Warwick Uni halls - what to take?

ellay864

I know there are other threads about what to bring and there's some fantastic advice there, but one consistent message seems to be 'it depends which uni' so I wonder if I can be a bit cheeky and ask if anybody can advise specifically on Warwick.
My son is hoping to go there in October. I'm fine with reading through posts for the main things but it's the stuff like cutlery, plates, cups etc - I'm not sure if they're supplied in the communal kithcen areas or not? The hall he wants to get into is Rootes, though of course nothing's definite yet (and I don't know if different halls have different provisions)

jrrowleyws

This should tell you what will be provided.
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/accommodation/studentaccommodation/all/campus/facilities_summary_table_1011.pdf

Generally crockery, cutlery and cooking stuff is not provided

keithdc

When I was at Warwick back in the day (about 6 years ago).... theoretically, the Uni didn't provide anything, but there was some stuff in the kitchen when I moved in that had been left the previous year.

Also... there was a couple of girls who had brought large cuttlery and crockery sets. Personally... I wouldn't worry too much- in Fresher's week, he'll be eating cereal, pizza and chips most of the first week anyway. I'd take absolute minimal stuff- bowl, cup, pint glass, knife, fork, spoon (no cooking stuff) and see how things go! Some people will be happy to share stuff as long as its washed up, others are really anal!

If you are being really moneysaving, you could wait until you get there, see what's in the cupboards and, if necessary, there is a good size Tesco about 2 mins drive from campus (though will be horrible on the first day!!)

mumps

Hi my DD was in Rootes. There will be electric kettle, microwave, toaster, but he will need the rest, pots and pans plates glasses cutlery etc. The local Tesco, at Cannon Park has loads of basic stuff for freshers week, there is also a Wilkinsons there as well so you can pop down and get the lot. We had bought it all in advance but it would have been easier to get it there on the day. Everyone seems to take their kids there on day one to stock up the fridge/freezer/cupboards. Hope it all goes well. If there is anything else I can help with let me know.

Strapped

I was in Rootes too, but so long ago things might have changed. I needed crockery and cooking utensils. Also, you get a small locker (only big enough for a few foodstuffs - about the size of two lever arch folders) in the kitchen which your son would be well advised to take a padlock & key for.

ellay864

Thanks everybody....I was in 2 minds about heading for the shop on the first day or buying it in bits ahead of time to spread the cost. Also the thought of having to go shopping whenw e got there just didnt appeal lol
Mumps - do you mind me asking how your DD enjoyed Rootes? DS isn't the party loving sort, prefers to just hang with a few mates so I was surprised he didn't go for one of the others that's more flats. But he says if he wants quiet study he'd rather go to library anyway - he gets too distracted to want to work in his room even if it's pretty quiet - and he says he wants to be somewhere sociable if even if he isn't partying all the time

keithdc

So much in Rootes depends on who you live with... your son could end up with some rowdy people who go out every night, or some people who never go out, or somewhere in between.

Rootes is great in that if there is nothing going on in your kitchen, the next kitchen isn't far away!

artybear

Hi I'm still at Warwick-just finishing my MA. I lived in Rootes in my first year. He needs crockery but not big things like microwave/toaster as they are all there.

I loved Rootes-it is the most social hall and I am still really good friends from everyone on my corridor, we all enjoyed going out lots but all worked really hard too.

Oh and buy food BEFORE you get there as the tescos is massively busy on the first day.

Any other questions?
xx

mumps

When my daughter started a year ago Tesco wasn't too bad, some people were due to arrive on the Saturday and the other half on the Sunday. It was busy but not horrendously so. I guess alot depends on how far away you live, we are 200 miles away so did the shopping there. No lockers in her kitchen, just shared cupboards, but there was part of the wardrobe you can lock with a padlock, you can leave some bits in there in holidays. Also a sort of small store room where you could leave cases or boxes.

My daughter was on top floor and we were told that was because she put that she was quieter and they put the real party people on lower floors. Dont know if that was true but her corridor certainly was sociable but not rioutous. She made friends quickly and settled in well. She liked Rootes, I think cheap and cheerful is the rule.

Edited to add: Just thought, buy cheap stuff for the kitchen, they will lose it, have it stolen or ruined, what we picked up at the end of the year was about 30% of what we bought and I think some of it wasn't what we bought, they just shared out what was left. Food gets "borrowed" as well. Very annoying but they do sort it out, death threats seemed to work for a while, eventually she kept some stuff in a plastic box in her room, cans and so on, not much you can do about the stuff in the fridge/freezer. Stocking up at Tesco's seemed to be something parents felt the need to do, sort of comforting to leave them with a full cupboard.

I keep thinking of bits to add, my daughter found socialising in the kitchen great. She visited friends in big city unis with better clubs around but she said they didn't compare to her kitchen. I am sure your son will find friends and have a great time. Did he go to open day last week? My daughter was one of the guides in yellow tee shirts.

ellay864

Thanks again for all the helpful tips.....am going to show this thread to DWS when I can drag him here lol
Mumps - he's going to do Maths so we went to a Maths open day back in Feb/March. Parents got a trip round as well but we didn't get to go in any accommodation areas. He also went last year and did see in Rootes so he knows what to expect to some extent. Must admit I did like the feel of the place as a whole and it's a handy distance - we're in Cheshire - so it's far enough for him to feel independent but close enough that it's only an hour or so in the car

Strapped

mumps wrote: »

When my daughter started a year ago Tesco wasn't too bad, some people were due to arrive on the Saturday and the other half on the Sunday. It was busy but not horrendously so. I guess alot depends on how far away you live, we are 200 miles away so did the shopping there. No lockers in her kitchen, just shared cupboards, but there was part of the wardrobe you can lock with a padlock, you can leave some bits in there in holidays. Also a sort of small store room where you could leave cases or boxes.

My daughter was on top floor and we were told that was because she put that she was quieter and they put the real party people on lower floors. Dont know if that was true but her corridor certainly was sociable but not rioutous. She made friends quickly and settled in well. She liked Rootes, I think cheap and cheerful is the rule.

Edited to add: Just thought, buy cheap stuff for the kitchen, they will lose it, have it stolen or ruined, what we picked up at the end of the year was about 30% of what we bought and I think some of it wasn't what we bought, they just shared out what was left. Food gets "borrowed" as well. Very annoying but they do sort it out, death threats seemed to work for a while, eventually she kept some stuff in a plastic box in her room, cans and so on, not much you can do about the stuff in the fridge/freezer. Stocking up at Tesco's seemed to be something parents felt the need to do, sort of comforting to leave them with a full cupboard.

I keep thinking of bits to add, my daughter found socialising in the kitchen great. She visited friends in big city unis with better clubs around but she said they didn't compare to her kitchen. I am sure your son will find friends and have a great time. Did he go to open day last week? My daughter was one of the guides in yellow tee shirts.

Yes, you can opt to be on a "quiet floor" if you are the studious type (I wasn't :cool:) - these tend to be the top floor, because the wardens live on top floors, and they tend to crack down on noise a lot more on them. Mind you, some of the best parties I went to were on E top!