Bars, rivalries and accommodation: Everything to know about living in a Bailey college

Now, as another academic year begins and a new set of students start their time at Durham, it seems more appropriate than ever to reveal the ins and outs of what it is truly like to live in a Bailey college.

Let’s face it, no matter how hard we try to “bridge the gap” between the Bailey and the hill, there will always be a stark difference between the two groups. As a Castle student myself, I feel it is only fitting I give some answers, based upon my past two years here in Durham.

Accommodation

Castle

Now, as you have become aware, your chances of living within Castle walls are incredibly low (unless you want to hold the burden of sharing a room with someone). However, typically in life there always is a silver lining. Living in Moatside was by far one of the most enjoyable experiences in my life – every day was carnage in the best way possible.

Never take for granted how central you are in Durham; not everyone is blessed with accommodation on Saddler Street! Whether you’re in Bailey Court, Moatside, or Owengate your experience won’t be much different from those living in the Castle.

At the end of the day you’re eating in the same hall, attending the same formals, and having a blast at the best balls. Although a minority, there is also a self-catered accommodation between the Claypath-Gilesgate border called New Kepier Court. For those who really do not want college food (and I do not blame them) they have the best of both worlds, being able to be a Castle student while being in control of their own meal schedules.

Hatfield

Most Read

From £60k to £1.5million: How much the I’m A Celeb 2024 campmates are being paid

Right, here’s how popstar priest Reverend Richard Coles made his secretly whopping fortune

Tulisa ‘raging’ about I’m A Celeb axe and has wiped all evidence of the show from her Insta

Home to approximately 400 students, Hatfield provides an intimate and self-contained collection of accommodation buildings. Slightly edging better than Castle, the college are able to provide 93 single ensuite bedrooms, 24 twin ensuite bedrooms, and 50 standard rooms with shared bathroom facilities. However, the college also owns an accommodation block on the other side of the River Wear, at the bottom of Church Street and across Kingsgate Bridge.

St. Chad’s

Being an independent college within Durham University’s system, their accommodation is divided into seven houses across the Bailey, with all first year students receiving a catered experience. Within these, similar to Castle for example, there are mixed residences of both first years and finalists.

Unlike other colleges, however, the majority of Chads’ rooms are shared, with around 70 per cent of first year beds being exactly this, being a popular and unique feature of the college.

St. John’s

Inheriting a variation of accommodation styles, some of St Johns’ buildings are listed buildings embedded within historical character, while others are more modern built.

Unlike Cuths, all of Johns’ accommodation are located along the Bailey, with most rooms being single bed, standard rooms. Being another independent college, the college adopts the university’s pricing for college accommodation, with some modifications to additional charges and discounts e.g. rooms with double beds or rooms without a sink.

St. Cuthbert’s

Unlike other colleges, Cuths provides a unique catering system, which provides students with three options: catered; non-catered; or partially catered. The latter involves a “10 meals Package”, which consists of self-catered students purchasing a package to give them the flexibility of cooking their own meals, alongside the convenience of 10 prepaid meals in college per week to be taken at any time.

There are two sites for their accommodation: The Bailey and Parsons Field. The latter also very much referred to as the “prison” of the college.

College bars

Here, I will list the Bailey college bars in order from best to worst and provide my logic behind the order. As always, the list does slightly change throughout the year; but take heed with my advice, as someone who would call herself a regular Bailey college bar crawl participator…

1. The Undercroft Bar – Castle

Despite serving drinks on the more expensive side of the spectrum, I think there’s a fairly obvious reason why this can be justified. The whole experience of entering the Undercroft Bar is entirely mesmerising: Walking across the grounds of a Castle almost 1,000 years old to then descend into an aesthetic, underground bar is certainly something the other Bailey colleges are unable to match.

2. St Cuthbert’s Bar

While being the furthest of the Bailey college bars, St Cuths has, in my eyes, the second best bar. Whether it be their cosy booths and cornered bar; the Irish-esque atmosphere; the separate room entirely dedicated to Darts; or the spacious garden, perfect for any Durham season, Cuths bar ticks off virtually every box.

3. St. Chad’s Bar

Ranking ever so slightly under Cuths, Chads is a close third place. Its glass roofed conservatory, TWO bars (one upstairs and the other hidden downstairs), and cheap drinks (£3 doubles!) definitely characterises it as one of the university’s best college bars. I know I’ll face some backlash for Chads’ middle ranked spot…

4. Hatfield Bar

I really don’t think Hatfield bar is anything that special. One thing I do adore, however, is the Tickler – one of their few college drinks. Double-parking with two Ticklers is obligatory for myself. However, despite their drinks selection, and the pool tables scuttled into the corner of the bar, I find it very much feels like an airport lounge. Despite this though, I would still regard myself a regular and do tend to enjoy the experience…

5. St. John’s Bar

No number of cheap drinks will ever convince me St Johns has a nice bar. The only redeeming quality is its garden during Easter term, which, in fairness, is stunning. Yet, surely college bars should not have to rely on the nice weather to deem its existence any justice. I would love to use this moment, however, to give a shoutout to whoever is in charge of the music in the bar – there’s never a moment of failure.

Rivalries

The most notorious and well known feud amongst the Bailey colleges is the Castle versus Hatfield rivalry. Being the two oldest colleges of the university, it is only fitting there has been a long-lasting hatred between Castle and Hatfield imbued within Durham culture, albeit the former having been founded in 1832 and the latter in 1846.

Each year, there is a Castle versus Hatfield day, filled with sporting competitions, musical concerts, and a formal alternating between both college halls each year. After this, a yearly “winner” is announced victorious as the senior students from the two colleges annually sign a document to continue this legacy and allow the somewhat friendly feud to remain.

Besides from this, there seems other college rivalries have brewed along the Bailey, albeit Cuths vs Hatfield, for example. I think one rivalry which involves all Bailey colleges, however, is the infamous Hill vs Bailey dispute…I’ll leave it up to you to choose your side.

Related articles recommended by this author:

• Durham is the best Student Night Out in the UK
• Durham Uni withdraws three offers for incoming freshers over racist group chat
• Over 100 Durham freshers ‘scrabble’ for housing after missing out on college accommodation