest neighbour, Mary's was until recently a
women-only establishment. We also share our
Bursar with them. The scientists among you will
often find yourselves walking past its rather
grandiose neoclassical buildings on the way to the
department (although their bar, a rather poky
converted cellar, doesn’t seem to match up).
Ustinov (Postgraduate)
Durham's largest college, Ustinov houses nearly two
thousand postgraduates. Based at Howland's Farm
on the way out of Durham to the South. Its bar is
open throughout the year and offers an impressive
range of whiskies, beers and lagers, as well as a
good location to interact with other postgraduates
from across the world: this is particularly useful in
the long summer break when most bars are closed.
They also hold regular pub quizzes and pizza nights,
which are worth a look.
Van Mildert
Being just across the road, Van Mildert is ideally
situated for the Trevelyanite wanting to branch out
to another college, and their postgrads are quite a
friendly bunch. Their serendipitous lake (originally a
seating area, on the site of an unknown drained
pond) forms a duck-filled centre point for the
college.
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Bailey Colleges:
Hatfield
Set in some pleasing buildings at the heart of the
Bailey, Hatfield is Durham's second oldest college.
Their postgrads are definitely a jolly nice lot and
they organise some distinctly worthwhile events
throughout the year including a summer BBQ which
all should attend.
St Chad's
One of Durham's two independent colleges, St.
Chad's has a very different atmosphere to a lot of
places. Being the smallest college does not stop
them having a vibrant and friendly community of
postgrads.
St Cuthbert's Society
Not a college but a society, Cuth's finds itself a lot
more spread out than most colleges. It has two
bars: its main bar at the end of the Bailey with a
spacious beer garden and another bar at their
satellite site at Parson's Field (behind the prison),
which is normally only visited by darts players on
away fixtures!
St Hild and St Bede
Set in very spacious grounds a little out of the city
centre, Hild Bede used to be two colleges. They are
in a rather different weight class from Trevelyan,
having two chapels, two gyms (which often
substitute for exam rooms), as well as over 200
postgrads.
St John's
Durham's other independent college, John's is also
home to Cranmer Hall, an Anglican seminary. Their
college drink is the tripod, which is intriguing to
engineers and scientist, as well as lay folk alike.
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University (Castle)
Durham's oldest college, set both in the castle,
incidentally
the
oldest
inhabited
student
accommodation in Europe, and 'more modern
accommodation nearby', this place is definitely
worth a visit. The William St Calais Room, their
MCR, is also probably the nicest in Durham.
Queen's Campus (Stockton, 21 miles away):
John Snow
John Snow College opened in 2001. The College
brings the University's distinctive traditional college
system to the modern, eye-catching environment of
the University's Queen's Campus in Stockton-onTees.
Stephenson
Stephenson College is named after the great
Northern railway pioneer, George Stephenson. The
College was founded in 2001 at the University's
modern Queen's Campus.
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DSU
Durham's Students' Union (known universally as the
DSU) boasts several bars, the nicest of which is the
Kingsgate, situated on the top floor (paradoxically
the same one by which the building is entered), and
offers a lovely view of the cathedral and river (a
view made all the more pleasant by not including
any part of the DSU itself). It offers only a rather
generic range of beers, but the prices go some way
to making up for this. In the daytime the Riverside
Cafe is open for coffee, sandwiches, pasties and
suchlike.
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Things to Do
University Museums and the Botanic Gardens
These are free to access with
your campus card and can easily
fill an afternoon. The Botanic
Gardens are worth visiting
throughout the year as there is
always something different to
see, as is the newly opened
exhibition in the old University
Library on Palace Green. The
Oriental
Museum
houses
temporary exhibitions, which often offers something different.
Theatre and Cinema
The Gala Theatre has a two screen cinema, which, although small, does
offer the latest films at cheap ticket prices. If theatre interests you there
are a lot of student productions throughout the year at locations within
the various colleges and the University's Assembly Rooms, though the
Gala Theatre does offer a wider range of performances.
Sports and Swimming
Recently the new sports centre Freeman’s Quay opened up offering a
well-equipped gym, sports classes, swimming pool and free bike hire for
members.
Brown's Boats
Rowing boats are available for the
amateur to hire on the river from late
Spring until Autumn.
Bowling
Although a little shabby Durham’s tenpin bowling is a good way to spend a
relatively cheap evening, especially on Tuesdays when it’s student night.
Durham Cathedral
A nice place to look around, you can also climb the tower. If you plan to do
this more than once, join the Student Friends of the Cathedral. For only
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£7.50 this gives you unlimited access to the tower as well as a couple of
other exhibitions in the Cathedral.
Public Lectures
During the academic year
Durham plays host to a
wide
range
of
internationally renowned
speakers. Recently, we
have had lectures from
speakers as varied as
Tony Blair (talking about
the role of faith in global
politics),
Harry
Kroto
(talking about his Nobel
prize-winning discovery of
the structure of buckminsterfullerene) and Patrick Stewart (of Star Trek
fame, talking about himself).
Durham Climbing Centre
A fair distance to walk, DCC in Meadowfield industrial site is a good way of
exercising with friends. The centre consists of a bouldering wall meaning
that there are no ropes just shorter walls and massive crash mats at the
bottom although down climbing is recommended for some of the routes.
There's also a children’s wall which is perfect for the less adventurous or
those just wanting to practice some moves. Climbing shoes can be hired
there so there’s no need to shell out unnecessarily.
Finchale Priory
A hidden gem in the Wear valley just North of Durham. It’s a nice spot for
a picnic in summer, and a scenic walk from the city.
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Pubs & Bars
For a small town, Durham boasts a remarkable number of pubs.
Fortuitously, a surprising number of them are remarkably nice. What
follows is by no means an exhaustive list!
The Dun Cow
Situated on Old Elvet, not far from Old Shire Hall, the Dun Cow is a
pleasantly genteel and old-fashioned place, decorated with horse brasses
and pre-war prints. The pub hosts periodic folk nights, and serves a
reasonable selection of ales, as well as several malts. Food is limited to
pies, crisps and suchlike, but is nevertheless pleasant.
The Victoria
On Hallgarth Street, near to the DSU, the Victoria is a delightfully quirky
little pub (though not too contrived) and is home to both an unparalleled
collection of Victorian/Edwardian trinkets and to Durham's finest
selections of real ales, all of them brewed here in the North-East. In the
winter months it can be relied upon to provide a warming fire and a
toastie at lunchtime.
The Angel Inn
Durham's only rock pub, located on Crossgate, the Angel's eardrummeltingly loud music and black-clad clientele might put some people off,
but beneath the mascara and leather jackets, the pub is a remarkably
friendly place, and home to a pleasingly eclectic crowd. It also puts on
some frequently rather decent live bands, and always has a few of the
Durham Brewery's locally-brewed beers on tap.
The Court Inn
A pleasant, family-type pub on Court Lane (again, near to the DSU), the
Court Inn is a good choice for a hearty meal and a decent, if slightly
expensive, pint.
The Shakespeare Tavern
Another (yet another) old-fashioned establishment, indeed one of the
town's oldest, the Shakespeare sits on Saddler Street, in the very centre
of Durham. It's apt to get crowded very quickly, but it's worth a visit for
some decent beers and a pleasant atmosphere.
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The Duke of Wellington
Sitting out of town at the top of the hill on Darlington Road, but close
enough to Trevs, the Duke of Wellington is a pleasant-enough corporatetype pub; quiet, clean and spacious. The food is of a somewhat higher
standard than typical pub fare, and there are always a few ales on tap, as
well as cocktails and a wide range of desserts for those with a sweet
tooth.
The Market Tavern
Located in (you will be unsurprised) the town's market square, the Market
Tavern, though a chain pub, stocks a good selection of ales, and provides
some above-average food. It is also customarily open somewhat later
than most of Durham's drinking establishments, and so provides a
civilised alternative to the town's uniformly hellish nightclubs.
The Swan and Three Cygnets
The Swan and Three is a Samuel Smith's pub, and therefore reassuringly
cheap. Sitting just next to Elvet Bridge, the beer garden also has a fine
view of the river, making it a good choice for an afternoon drink in the
summer.
Fabio's
Not a pub per se, but rather a late-night bar located above La Spaghettata
on Saddler Street. Though the range of beers is less than impressive, it
serves some decent, if pricey, cocktails, and often has a live jazz band
playing.
The Cellar Door
A bar/restaurant on Saddler Street, situated, as you may well guess, in
the cellars beneath street-level. The décor and atmosphere are pleasant,
and the restaurant comes highly recommended. The selection of beers,
however, is both limited and expensive, but its cocktail menu is well worth
a look. It's a nice enough little place, and pleasingly different from
anywhere else in town.
The Head of Steam
Hidden away in Reform Place, just of North Road, the Head of Steam is
surprisingly nice. It serves a wide range of standard pub food at
reasonable prices. There is also a very good selection of drinks, including
a wide range of bottled world beers.
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Nightclubs
Durham's selection of nightclubs is, at the risk of gross understatement,
somewhat more limited. Nevertheless, we present a few of the more
memorable facts about those there are...
Fishtank
A late-night music bar/nightclub located on Neville Street, and about the
size of the average living room. The bar and environs are distinctly
average, but it's still a good deal more pleasant than Studio (just round
the corner), and worth a visit if you happen to like whatever's playing on a
given night, which can be heavy metal, indie rock or hip-hop.
Klute
Crowded, sweaty and filthy, Klute is a nightclub of a special kind. It is in
fact officially the Worst Nightclub in Europe. Despite, or indeed possibly
because of this, it exudes an almost magnetic appeal to Durham's
students, who, it seems, routinely decide, often after formals, that there's
nothing they'd like better than a night dancing to appallingly cheesy
music. Trevs students normally get in for free on one night of the week,
but don't say you weren't warned.
Loveshack
Oddly enough, however, Klute offers a slightly more enjoyable clubbing
experience than Loveshack, a joyless drinking factory only distinguishable
from the adjacent Wetherspoon's by its lame cod-psychedelic decoration.
Studio
A large and thoroughly generic nightclub on North Road; there is almost
nothing memorable about Studio. Suffice to say there's probably one very
much like in any town.
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Restaurants
There is an attempt to place the following in order of price, though not too
thoroughly. They are again, not a full selection. Not reviewed here are the
standard outlets, such as Wetherspoon's, Nando's, Café Rouge et al.,
which dot our streets but are of a well known standard.
The New Inn Pub Grub
29 Church St Head, Durham, DH1 3DN - 0191 384 7308
Nothing too special, but convenient for the Science Site at lunchtimes.
They offer everything you might expect from burgers, through fish and
chips to lasagne.
Cellar Door Italian
41-42 Saddler Street, Durham, DH1 3NU - 0191 383 1856
A nice environment for a quiet evening meal, Cellar Door is definitely a
good tip for Durham’s steak eaters. They offer some good deals too, so be
sure to check it out.
Tia's Mexican & Mediterranean
84 Claypath , Durham , DH1 1RG – 0191 3839001
One of those places where it is always happy hour, offering a good range
of standards, done well. The staff are friendly too.
Rajpooth Tandoori
80 Claypath, Durham, DH1 1QT - 0191 386 1496
One of many Indian restaurants, Rajpooth has a very standard range of
food. However, on Thursdays and Sundays they offer 5 courses for £10,
which makes a visit all the more worth your while.
La Spaghettata Italian
66 Saddler St, Durham, DH1 3NP - 0191 383 9290
La Spag's is chosen to be here out of the many Italian restaurants in the
city as it is no worse than any other and by far the cheapest. Also good for
birthdays (cue drums, cymbals and silly hats).
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The Market Tavern Pub Grub
27 Market Place, Durham, DH1 3NJ - 0191 386 2069
Good quality bar meals at a reasonable price, with good pints on offer to
wash your pie or the like down.
The Court Inn Pub Grub
Court Lane, Durham, DH1 3AW - 0191 384 735
The portions are generous and the food is good. On some nights there are
good deals available, so stick your head in and see what's on.
El Coto Spanish Tapas
17 Hallgarth Street, Durham, DH1 3AT - 0191 384 4007
The better of Durham's two Spanish restaurants, offering the friendly
informal dining style you might expect.
The Capital Indian Tandoori
69 Claypath, Durham, DH1 1QT - 0191 3868803
Very good quality Indian cuisine, though a little on the pricey side.
Capriccio Italian
32a Saddler Street, Durham, DH1 3NU -0191 3709550
Good quality, authentic Italian food, served in a restaurant with a very
Italian character.
Zen Fusion Cuisine
Court Lane, Durham, DH1 3JS - 0191 3849588
One of those places where the prices rise after 7:30pm, so get there
before. Otherwise, a nice venue with a good range of choices on the
menu.
Oldfields Restaurant Food
18 Claypath, Durham, DH1 1RH - 0191 370 9595
A place which focuses on sourcing quality local ingredients and producing
some new takes on some very British classics. They also offer a very
reasonably priced ‘Early Bird’ menu.
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Takeaways
In College takeaway menus can be found in the entrance area. Here are a
few numbers for places which deliver, in case you are stuck:
Chinese
Mr Choi's
0191 386 9933
Indian
Balti Spice
Gilesgate Tandoori
0191 375 7070
0191 383 9699
Pizza
Pizza King
Pizza Perfect
Domino's
0191 386 4004
0191 383 1000
0191 384 4777
Fish & Chips
K. S. Davison
0191 377 9050
Taxis
Mac's Taxis
Paddy's Taxis
Bill's Taxis
Direct Taxis
Dunelm Taxis
0191 384 1329
0191 386 6662
0191 386 7450
0191 386 2002
0191 383 1122
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Local Area
For the more adventurous types the cities of
Edinburgh and York are easily accessible by
rail and provide interesting days out. For
those with a car Durham is surrounded by
wonderful
countryside
in
Teesdale,
Weardale Yorkshire. The not too distant
coastline features some beautiful sandy
beaches just past Newcastle, and the
delights of Whitby and Scarborough are
around an hour away.
Newcastle
There is a lot on offer in Newcastle, and it’s only 15 minutes away on the
train, and single fares are less than five pounds. In the daytime there are
a range of art galleries (most notably the Baltic), museums (especially the
Discovery Museum and the Great North/Hancock Museum) and good
shopping (nothing beats the Metro-Centre, located on the M1-A1 before
you reach Newcastle, also accessible by train via Newcastle). In the
evening the Theatre Royal is a good location to see larger musicals and
plays whilst the Sage is fantastic for musical events, small plays and even
puppet shows. Newcastle also boasts two of the best locations in the
North for seeing live bands at the Metro Radio Arena and the O2
Academy. Finally, it has some brilliant restaurants with cuisine as farfetched as a restaurant catering solely around mussels with a Mongolian
restaurant next door!
Other Places to Visit
Beamish
Beamish Open-air Museum (themed to be 1825 and 1913) is a fantastic
day out which can be reached via bus from Durham bus station in 45
minutes if timed correctly. One entry allows you free entry for the next
year which is always a plus.
Diggerland
Near to Beamish is Diggerland, where you get to actually drive diggers.
While this may sound dry, I can assure it really is fun.
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Bowes Museum
A French chateau reproduced
in the small market town of
Barnard Castle to house the
collection of a rich landowner's
eccentric French wife, this
place really is a startling find.
Its star attraction is a huge
silver swan automaton which
it's worth timing your visit to
see.
Ushaw College
A couple of miles out of Durham to the West is Ushaw College. A Catholic
seminary with associations to the University, this place is an architectural
gem, and definitely worth a visit. Now home to only approximately 10
priests, it was once home to 300, and has the buildings and chapels to
match.
The Coast
Though not always the nicest in the country, the coast lies only 15 miles
from Durham. A lot of cleaning up has been done in recent years to
remove the leftovers of the area's mining history, however, and some
really nice spots are around, such as South Shields a little further North
and Northumberland further north still.
Northumberland
Northumberland is easily accessible
by car or train from Durham and has
a number of major attractions on
offer, such as: Cragside House,
Lindisfarne, the Farne Islands,
Bamburgh Castle, Hadrian's Wall and
of course Wallington, the ancestral
home of the Trevelyan family.
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colenes canis
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