pap Posted 29 July, 2012 Share Posted 29 July, 2012 Despite the Liverpool locum, I spend a great deal of time travelling down to Southampton. Have a big family down there, have always tried to retain roots and have been homesick for around 2 years now. I've just arrived back from a trip today. I have also been reading Turkish's (ahem) sterling promotional work for Southampton and the surrounding area in this thread:- http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?39194-Theo-to-Saints-! I'm keenly aware of all the stuff I miss about my home city. I love the Common. It's a superb multiple use area. Something for everyone, and a very pleasant midpoint to journeys back and forth from Shirley. Southampton has great parks in general. I suspect it was mentioned somewhat in jest in the Theo thread, but I really do love Riverside Park too. Great walk and/or hangover cure. Plus, we used to swim on hot days in the part of the river up by the Swan pub The remnants of the medieval town are also very cool. I must bore my kids sh!t-less with my oft-repeated claim that Southampton only went as far as the Bargate at one point. Good job Sotonian ancestors for keeping it and other buildings of historical significance around. We walk by those walls without really noticing them, but they're an integral part of the city's identity. I love the Portswood -> Bevois Valley -> Town pub crawl. It's do-able, fun, bit of a mission which lands you in some interesting places. I also think the city can be proud of the University, which looks more impressive every time I visit. Those are three things I'd probably inflict on anyone I was showing around the city. What do you love about Southampton? Also, let's hear some dislikes. I'll pipe in with a couple in a bit, but I know long posts can deter some folk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 29 July, 2012 Share Posted 29 July, 2012 I love living here whilst also accepting its actually a pretty sh*t city, really. Our city planners have done us no favours whatsoever, going way back to when half the city was levelled in the war. The Common is genuinely brilliant though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 29 July, 2012 Share Posted 29 July, 2012 Southampton, like all cities, is a dump and a place to visit only when necessary safe in the knowledge that you don't have to stay there once you've done what you went there to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint in Paradise Posted 29 July, 2012 Share Posted 29 July, 2012 I used to enjoy the "Ghost Walks" in the winter evenings. Don't know if they still do them though. The parks were / are ? ok in the day but not very safe at night from what I can remember. Mind you what city anywhere is safe at night these days? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 29 July, 2012 Author Share Posted 29 July, 2012 I love living here whilst also accepting its actually a pretty sh*t city, really. Our city planners have done us no favours whatsoever, going way back to when half the city was levelled in the war. The Common is genuinely brilliant though. Completely agree about the poor planning. Exhibit A: the city centre. Above Bar looks uninspiring as a central throughfare. There is no height to it, and those "temporary" replacement buildings just look ugly compared to the Prudential building which survived the Luftwaffe. Also, good buildings are going to waste in High St. The strategy we're taking with the train station is the correct one. Knock it down completely and replace it with something much better. Compared to some of the wonders of engineering that await you in the train stations of larger cities, Southampton Central station has been an ongoing embarrassment to the city. What a terrible first impression for anyone arriving by train. Even with the new and improved station, that's still going to happen when they venture outside. We definitely need to do more in the old town too. People need a reason to go there. Half the problem with the city centre is the sprawl, yet the street that links it all up is lying in a state of neglect and the 'solution' offered up by the planners is more sprawl, including what amounts to an out-of-town shopping centre in the middle of the city centre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasgow_Saint Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Southampton is a dump - like most UK cities Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seaford Saint Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 I have always loved Mayfield Park.....Weston shore and the flats. Great pubs like the Sun or the London Arms have now disappeared some people will never know how nice they were...... Woolston is great especially a walk by the sewage farm. Used to love the Hampton in Swaything too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Kucho Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Likes: The Common, the parks in and around the centre (except Mayflower), Below Bar, New Forrest, the area around King Edward school, the old city walls. Dislikes: Central Station and the buildings around it (Norwich house?), Millbrook, The out of town shopping centre in the centre, West Quay (good shopping, horrific building), THE CITY PLANNERS, most roads, the pier, the waterside (ffs it has so much potential, why don't the planner notice that?) the new modern design buildings, stick to Victorian!, the Itchen bridge (its so ugly). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Love : I personally think that the South Coast, from Warsash round to Swanage, is the greatest place in the world. I especially like : Victoria Country Park, on a rainy blustery day, looking across at the refinery, the port and the maritme traffic Going down to Lepe and watching the martime traffic on the Solent and looking across to the IOW Bournemouth promenade : with the kids in the summer, with the wife on a Thursday evening in August, when it is buzzing, in April sh*tty weather Walking in the New Forest, going to the sweet shop in Lyndhurst. Oxford Street in the evening at the weekend - going in the Grapes, White Star, going p*ssed with the missus for a giggle in the London Arms, across to Kutis for a curry, then trying my hand in Stanley. So why have I left (twice?) I just cannot bear the idea of bringing 4 kids up there - the hospitals and the schools are sh*t. And everything is filthy. And everything is f**king expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmel Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 I think Southampton has lost some of it's character / identity over the years, but nothing really tangible to support that (And we would probably end up in race row) Most outsiders would cite West Quay, as the highlight of our City, where as for me, it's the access to everything around it that stands out and has something for everybody. We take our parks and commons for granted, but I do question what the City offers the younger generation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 I moved here, it's a great place, greener than most cities, better transport links and a segmented approach to going out which is pretty good at keeping me away from the scumbags too. Could do with a few more buses to and from Hedge End though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecuk268 Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Too many bloody traffic lights. Someone at the Civic must be getting a back-hander from the lights manufacturer. They take perfectly good roundabouts (Charlotte Place and Millbrook) and plaster them with lights. It notable that when there's an occasional lights failure, the roundabouts function much better. On my commute from Upper Shirley to the Waterside I go through 20 sets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Southampton City Centre could be brilliant - it has got loads of park area. But these areas are somewhat ruined by the fact that at dusk the children running aroundm playing, giggling and screaming, give way to rapists. And the last time I was Above Bar on Saturday night, at the junction with Civic Centre Road and New Road, I thought I had walked into a war zone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmel Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 So why have I left (twice?) I just cannot bear the idea of bringing 4 kids up there - the hospitals and the schools are sh*t. And everything is filthy. And everything is f**king expensive. I can't agree with that. The hospitals (General, Royal South Hants, Eye Hospital) are incredible and we are very lucky to have them. I am not sure where Southampton ranks in comparisson to other cities with regard to exam success, but as with everywhere there is good and bad and with a good support infrastructure at home and a willingness to learn, you will get a good education in Southampton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 I can't agree with that. The hospitals (General, Royal South Hants, Eye Hospital) are incredible and we are very lucky to have them. I am not sure where Southampton ranks in comparisson to other cities with regard to exam success, but as with everywhere there is good and bad and with a good support infrastructure at home and a willingness to learn, you will get a good education in Southampton. Well, everything is relative of course, but I had a major problem with my eldest spending his afternoons in the 2nd junior class watching Disney DVDs in order to "learn morality" so his teacher could do her marking rather than take it home. Also when both my eldest got croup on Christmas Eve and were placed in cubicles at the hospital with blood-stained curtains and floor and WW3 going on with the drunks outside those curtains. I have never seen them look so frightened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 My wife & kids would move to Soton in a heartbeat. They love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crab Lungs Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 (edited) Intellectually, it is one of the thickest in the UK. Allegedly. Additionally, it's also one of the most violent. Gah, it's still home though. Edited 30 July, 2012 by Crab Lungs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Intellectually, it is one of the thickest in the UK. Additionally, it's also one of the most violent. Gah, it's still home though. What a load of bollo.cks. You should try living & working in some of our norvern cities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crab Lungs Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 What a load of bollo.cks. You should try living & working in some of our norvern cities. Not bollo..cks, 3rd highest for violent crime in the UK recently and I think our exam results were pretty poor, too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crab Lungs Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/2432649.city_is_third_most_dangerous_place_in_britain_to_live/ Then again... http://newslite.tv/2010/08/13/portsmouth-is-the-cleverest-ci.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Not bollo..cks, 3rd highest for violent crime in the UK recently and I think our exam results were pretty poor, too... You'd sh.it yourself in places like Wolves, Stoke & Hull on a night out if you think Soton is rough! Soton is a chilled, placid & relaxed place compared to many, many, many of our other towns & cities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crab Lungs Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 You'd sh.it yourself in places like Wolves, Stoke & Hull on a night out if you think Soton is rough! Soton is a chilled, placid & relaxed place compared to many, many, many of our other towns & cities. are you back often? It's gone backwards since I was a young 'un on a night out. Loads of fawning buffoons, knuckledraggers and gob****es to keep even the most hardiest of men entertained! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwertySFC Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 I used to enjoy the "Ghost Walks" in the winter evenings. Don't know if they still do them though. The parks were / are ? ok in the day but not very safe at night from what I can remember. Mind you what city anywhere is safe at night these days? Should have a look here then http://hauntedsouthampton.com/GhostWalks.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Despite the Liverpool locum, I spend a great deal of time travelling down to Southampton. Have a big family down there, have always tried to retain roots and have been homesick for around 2 years now. I've just arrived back from a trip today. I have also been reading Turkish's (ahem) sterling promotional work for Southampton and the surrounding area in this thread:- http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?39194-Theo-to-Saints-! I'm keenly aware of all the stuff I miss about my home city. I love the Common. It's a superb multiple use area. Something for everyone, and a very pleasant midpoint to journeys back and forth from Shirley. Southampton has great parks in general. I suspect it was mentioned somewhat in jest in the Theo thread, but I really do love Riverside Park too. Great walk and/or hangover cure. Plus, we used to swim on hot days in the part of the river up by the Swan pub The remnants of the medieval town are also very cool. I must bore my kids sh!t-less with my oft-repeated claim that Southampton only went as far as the Bargate at one point. Good job Sotonian ancestors for keeping it and other buildings of historical significance around. We walk by those walls without really noticing them, but they're an integral part of the city's identity. I love the Portswood -> Bevois Valley -> Town pub crawl. It's do-able, fun, bit of a mission which lands you in some interesting places. I also think the city can be proud of the University, which looks more impressive every time I visit. Those are three things I'd probably inflict on anyone I was showing around the city. What do you love about Southampton? Also, let's hear some dislikes. I'll pipe in with a couple in a bit, but I know long posts can deter some folk That's my pre-match ritual. Start at The Richmond Inn, then onto The Hobbit, then Inferno, then The Rockstone, then The Alexandra, Giddy Bridge, then finally the KA for an hour or so before heading off to the Stadium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Its not b*ll*cks, VFTT. Southampton is apparently one of the most violent cities in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give it to Ron Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Its not b*ll*cks, VFTT. Southampton is apparently one of the most violent cities in the UK. Was talking to a policeman friend of mine and he reckons its because quite a number of London gangs are moving down here as they see this city as a soft touch. The London gangs dont give a toss and will just stab away at any resistance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
latter day saint Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Was talking to a policeman friend of mine and he reckons its because quite a number of London gangs are moving down here as they see this city as a soft touch. The London gangs dont give a toss and will just stab away at any resistance. there was a murder in Bournemouth last week of a gang member from London by members from a rival gang, who had followed him down to take him out. i can remember in the 90's Scousers & Mancs traveling down here to sell drugs etc & causing a bit of trouble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Soton is a cakewalk compared to somewhere like Stoke. My sister (City centre) & B-I-L (Bitterne) are both rozzers & both have policed in cities outside of Soton & both reckon it's a doddle compared to their previous patches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 there was a murder in Bournemouth last week of a gang member from London by members from a rival gang, who had followed him down to take him out. i can remember in the 90's Scousers & Mancs traveling down here to sell drugs etc & causing a bit of trouble There have been quite a few murders in Bournemouth recently according to the press. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 there was a murder in Bournemouth last week of a gang member from London by members from a rival gang, who had followed him down to take him out. i can remember in the 90's Scousers & Mancs traveling down here to sell drugs etc & causing a bit of trouble The only out & out gang thing I can remember is when the banana boats returned to Soton from Bristol as they were a cocaine import route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give it to Ron Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 The only out & out gang thing I can remember is when the banana boats returned to Soton from Bristol as they were a cocaine import route. This lot are Somalian apparently Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostBoys Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 I have a simple remedy if you do not like living in Southampton..................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
latter day saint Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 The only out & out gang thing I can remember is when the banana boats returned to Soton from Bristol as they were a cocaine import route. my mate was stabbed by some Manc dealers & about a year later was run over by Yardies early 90's. few years after a friend of a friend was attacked by Scousers over a debt but fought them off with a hammer. i still feel safer in Southampton than a lot of other city's i've visited. a lot of the violent crimes reported are the usual Friday/Saturday punch ups by beer monsters out in town. no different than any other city in Britain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 30 July, 2012 Author Share Posted 30 July, 2012 my mate was stabbed by some Manc dealers & about a year later was run over by Yardies early 90's. few years after a friend of a friend was attacked by Scousers over a debt but fought them off with a hammer. i still feel safer in Southampton than a lot of other city's i've visited. a lot of the violent crimes reported are the usual Friday/Saturday punch ups by beer monsters out in town. no different than any other city in Britain. Wouldn't say that exactly. The bigger cities are doing everything they can to encourage a diverse night-time economy - not just catering to drinkers and clubbers, putting on stuff like fairground rides for the kids, etc. Does make for a completely different night-time experience. I don't think we're ever going to get drinking out of city centre nightlife, and nor should we. For too many towns though, it's pretty much the only thing going on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norwaysaint Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Well, everything is relative of course, but I had a major problem with my eldest spending his afternoons in the 2nd junior class watching Disney DVDs in order to "learn morality" so his teacher could do her marking rather than take it home. Sounds like he's in a very poor school there. I taught in primary school for years in England and never heard of anything like that. Most primary teachers work very hard and spend large amounts of the time people assume they have free, working on things for their classes. I don't teach at that level any more, but would say it is by far the most demanding and has the most dedicated staff on the whole. Of course you can dismiss that based on your experience, but I have worked with a lot of teachers in a lot of schools, so mine is probably less of a "kneejerk reaction" opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svetigpung Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 As mentioned above , the planners have made a right cöck up with the place. This is harbour city with a huge maritime tradition.... Lets use it! Give us a vibrant waterfront and a decent pier. How difficult can it be? Otherwise , a pretty greyl town until you get outside of it. Like Oxford St though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joesaint Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Love living in Southampton, simple. Alot of damage during the war, and the fast growth of the city did not to much good although, there are loads of hidden gems. Around me, peartree green, millers pond, mayfield park (as well as the bit that runs along the brook). Being in walking distance of these as well as town and St Marys! Dislike... wonder what the new woolston development will be like but will be nice to walk by the water there, still waiting for Ocean village to be finished, the peer needs to be done as well as west key 3. I believe that Southampton will improve alot in 10 years BUT must keep its greeen spaces and continue to improve the poor areas like in Thornhill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 I'm always surprised that Southampton doesn't even seem to have one popular seafood restaurant. We're right by the sea. I know the docks etc make us a port more than a fishing town, but is it really beyond the realms of possibility to have a decent seafood restaurant? In Swanwick there's a fantastic fishmonger which produces daily fresh catch, I'm just surprised we don't even have a chain restaurant like Loch Fyne to make the most of our proximity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Balls Posted 30 July, 2012 Share Posted 30 July, 2012 Love Southampton and glad I've moved back. Traffic lights are a nightmare. We need to make more of the waterfront especially from Ocean Village and Mayflower park and redo the pier. Plans that seem to come out all look impressive and exciting but they never happen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 I'm always surprised that Southampton doesn't even seem to have one popular seafood restaurant. We're right by the sea. I know the docks etc make us a port more than a fishing town, but is it really beyond the realms of possibility to have a decent seafood restaurant? In Swanwick there's a fantastic fishmonger which produces daily fresh catch, I'm just surprised we don't even have a chain restaurant like Loch Fyne to make the most of our proximity. Ennios, although an Italian has a cracking range of fish. It was also recently voted in the top 10 Italian restuarants in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 Ennios, although an Italian has a cracking range of fish. It was also recently voted in the top 10 Italian restuarants in the UK. The one down opposite Town Quay ? Been in there once and was not overwhelmed, have to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 The one down opposite Town Quay ? Been in there once and was not overwhelmed, have to say. That's the one. I've been there quite a few times and love it. The swordfish is different class. Although i know a few people who like you say they were a bit underwhelmed given it's reputation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 31 July, 2012 Author Share Posted 31 July, 2012 Are there any decent nightclubs in Southampton yet? By decent, I mean open til 7am, music you can dance to and isn't full of snarlers. I know. I have exacting standards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Kucho Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 Plans that seem to come out all look impressive and exciting but they never happen This. Why do the council have plans drawn up for the city if they cant afford it? I have seen two complete different plans drawn for Mayflower park over the last years, it must cost them a fortune to have the plans drawn. Most recent design, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-12575595 Posted in 2008, I like this one, http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=703670 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 Are there any decent nightclubs in Southampton yet? By decent, I mean open til 7am, music you can dance to and isn't full of snarlers. I know. I have exacting standards. I find it hard to believe there are clubs fitting that specification in Liverpool either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 I find it hard to believe there are clubs fitting that specification in Liverpool either. You obviously never went to Cream BITD then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 This. Why do the council have plans drawn up for the city if they cant afford it? I have seen two complete different plans drawn for Mayflower park over the last years, it must cost them a fortune to have the plans drawn. Most recent design, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-12575595 Posted in 2008, I like this one, http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=703670 If we didnt have such ball-achingly excruciating planning procedures in the UK, some of these schemes would have come to fruition. Southampton City Council really do seem to be the past-masters at suffocating development schemes. Although some of them were never supposed to be real, just attempts to win election votes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 You obviously never went to Cream BITD then. Obviously not. "BITD" ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 31 July, 2012 Share Posted 31 July, 2012 Obviously not. "BITD" ? back in the day. Late 90's it was amazing. http://www.cream.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 31 July, 2012 Author Share Posted 31 July, 2012 I find it hard to believe there are clubs fitting that specification in Liverpool either. Clubbing has always been pretty good in Liverpool, in terms of all of the above, plus the sheer amount of diversity ( rock clubs, indie clubs, funky house clubs, trance clubs ). Despite being a little under-sung compared to its provincial contemporaries, London is actually my favourite clubbing city in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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