Would you return to live in Southampton?

[pap]

Left Sot'on for Uni @ 18, married at Uni and moved up to God's Own County, and have now spent twice as long living up here as I spent down there, so whilst it's a nice place to visit, and many of my family are down there, my wife and children are up here, and I'm quite settled. However, nothing will take the Red&White out my heart.

 

( On a side note, I got bloody annoyed the other night watching University Challenge when Paxman kept referring to one team as South-hampton ).

 

Tsk. Paxman. All the locals know it's S'fampton.

[Sheaf Saint]

Tsk. Paxman. All the locals know it's S'fampton.

 

You mean S'faaamp'un. There's no T in it FFS!

[ant]

I'm Hampshire born and bred, but the local pronunciation of Bevois as in 'Bevois Valley' does my head in!

[SuperMikey]

I'm Hampshire born and bred, but the local pronunciation of Bevois as in 'Bevois Valley' does my head in!

 

 

???

[SuperMikey]

I was born in Southampton but grew up near Basingstoke, moved back for Uni at the age of 18 and been here for about 3 and a half years. Starting to get a bit jaded though, so might look to move elsewhere in the next 18 months or so.

[Tokyo-Saint]

Living the dream there Mikey, where next Eastleigh?

[SuperMikey]

Alright Tokes, calm yourself. Lets not get too hasty..

[pap]

Alright Tokes, calm yourself. Lets not get too hasty..

 

You've got a northern soul, Super Michael. I suggest you move up here.

 

Pies are plentiful.

[SuperMikey]

You've got a northern soul, Super Michael. I suggest you move up here.

 

Pies are plentiful.

 

.......what kind of pies?

[Tokyo-Saint]

Just the normal Carb pie with chips. No gravy if you are watching your weight.

 

[SuperMikey]

Why have I never thought about putting a pie in a bap before? That's f*cking genius.

[pap]

.......what kind of pies?

 

All kinds; there is a chain called Sayers which is ubiquitous, although they have diluted their core brand and moved into pasties and sandwiches.

 

Splitters.

[pap]

Why have I never thought about putting a pie in a bap before? That's f*cking genius.

 

Northern genius

 

Many people don't ever consider toasting a bap either.

 

I like to toast a bap.

[Tokyo-Saint]

Why have I never thought about putting a pie in a bap before? That's f*cking genius.

 

I think they might call it a cob up there Mikey or even a buttie depending on how north you go. I am not sure, maybe pap can confirm.

[pap]

I think they might call it a cob up there Mikey or even a buttie depending on how north you go. I am not sure, maybe pap can confirm.

 

Bap is understood, but barm is what people go for around here.

 

I remember buying a curry chip barm in 1994 just to find out what the f**k a barm was.

[Sheaf Saint]

Bap is understood, but barm is what people go for around here.

 

I remember buying a curry chip barm in 1994 just to find out what the f**k a barm was.

 

Round here it's called a breadcake.

[Tokyo-Saint]

That's just lazy Bexy. I bet it all started when someone couldn't remember the name and just asked for what it looks like, "Cana have one of those bread cake like things of't top shelf please mate?" "Do you mean a bread roll or a Bap Sir?" "yes? Well say that then".

[SuperMikey]

Either way it makes for a nice bit of scran.

 

See, I said scran. I'm a proper Scouser now like! And you'll neeeever waaaalk...

[Sheaf Saint]

Either way it makes for a nice bit of scran.

 

See, I said scran. I'm a proper Scouser now like! And you'll neeeever waaaalk...

 

Round here it's called snap.

[Tokyo-Saint]

That is one of the better things about living in Southampton, in general people tend to speak English. Unlike wherever Bexy lives.

[Barry Sanchez]

That is one of the better things about living in Southampton, in general people tend to speak English. Unlike wherever Bexy lives.

 

The way people go on you would have thought its Polish, maybe they like the culture Southampton has to offer, the City centre ikea as an attraction sums it up for me though.

[buctootim]

That is one of the better things about living in Southampton, in general people tend to speak English. Unlike wherever Bexy lives.

 

Racist!!. There! There! I found one!!

[badgerx16]

Unlike wherever Bexy lives.

 

They're very strange over on the dark side.

[Tokyo-Saint]

yeah, eating breadcakes as snaps with pointy metals and sharp metals and drinking a brew out of the hot drink holder.

[View From The Top]

Oatcakes.

 

http://www.staffordshireoatcakes.com/

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Loved a lot about Southampton while I was there. Just over 10 years. Happy enough in Brisbane now, but maybe one day. One of the best Cities in the UK.

[aintforever]

Easily the best place to live in the UK.

[Halo Stickman]

.......what kind of pies?

 

Custard – up north is full of clowns.

[pap]

Easily the best place to live in the UK.

 

I take it you've lived everywhere else then?

 

A living Domesday book. Impressive.

[moonraker]

Although I have never lived in the City as a nipper I always wanted to, family connections and coming from rural North West Wiltshire it was exciting especially spending a morning going back and forth on the floating bridge or paddling and beachcombing on the Weston Shore. I have lived in Gosport, Fareham, Stubbington and Park Gate and to be honest I now find the whole Solent conurbation boring . I have lived in Bath for 20 years and for a small city 80,000 ish it has far more to offer than I have found in most cities more than twice its size. The NF and the Hampshire countryside is lovely and I visit regularly, bit live in Southampton no.

[svetigpung]

Same as most it seems, I wouldn't move back to Southampton. I'm pretty sure I'm here for life now, but if I were to move to the UK, it might be Hampshire, but not Southampton. Thing is, I wouldn't want to live in any city, so it's not that specific to Southampton. I think if I managed to drag the wife over, the only place she loves in the UK is the Lake District.

 

She recently had to go to Hull on business and described it as the worst place she has ever been to in her life. And she's been to Birmingham.

 

reckan its the same for me NS. Theres no way life in Hampshire can come close to the standard of living were experiencing in scandonavia. And i'm talking about the quality of live; not what you earn.

IF i moved back (the wife and kids would be waving me goodbye) then anywhere along the south coast really. Avoiding main towns that is. they all seem to offer the same sh1t nowdays.

There are some great villages all around the south but then again if you want to be close to the sea then were talking serious cash.

Got a mate who moved to swindon for his work. Poor b4stard.

[aintforever]

reckan its the same for me NS. Theres no way life in Hampshire can come close to the standard of living were experiencing in scandonavia. And i'm talking about the quality of live; not what you earn.

IF i moved back (the wife and kids would be waving me goodbye) then anywhere along the south coast really. Avoiding main towns that is. they all seem to offer the same sh1t nowdays.

There are some great villages all around the south but then again if you want to be close to the sea then were talking serious cash.

Got a mate who moved to swindon for his work. Poor b4stard.

 

What's so great about the quality of life? I did like Sweden when I visited but surely any plus points get wiped out by the fact that it is usually b*ll*ck freezing cold?

[Grey Crab]

I wouldn't move back to Southampton.

 

Good. You wouldn't be welcome.

[Dig Dig]

Easily the best place to live in the UK.

 

[Barry Sanchez]

Is there anyone on here saying they moved back to the City?

[pap]

 

It's either trolling or self-delusion.

[whelk]

So many of these threads seem just a forum for people to boast about their lives and how hectic London is etc and how they have outgrown the little province. Or maybe I am just becoming too cynical.

People can pin so much kudos to where they live but reality friends and family what determines happiness not visiting a bohemian coffee shop over the soulless West Quay.

Once you settle down with a family one suburb is similar to another.

[Viking Warrior]

I have itchy feet and contemplating returning to Hampshire . Possibly the surrounding areas of Winchester.

I miss Southampton and the saints. The town centre needs improving but I compare it with Aberdeen which is also in need of a huge revamp . As like saffampton it us scruffy and un appealing .

 

But seeing mackrill has posted I would never want to live in skateville . I stayed there for 3 months with my parents in transit on our way back from Singapore . What a shyte hole Southsea was

[Goalie66]

So many of these threads seem just a forum for people to boast about their lives and how hectic London is etc and how they have outgrown the little province. Or maybe I am just becoming too cynical.

People can pin so much kudos to where they live but reality friends and family what determines happiness not visiting a bohemian coffee shop over the soulless West Quay.

Once you settle down with a family one suburb is similar to another.

 

Not in the slightest. I think that once you move away from any home town you see it in a different light. Some with nostalgia and some as it really is. It would appear that many have said that they would not return to the City itself but surrounding areas which is testament to the area but a sad indictment on the City itself. I lived in California but I certainly would not go back. Equally, I could not see myself living again in Soton but like others could be attracted back to the locale if only for the footee and cricket.

[pap]

So many of these threads seem just a forum for people to boast about their lives and how hectic London is etc and how they have outgrown the little province. Or maybe I am just becoming too cynical.

People can pin so much kudos to where they live but reality friends and family what determines happiness not visiting a bohemian coffee shop over the soulless West Quay.

Once you settle down with a family one suburb is similar to another.

 

You might be being slightly cynical, but I can see how you'd take that view. For many people, moving abroad etc is going to have been a massive choice and something of a personal achievement. Bit of self-justification is to be expected.

 

Definitely have a measure of sympathy with the last point. I live in a town which has good nightlife, but rarely use it.

[norwaysaint]

It's pretty interesting to see that while we love the football club, and people generally seem pleased to have grown up in the area, there's very little love on here for the actual city of Southampton.

 

it seems nearly everybody who has lived in Southampton, but now lives in another place, prefers other places. It doesn't seem to be an actual dislike of Southampton either, few people here have bad things to say about it, it's just that once you've moved away and seen a bit more, the city doesn't really have much to lure you back. Bournemouth, Winchester and the New Forest seem to be the more attractive things in the region. To be honest, I've been over with my kids during the summer holidays the last few years and we've visited all of those places and pretty much stayed out of Southampton.

 

But then, as I've said before, I'm not a big fan of cities anyway.

[View From The Top]

It's pretty interesting to see that while we love the football club, and people generally seem pleased to have grown up in the area, there's very little love on here for the actual city of Southampton.

 

it seems nearly everybody who has lived in Southampton, but now lives in another place, prefers other places. It doesn't seem to be an actual dislike of Southampton either, few people here have bad things to say about it, it's just that once you've moved away and seen a bit more, the city doesn't really have much to lure you back. Bournemouth, Winchester and the New Forest seem to be the more attractive things in the region. To be honest, I've been over with my kids during the summer holidays the last few years and we've visited all of those places and pretty much stayed out of Southampton.

 

But then, as I've said before, I'm not a big fan of cities anyway.

 

Perhaps it's an age thing as well? Cities, perhaps, have less appeal as we get older and have kids. My kids would love to live in Soton but my wife and I would prefer waterside or NF.

[svetigpung]

what really annoys me is how a city built on its maritime history has hardly any contact with the water.

FFS the place is surrounded by water and if you want to visit the sea you have to drive over 30 minutes along the coast.

Its hardly because of all the harbour activity nowdays.

You would of thought with a little planning and investment it could be a great attraction for the city, with parks, resturants and walkways. The whole area at the moment is a discrace. Do the ferries to the IOW have to go from there? Everyone takes the car anyway.

[Halo Stickman]

The nearest I’ve ever lived to Southampton was years ago on the Isle of Wight. Apart from queuing for cup final tickets in the 1970s, cup final night itself, and the odd occasion when I missed the last ferry, I’ve never spent a whole night in Southampton. But, on Saturday, I took Mrs Stickman on her first ever trip to St Mary’s. We decided to make a weekend of it, so drove to Southampton on Friday night, checked into The Dolphin, had a few drinks, and then set off down the High Street in search of somewhere to eat. On the way, we met a woman, and had the following conversation:

 

Me: Excuse me; are you familiar with this area?

 

Woman: Yes, I live here.

 

Me: Is this the quickest way to Oxford Street?

 

Woman: Why would you want to go there?

 

Mrs Stickman: I’ve heard it’s a good place for restaurants.

 

Woman: It’s full of ex-cons and druggies. You wouldn’t be safe there, luv.

 

Mrs Stickman: Oh dear, is there somewhere else you could recommend?

 

Woman: Me and my husband always eat at the Golden Lion.

 

Mrs Stickman: Great, where’s that?

 

Woman: Winchester.

 

I’ve no idea what this woman was on about – Oxford Street seemed fine to us – but if this is typical of Southampton residents’ attitude towards their city, then heaven help the place. Perhaps she worked for the Winchester tourist board.

 

Anyway, FWIW, our Saturday itinerary: full English breakfast at The Standing Order, coffee and newspapers at No 4, Canute Street, pre-match drinks sitting in the sunshine at Banana Wharf, stroll to St Mary’s, Saints win, celebratory drinks back at the Wharf and in town – there’s definitely worse ways, and places, to spend a day.

[pap]

what really annoys me is how a city built on its maritime history has hardly any contact with the water.

FFS the place is surrounded by water and if you want to visit the sea you have to drive over 30 minutes along the coast.

Its hardly because of all the harbour activity nowdays.

You would of thought with a little planning and investment it could be a great attraction for the city, with parks, resturants and walkways. The whole area at the moment is a discrace. Do the ferries to the IOW have to go from there? Everyone takes the car anyway.

 

Completely agree and made a similar point earlier on.

 

We've got assets that are rare. Most cities don't have two rivers, a coastline and whatnot. As someone who loves Riverside Park and Woodmill, always thought it was a shame that you couldn't walk the whole river down to Weston Shore. It was understandable when Vospers was there, but today, could have a real embankment thing going on.

[aintforever]

what really annoys me is how a city built on its maritime history has hardly any contact with the water.

FFS the place is surrounded by water and if you want to visit the sea you have to drive over 30 minutes along the coast.

Its hardly because of all the harbour activity nowdays.

You would of thought with a little planning and investment it could be a great attraction for the city, with parks, resturants and walkways. The whole area at the moment is a discrace. Do the ferries to the IOW have to go from there? Everyone takes the car anyway.

 

It is a disgrace, the biggest shocker is that huge rotting lump of land that sticks out behind the Thai restaurant next to Town Quay. Then you have the area between the Itchen Bridge and St Mary's - why have a council tip there FFS? Ocean village has been completely ****ed. Woolston is being redeveloped but the city centre needs a waterside focal point.

 

The ironic thing is the council have been banging on about trying to get a "wow" factor when all the time it's been staring them in the face, the magnificent ships that come in and out every day are Southampton's wow factor. it's our biggest USP by a mile.

[Special K]

It is a disgrace, the biggest shocker is that huge rotting lump of land that sticks out behind the Thai restaurant next to Town Quay. Then you have the area between the Itchen Bridge and St Mary's - why have a council tip there FFS? Ocean village has been completely ****ed. Woolston is being redeveloped but the city centre needs a waterside focal point.

 

The ironic thing is the council have been banging on about trying to get a "wow" factor when all the time it's been staring them in the face, the magnificent ships that come in and out every day are Southampton's wow factor. it's our biggest USP by a mile.

 

Hopefully this will go a long way to providing just that.

 

 

https://www.southampton.gov.uk/s-environment/future/ccplans/vipproj/royal-pier-waterfront.aspx

[Patrick Bateman]

Hopefully this will go a long way to providing just that.

 

 

https://www.southampton.gov.uk/s-environment/future/ccplans/vipproj/royal-pier-waterfront.aspx

 

That looks very good, but read this bit; "speciality shops, offices, leisure venues, apartments and waterside attractions."

 

Erm, isn't that exactly what Ocean Village was???? I remember when it was built and they said the same about the speciality shops, they had the penny arcade, there were offices, bars and restaurants etc etc. Then they bulldozed it.

[Special K]

That looks very good, but read this bit; "speciality shops, offices, leisure venues, apartments and waterside attractions."

 

Erm, isn't that exactly what Ocean Village was???? I remember when it was built and they said the same about the speciality shops, they had the penny arcade, there were offices, bars and restaurants etc etc. Then they bulldozed it.

 

IMHO the problem with Ocean Village was because it was a stand alone development and not integrated to any overall masterplan for the city. Doubtless, mistakes were made with it which has left a problem for the council as to how they join up the isolated decent areas of the city, but it is undergoing considerable transformation and hopefully will work - although the old phrase "you can't polish a turd" may spring to mind! We'll see when Bouygues have finished there later this year.

 

You're right in what you say of the make up of the proposed development at Royal Pier. But any modern development will always need to be financed through retail, commercial and residential levers - which is essentaially what Gunwharf is, but it is seen as a success, so there is no reason why this one cannot be too. My understanding is that there has been a great desire to get this project off the ground for some time, but the Crown Estate were the problem with its unwillingness to sign up - it owns a fair chunck of the site. But it will depend on the design and let's hope they don't waste a glorious opportunity to attract the likes of Bazza back into the City and give him some civic pride when he's talking to his scouse mates.

[pap]

That looks very good, but read this bit; "speciality shops, offices, leisure venues, apartments and waterside attractions."

 

Erm, isn't that exactly what Ocean Village was???? I remember when it was built and they said the same about the speciality shops, they had the penny arcade, there were offices, bars and restaurants etc etc. Then they bulldozed it.

 

Scratch that, isn't that exactly what Town Quay was in the early 90s?