The University can provide a maximum of 95% of first years with a place in halls. However, year on year this provision is kept at around 90%.
There are three main areas of Halls belonging to the University. The first is at Stoke Bishop, two miles north of the University where there are 6 halls. There are three halls near the gorge in Clifton, half a mile west of the University, and finally, several student houses in and around the University precinct.
Overall the standard of the Halls is good. However, the food in the catered halls was described in words we cannot publish, and the en-suite bathrooms (for those rooms that have them) are smaller than an economy class airline crapper. A run down of the options is provided by a Bristol student below.
Goldney Hall
Very popular self-catering hall set in beautiful grounds. There seems to be a good JCR who organise plenty of events in term time, and their summer ball is one of the best in the university. 8 people per flat, a mixture of year groups and subjects. The cons is that it is over-subscribed and very expensive, but because it is over-suscribed the warden seems to pick the people who potentially have a lot to offer to hall life.
Manor Hall
Similar to Goldney in atmosphere, ethos and people. Self-catered hall but in corridors rather than flats so more social. Good JCR events, really lovely people seem to be there.
Clifton Hill House
Catered hall, relatively small (250ish) which gives it a real sense of community spirit and you have an instant identity there. Close to uni buildings and good pubs. Good JCR again, unpretentious, incredibly supportive community, you will love this if you are apprehensive about being away from home for the first time, but having said that, everyone there seems to have a pretty glowing CV (again, over-subscibed), and want to get involved in everything, no apathy.
Stoke Bishop halls: Out here there's a 30-40min walk to university. This really isn't as much of a problem as it sounds, in fact, it's less claustrophobic than the city centre.
Badock Hall
Badock and Hiatt Baker are the two largest halls in Stoke Bishop, and thus it is harder to feel a sense of community there. Badock is considered a "cool" hall due to its fantastic bar and big drum and bass contingent (although you'll find plenty of other music tastes as well). Students are proud to be part of Badock despite the 60's architecture (I don't know what ppl whinge about, it's set in beautiful grounds with squirrels aplenty) Varying degrees of apathy. Can't go wrong with Badock.
Hiatt Baker
Unfairly nicknamed "Shiatt Bunker" there are some really really lovely people here. Again it is harder for the JCR to involve everyone as they can in the smaller halls, but they seem to do a pretty good job. Bar is not as good as Badock, but Hiatt Baker seems to lack some of the rahs of the other halls. Note: both Hiatt Baker and Badock have first year JCR's rather than second years, which can be a disadvantage as scond years have a prior knowledge of uni life and can also be more committed as they stay on in hall for an extra year.
Churchill
A nice hall, has a rah reputation and a rivalry with Wills which borders on childishness, although only a minority of students are active about this. Good JCR and bar, 350 odd students, you can't really go wrong here. Has to be first choice hall if you want to be there as oversubscribed each year.
Wills
Infamous for "Rahs" hard to tell whether this is deserved or not! Certainly one of the more expensive halls, has a real sense of community, laid out like an Oxford college. Rooms in new quad are more sociable and less pretentious than old quad! You will love this hall if you went to boarding school etc, but also if you go there with an open mind you could meet some really lovely people. Students are willing to get involved in hall life. Over-subscirbed, needs to be first-choice hall.
University Hall
Try to avoid this one. Self-catered and flats are very small (5 ppl) which can limit your social circle unless you land on your feet with your flat mates. Bar is quiet and looks like a working mens club, therefore no real sense of community. Uni hall students tend to crash other hall bars and its layout makes the settling in process harder. If you get a good flat of people, however, it is nice to have that secure base to come back to, and the independence of self-catering is an advantage. Not ideal for people who like to feel involved in a student community.
Durdham
If you like a quiet life and luxury then apply here. En-suite rooms, good communal spaces, self catering. However, is very very quiet, deservedly nicknamed "Dull-dham". Bar has an air hockey table but is quiet! However, don't rule it out, halls change every year depending on the student intake, and you make your own fun anyway.
Don't get put off by people complaining about the architecture of any halls, compared to most university residences it is positively beautiful, and Stoke Bishop is a very grand residential area set in beautiful grounds, something that most people forget to mention! In addition, this is just one person's opinion; ideally visit the halls and get an idea of the atmosphere of each, go on gut feeling.
Finding private rented accommodation can sometimes prove difficult in Bristol. Prices have risen sharply recently, as the locals begin to suspect that the students aren't as poor as they make out. When looking, try to avoid areas like St. Paul's, where there can be a violent drug culture. Instead head for Clifton or Redlands.
Here's the perspective of another Bristol student who contacted us about the accommodation and the social life:
Last time I paid, it was between 800 and 900 quid for a 10-week term in a catered hall. Self-catering are not much cheaper at all! You certainly could never cook on the difference. It gets significantly cheaper if you share a room etc. Private housing seems to be going at about £65 exc. bills per week for something okay (I don't really know - I’m staying in halls, but that’s approximately what friends are paying). Bear in mind that private digs are a pain in the arse to organise, both before and during, and work out more expensive than Halls to live in, and the terms of let are longer (i.e. holidays). For the first year certainly, I think Halls are the only choice.
Hall Bars used to be THE place to be and spend the night. Then the student link was introduced and killed them (relative to before the Link existed!) after 9.30/10.00pm as everyone moves onto clubs. They are however bustling before then on an average night, and depending on other factors, are still good after if you don't move on. And there are about 8 in staggering distance of each other.
As for the 'random pulling', do it anywhere but your hall bar, particularly in freshers week, as your random pull (a stunner through the beer goggles...) will probably turn out to be on your corridor or something.
