- Date: 15.05.12
- Posted by: Admin
Where to live? Ecclesall Road v Crookesmoor
Ecclesall Road and Crookesmoor are two of the most popular areas of student accommodation in the whole city, and it can be difficult to decide whether either area is right for you.
The main advantage that both areas have is that due to their respective high student populations, they can both have a strong community feel to them, while local traders often offer student friendly deals.
Ecclesall Road and the surrounding area offer almost everything a student needs. There are two supermarkets, including Tesco and Sainsbury's, as well as a healthy selection of bars, restaurants and takeaways.
One pub that is popular with many locals is The Porter Brook, which offers a great selection of well-priced ales, as well as tasty pub food. The pub quiz every Tuesday night also attracts a sizeable crowd, partly due to the warm and cosy atmosphere, and partly due to the fact that it's possibly the only pub in Sheffield that offers free sandwiches during proceedings.
If you're feeling hungry there are many restaurants to choose from, with American style grill Yankees, and Thai restaurant All Siam both worthy of honourable mentions. But if you fancy a takeaway with a touch of the Mediterranean then you should give the Greedy Greek Deli a go. Situated just off the Hunter's Bar Roundabout on Sharrow Vale Road, The Greedy Greek serves up a wide selection of Mediterranean deli items, along with Greek favourites such as gyros (essentially a posh kebab). Even the fries are sprinkled with oregano to give them that special touch.
Ecclesall Road does carry some disadvantages however. Rent prices are often slightly more expensive than in other areas of student accommodation, partly due to the fact that it is an area that is becoming increasingly desirable for both students and locals.
Crookesmoor is probably the more traditional student area and, like Ecclesall Road, there is almost everything any student needs. There are two supermarkets including a Co-op and Nisa, as well as the organic greengrocer Beanies. Unlike Ecclesall Road though, it is far closer to the University of Sheffield Student's Union, which is just a mere ten minutes walk away.
The main pub in the area is the Hadfield Hotel, which has a strong student friendly atmosphere with prices to match, and the added bonus of a late license.
Another undeniable bonus is the fact that there are two nearby parks to enjoy. There is Crookes Valley Park, situated next to a lake, perfect for unwinding. And there is the Ponderosa, which is popular with dog walkers, joggers, and those looking for a game of football. The Ponderosa is also used as the venue for the free festival Peace in the Park, which is held in the summer, and is one of the biggest events in the city.
Because of the population within Crookesmoor being mostly students. Student accommodation is usually slightly cheaper than some other areas. Although its popularity means that you will have to act quickly in order to get the house you're looking for.
+Fraser Ludlam
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- Date: 11.05.12
- Posted by: Admin
Why Do Students Choose Sheffield?
Deciding which university you should go to can be a very tough decision to make as there can be many different things that you have to take into consideration. The universities in Sheffield are very popular with students as is the city itself. The city has a lot to offer students and must have a certain appeal as so many come to the city and decide to stay on after their degree.
One reason for some people choosing to study in Sheffield is the fact that the universities are not on closed campuses but instead are interspersed throughout the city. The universities have unions at central locations with some departments located close by and then other buildings at a variety of locations. This means that there is more of a feeling of inclusion within the city rather than the universities being outside of the city. Having your lectures close to the city centre means that you are near to all of the shops, pubs and other attractions to be found there. If you want to meet up with friends in between lectures or do some shopping then you are in an ideal location to do so. For many students an important aspect of going away to university is enjoying the nightlife. Sheffield has a diverse range of bars and clubs to suit most tastes. Students know that they can go to the pubs and clubs and be welcome there as they are the target audience. Most places will have some sort of drinks offers to entice students in. The unions also host a range of club nights playing different types of music on different nights so that a wide range of tastes can be catered for.
Many students who study in Sheffield consider it to be a very good city to live in and most Sheffield student housing is in good areas of the city. Students who want to be close to the University of Sheffield and the city centre but far enough away to not have to encounter fellow students staggering home in the early hours often choose to live in Crookes or Crookesmoor as these are pleasant residential areas. Other students prefer to be much closer to the university buildings and so choose to live in Broomhall or the Ecclesall Road area if they want to be near Sheffield Hallam. Sheffield student housing has very good transport links with buses going through all the main areas at frequent intervals. The areas that most students decide to settle in are close to the universities and libraries whilst also being on good transport routes into the city centre so that they can be close enough for lectures and within easy reach of home after night out in town. As well as having plenty of bars and clubs, Sheffield can also offer a number of museums, libraries and art galleries for those wanting to enjoy a bit of culture.
It seems that students choose to study in Sheffield for a mixture of reasons including the reputations of the universities, the layout of the universities within the city and the nightlife and culture that Sheffield has to offer.
+Fraser Ludlam
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- Date: 09.05.12
- Posted by: Admin
Have Fun But Be Responsible
One aspect of student life that plays a very important part for many and is considered to be part of the whole student experience is going out and enjoying the nightlife. Having fun and going out is important to many students and it is only right that you should have some fun when you are a student as it shouldn’t all be about hard work and studying. When you do go out for the night you need to make sure that you act responsibly and stay safe. Universities know that students enjoy having a night out and so they offer advice on how to stay safe.
In Sheffield as in any other university city there are numerous clubs and bars which are aimed at students and attempt to entice them in with cheap drinks or various drink offers. Students will always be on the lookout for cheap places to drink and clubs and bars know this. There is nothing wrong with taking advantage of drink offers and cheap drinks but you have to make sure that you don’t get carried away and end up drinking more than you should as that is when things can go wrong. When you are going out it is advisable to make sure that you don’t go alone but in a group with friends or course mates. Going out with other people means that you can all keep an eye on each other and if one member of the group looks like they have had too much to drink or need to go home then you can make sure that they get back safely rather than them having to make their own way home alone.
Fortunately the majority of student accommodation has very good transport links with frequent buses so that if you do need to get home or help somebody else home there is usually a bus which will get you most of the way in comfort and safety. Areas such as Crookesmoor and Ecclesall Road have a number of bus routes with a regular service and students are able to buy cheaper student tickets. If there are no buses available then there are always plenty of taxis. If you or a friend get particularly ill or very drunk then climbing into a taxi can be your best option as it will get you home quickly and take you right to your door rather than having to walk from a bus stop.
The majority of students who go out drinking do so responsibly and don’t end up in a serious condition but there will always be a few who drink too much and will either need taking home or to the accident and emergency unit at the hospital. Sheffield student accommodation is located within easy reach of the popular destinations for nights out as well being close to a number of hospitals just in case something does go wrong. If you are going to go out for the night with your housemates then be sensible and responsible; don’t let people go off on their and look out for any member of your group who looks like they have had too much and make sure that everyone gets home safely.
+Fraser Ludlam
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- Date: 20.04.12
- Posted by: Admin
Unknown Sheffield: Discover Cool Parts of Sheffield Other Students Won’t Know About
You'll probably get to know all the favourite student haunts in Sheffield within your first term of study. Both the University and Hallam have fantastic student union's meaning a lot of students are perfectly happy to spend a lot of time in interval, coffee revolution and the hubs without ever become dissatisfied, and Sheffield students are certainly really lucky in this respect. If you want to discover a bit more of Sheffield during your time here though, it can be nice to venture further afield than the unions, West street, Division Street and town. Below are few cool places that you might not know about which are really worth checking out. All can be reached from your student accommodation, wherever it may be, by walking or public transport.
Bars:
Dada Bar: Formally Trippets, Dada Bar is located on Trippet Lane, just behind West Street and offers a really cosy, relaxed vibe, with decent music and fantastic ales and beers. It's Thornbridge Brewery bar, meaning the ales here really are unrivalled. Recommended is Wild Swan, a tasty pale ale and St Petersburg a really delicious stout which will convert the most ardent anti-stout drinkers. Decked out in Dada inspired décor and with a myriad of different seating areas, this is a place to go if your looking for a bar where you can chat earlier on, and have a dance later into the evening. The music sticks to what is advertised for each night rather than slipping some chart hits in which make it even more distinctive.
The Grapes: Just opposite Dada Bar is The Grapes, a well-known pub for live music, and akin to the Frog and Parrot but less busy, it's a great place to go to discover new bands. The Grapes was threatened with closure a few years ago which would be a massive loss for the City Centre, so start going to keep it alive!
Penelopes: Located in Arundel Gate, Penelopes is a great place to go for an alternative night out and hosts events ranging from spoken word nights to cabaret to obscure live music. Great for something a little different, the clientele are always interesting and lovely.
Culture:
The Lantern Theatre: Unbeknown to most, the lantern theatre is actually Sheffield's oldest theatre. Located just off the Hunter's Bar roundabout, this theatre mainly caters for amateur dramatics but has recently seen its first professional play put on. Don't be misled by the term amateur though. The Lantern has a fantastic reputation for high quality theatre, and only adds to the thriving theatrical scene in Sheffield.
The Rude Shipyard: Located on Abbeydale Road opposite Mount Pleasant Park, The Rude Shipyard is an absolute gem of a find. A café/bookshop this place has a fantastically informal atmosphere. Get the best homemade cakes, warming coffee and find books you won't find anywhere else in Sheffield. It's similar to Rare and Racy, except you can sit down and spend an afternoon there, have a chat with those around you and stay on into the evening. The shipyard often puts music events on in the evening and is known to have “the best chocolate Guinness in Sheffield”, why wouldn't you go?
+Fraser Ludlam
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- Date: 19.04.12
- Posted by: Admin
Sheffield is best for student homes!!
A recent report in the times has stated Sheffield as the best city for student homes.
"Sheffield has the best student accomodation in the country, according to a survey.
A total of 91% of students at the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam were wholly positive about their temporary homes in the city, with many making friends for life.
More than 70% said that their biggest bubear was dealing with other peoples dirty dishes in the sink when living in shared accomodation at university or college. Lesser complaints were nosiy neighbours (54%) and unhygenic house-mates (41%).
The survery was backed by the Student Accomodation Code. More than 100 universities and colleges have signed up to a code of practice to ensure good quality accomodation".
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- Date: 11.04.12
- Posted by: Admin
Finding The Balance Between Socialising And Studying
When you are a student at university you are away from home and are experiencing more independence than you have previously ever had. At times it can be a bit difficult to find the right balance between socialising and studyingand you may find that things get a little out of hand. Obviously it is important that while you are at university you do enjoy yourself and have fun going out with your friends and course mates but you also need to remember that you are also there to work and earn your degree.
Socialising can play a very big part in student life at any university and this often how you meet new people and make friends. There are many opportunities for socialising and meeting people whether this is in clubs and bars or at events organised by the university. The student's union at Sheffield University hosts a variety of club nights in the union during the week which are always popular and cater for a range of musical tastes. Most university unions will host their own club nights as well as having bars and cafes within the union. Spending an evening in a union bar or at a club night can provide a good opportunity for meeting people or just have a good time with your friends. If you are not keen on what the unions have to offer then you can always go into town where there are many clubs and bars which are aimed at attracting students. Sheffield student houses are usually located in areas where it is easy to go out and socialise and are not too far from town.
Although partying and socialising is an important part of student life you also need to remember that the main reason you are at university is to work towards earning a degree in your particular subject. It might be tempting to go out every night of the week but it won't contribute to your ability to study and work hard. If you come crawling home at four in the morning after a night of heavy drinking then you are unlikely to feel like going to your nine o'clock lecture. If you know that you have an early start the next day then it can be a good idea to refrain from going out and staying out till late. Many students find that as the year progresses they settle down into a routine that works for them and will tend to go out mostly at the weekend or maybe once or twice during the week but will not go out every night or to every available destination. Finding the right balance will mean that you are able to enjoy yourself and go out with your friends but that the quality of your work will not suffer because of it. You don't want to find that you are disappointed with your results because of excessive partying and socialising.
University is an exciting time and you will have lots of fun and experiences but it is important to make sure that you are able to settle down into a pattern of socialising and studying that works for you.
+Fraser Ludlam
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- Date: 02.04.12
- Posted by: Admin
Live With Friends Or Alone?
Student living and student accommodation is something that many young people have to go through if they decide to go away to study at university. Most students at some stage of their degree will move out of university halls of residence and into privately rented accommodation. Deciding who to live with can sometimes present you with a bit of a challenge and it may be a difficult decision to make. Some people will have little problem and will know who they want to live will and will be certain that they will all get along well. Others however may not particularly want to live with other people as they may find that they get on better living by themselves.
The majority of students live in shared houses and much of the Sheffield student housing is aimed at groups of around four people. Living in a shared house can create a very good atmosphere as you will be living with your friends and can socialise with each other often more readily than in halls. Living with your friends should hopefully mean that there are very few arguments or disagreements over household matters such as cleaning and whose turn it is to buy washing up liquid or soap. Naturally living with other people there will be differences in habits and interests but most students are able to find others with similar tastes and attitudes to themselves. Living in a shared house can also make things like cooking and cleaning simpler and easier. It can often be a good idea to implement some sort of rota for dealing with the cleaning; nobody particularly enjoys having to do cleaning but if jobs are assigned and everybody knows what they are meant to do and when then it should make the process more bearable. Many students when living together will make an effort to have shared meals at least once a week. This approach provides an opportunity to get to know each other a lot better as well as meaning that you don't have to cook for yourself every night of the week. Most students when deciding on student housing decide to live with their friends but this is not necessarily ideal for everyone.
For some students they much prefer the idea of living on their own without anybody else. This is not to say that they don't like other people as they can be perfectly happy to meet with others and go out but prefer having their own space to live in. Living on your own means that you are solely responsible for the cooking and cleaning as well as paying all of the bills. This might seem daunting for some people but others find that this is what they need in order to dedicate the appropriate amount of time to their work and studying. Although living alone is not what a lot of people would choose to do, for others it is the best option which allows them to still socialise with their friends but retain a higher level of independence and self-sufficiency.
Whether you decide that you want to live on your own or would prefer to live with a group of friends moving into student accommodation can be an exciting time and a special experience as it will help you to become more independent and you will learn what it takes to look after yourself properly.
+Fraser Ludlam
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- Date: 28.03.12
- Posted by: Admin
Why Stay In Sheffield After Graduation?
Sheffield is one of those cities that have an attraction for many people to stay in after they have finished their university degree. The universities in Sheffield have thousands of students attending them for both undergraduate and post-graduate degrees and qualifications and many of these students decide that they want to remain in the city after they have completed their studies. There must be a reason for Sheffield being such an appealing city for so many students to want to continue living there.
The main reason that many people decide to carry on living in Sheffield is simply because they enjoy living there and consider it to be a great place to be. The majority will have had good experiences as students and will have enjoyed living in Sheffield student accommodation and enjoying all that the city has to offer. The nightlife in the city and at the universities is one factor which convinces some people to stay as there is such a variety of clubs and venues to choose from and they cater for all different music tastes. It is perhaps only natural that some will want to hold on to their student days for as long as possible and see staying in Sheffield as a way to do this. For others, staying behind is a way of avoiding ending up back at home and living with their parents. If you have spent three years at university away from home then you will have a sense of independence and you may lose this if you return home after your graduation. Staying behind can be a way of making a start in your life after university and being independent whilst also have the comfort and safety from living in a city that you are familiar with and know well.
Job prospects are something which keeps a number of graduates in Sheffield as there are numerous job opportunities in the city and surrounding areas. Many science and engineering graduates go on to do further study or take up research positions at the universities. If you have made good friends at university at lived together in Sheffield student accommodation then you may want to retain this friendship group and continue living together and having fun. Sheffield has a lot to offer not only in terms of nightlife but also arts and culture; there are multiple theatres, galleries and museums and they always have interesting events and exhibitions on show. If you were to ask a number of individual graduates why they were staying in Sheffield then you could expect to be given a variety of different reasons. Whatever it is that people want to get from living in a particular place many students in Sheffield find that Sheffield is a good place for them to stay.
The city of Sheffield has an appeal to students and graduates alike as a good place to live. Many graduates stay behind to live and work after they finish their studies as they feel at home in the city and enjoy all that it has to offer. Some graduates will stay for a year or two before moving away and moving on to new things and others may remain for many years.
+Fraser Ludlam
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- Date: 26.03.12
- Posted by: Admin
Some Different Student Cocktails
You've just moved into your new student house, it’s likely you'll be cracking open some drinks and getting to properly know the people you live with (if you already don't). Take a look at some great cocktail making ideas, taking traditional cocktails and spicing them up along with newer, more unusual cocktails - A great way to break the ice (pardon the pun)!
As always, please enjoy any cocktails responsibly and in moderation.
Sex on the Beach Traditional Version
Ingredients
2 parts (40ml) Vodka
1 parts (20ml) Peach schnapps
2 parts (40ml) Orange juice
2 parts (40ml) Cranberry juice
Build all ingredients in a highball glass filled with ice. A classic cocktail which is quick, simple and cheap to make and one I'm sure you'll be used to drinking on holiday. Take a look at some of these variations of the classic if you want to spice it up...
- Use orange juice instead of pineapple juice (the usual trick abroad).
- Use fireball whiskey instead of vodka for a 'sex on fire'. (not for the faint hearted).
- Coconut rum can be exchanged for vodka for a different taste.
Summer Breeze
A simple cocktail to make and can be done using simple alcoholic ingredients.
Ingredients
2 parts Vodka
2 measures apple juice
2 measures cranberry juice
Dash of lime juice
½ measure elderflower cordial
Mix all ingredients together in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a highball glass filled 2/3 with cubed ice. A great summer drink.
Classic Snowball
Usually associated with a certain time of the year, but the snowball is a favourite all year round. A dead simple drink to make, however has an acquired taste. It is very similar to egg-nog.
Ingredients
2 parts Advocaat
¼ part lime cordial
Top up with lemonade.
Shake the Advocaat and lime juice together. Pour into an ice filled highball. Top up with lemonade.
Cheap Fishbowl (Serves 3/4)
Decent on the palate and quick & simple to make - the classic fishbowl.
Ingredients
Up to £3 worth of strong cider
Up to £2 worth of Vodka (very cheap vodka is easily available at places like Tesco)
200ml water
Enough straws for 1 each
Method
Pour the Vodka and Cider into a large bowl.
Add the water.
Mix well.
Place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Place the straws into the bowl.
Place some ice cubes into the bowl too to water down the alcohol slightly.
These are some great drinks which are fun to make with other people when new to your accommodation. Remember, once again, not to go too over the top and drink responsibly.
+Fraser Ludlam
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- Date: 19.03.12
- Posted by: Admin
New To Your Student House? Simple Student Meals
So you've just moved into your student house or other student accommodation, there are some great, simple meals to make without the expensive cost or the hassle of excessive cooking. Take a look at some ideas below for a basic, three course meal at little cost:
Starters
Greek Salad (Courtesy of Chef Pman)
Ingredients
- 3-4 Salad Tomatoes
- 2/3 of a portion sized (1/2) cucumber
- 1/3 red onion
- 1/2 packet of feta cheese
- 1 packet of herb infused mixed olives (or anything equivalent, green olives recommended)
- 1-2 teaspoons of jar pesto
- Olive Oil
- Packet Croutons (Optional) or Bread (Optional)
These are just guidelines. You can use however much of each ingredient to your liking.
Method
Half the tomatoes and cut each half into thin strips
Thinly slice the red onion
Cut the cucumber into thin 1/4 chunks or strips if you like
Cube the feta cheese
Layer the above prepared ingredients and olives into a bowl plate (or plate) in any order you like.
In a small dish combine the pesto with some olive oil and stir well to make a dressing.
*Place croutons in a side dish. If you want to make your own, chop some bread into small chunks and fry in some oil until crispy.
Drizzle the dressing on top of the salad and enjoy!!
Mains
Kerela Lemon Chicken (Courtesy of Chef Surahn)
Ingredients
- Chicken Breast
- Corn flour
- Lemon (2 for more lemony)
- Chicken Stock
- Peppers
- Pepper
- Salt
Method
Firstly cover the chicken in corn flour and then fry until thoroughly cooked (if you have a jif lemon to hand I always like douse the chicken while I fry it) When the chickens nearly cooked, throw in your peppers, I usually use a red, orange and yellow but that's your call.
While that's cooking make up your stock I usually use 2 but it depends how strong you like your sauce. Once you've made up your stock add corn flour to thicken, I usually go with my instinct but a table spoon made up with water does the trick. Now it's time to grate your lemon and squeeze out the juice add this to your sauce with a pinch of salt and pepper.
When your chicken and peppers are done add to your sauce and put on a low heat to simmer so the chicken gets really lemony and make sure you stir it regularly.
Dessert
Cheese Cake (Courtesy of Chef McGuinness)
Ingredients
- 6oz digestive biscuits
- 8oz phillidalphia
- 1/2 pint double cream
- 2oz butter
- 8oz icing sugar
Method
- Melt butter.
- Crush biscuits.
- Mix together.
- Add mixture to a 8cm round tin.
- Press down extremely hard.
- Mix philli- and icing sugar.
- Whip cream to thick consistency so it doesn't fall of whisk.
- Fold cream and philli- mixture together.
- Put mixture on top of biscuit (try to get it level).
- Place in fridge for 4 hours (best left over night).
+Fraser Ludlam
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