AFSEXPRESS T H E O N LY P L AC E T O F I N D S T U D E N T AC C O M M O DAT I O N
THE S P E E DY WAY TO FIND SOMEWHERE TO LIVE
IN THIS ISSUE FINDING THE RIGHT STUDENT ACCO M M O DAT I O N -----NOTTINGHAM CITY GUIDE -----I N T E RV I EW W I T H T H E O R D I N A RY B OYS -----2 0 PA G E S O F A C C O M M O D A T I O N
Photograph courtesy of Nottingham City Council
2 0 PAG E S O F S T U D E N T ACCO M M O DAT I O N AFS Express is packed full of properties available for 2015/16 and includes a selection of www.accommodationforstudents.com’s best letting agents, landlords and halls of residence.
In this issue we chat to the Ordinary Boys about their lives on and off the stage, what we can expect from them and their new material and their take on Uni life. Make sure you make all of the right decisions and follow our guide to finding the perfect place to live on pages 4 and 5.
FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE 188 PROPERTIES
C LV
FISH4ACCOMMO DATIO N
AMS PROPERTY
MILKROUND
SHEILDS STUDENT HOMES
KEXGILL STUDENT ACCOMMODATION
VICTORIA HALL
GLIDE
PURPLE FROG
UPP LTD
LOFT INTERIORS
Un ip i ed cr ac ol d te s’ tie er op pr
s e m o H t n e d u t S Shields dent u t S r ie m e r P ’s m a h g - Nottin r e id v o r P n io t a d o m m o c Ac
Studios, Houses and Flats available! 1-9 Bedrooms
All inclusive rents available on many of our properties
Benefit from our in-house Maintenance Team
A F S E X P R E S S | Finding the right accommodation
STUDENTS' GUIDE TO FINDING THE RIGHT ACCOMMODATION F
inding somewhere to live with a paint job from this century and a functioning oven seems a straightforward proposition. Unfortunately, the reality is often a blizzard of chilling decisions; frosty landlords and defrosted hopes, dreams and potato waffles. Allow us to turn up the heat on this deep freeze. Our newspaper (and our website) is a pantry packed with prestige properties and landlords from around the city, and this guide, filled with tips to help you find the right accommodation, should put a potato smile back on your face.
WHEN TO LOOK House hunting is competitive, and while the early bird catches the worm, good things come to those who wait. Clichés aside, it’s worth starting as early as November; you’ll encounter some naff properties, so don’t settle for the first thing you see. There’s often pressure to secure a house by Christmas, but good properties are available in most cities until the end of May. Don’t be rushed into making decisions.
TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION There are numerous living arrangements to consider, the five most common being: halls of residence; a house or flat share; a room in a private house; and a private flat. All have their merits, so think about what you want from your accommodation. The most popular options are halls of residence (either uni-owned or private), and house/flat shares. Halls are a great way of adjusting to living away from home and meeting new people; while sharing a house or flat is great for those who want to live with friends. Visit www. accommodationforstudents.com for the largest selection of properties throughout the country. There are other options though. A room in a landlord’s home is hardly the quintessential student experience, but is an option if you leave things late. Finally, a private flat is good for more reserved
students. Living on your own can be costly, and isn’t for everyone; Jeremy Kyle is far less funny on your own!
Make sure the housemate with the lowest budget can afford the property too.
CHOOSING YOUR HOUSEMATES
Finally, if you’ve found the right place but have an extra bedroom, you can pay the deposit and advertise the spare room on www. accommodationforstudents.com. AFS has a section for this; students looking for somewhere to live can request a room.
Picking the right people to live with seems obvious, but it’s easy to get it wrong. Often, students will commit to living with people they’ve known for only a few months – will you still enjoy kicking about with them once their drunk anecdotes have worn thin? Living in a house is a much more intimate experience than halls. Two words: shared bathroom. There are benefits though, and with the right housemates, you’ll have a blast - so make sure you and your housemates are compatible. Start simple: do they like things clean? Disagreements over cleaning can get ugly – and tensions will boil over faster than an ignored pan of pasta. Consider other factors too: are you all party animals, or early birds? Will a vegan housemate get upset if you cook meat in their pans? They may seem silly questions, but it’s the little things… Finding a balance is important. All-male and all-female houses can create problems, according to Accommodation for Students (AFS) research. A mixed household may be the best balance, but this is down to personal preference - everybody should feel comfortable where they live. You should also think about budgets; if your mate Tarquin has a wallet exploding with fifties, and you have to count your pennies for a pint, then problems could ensue.
THE BUDGET Money is central to choosing a place, and there are numerous costs to consider. Rent is your main expense, and rates vary throughout the country. A survey conducted by AFS shows the average student rental rates are £79.27 per week in 2013/4. . While halls include utility bills (gas, electricity and water) in the price, most house shares don’t; www.glide. uk.com is helpful as it allows tenants to pay individually, so don’t worry if one housemate doesn’t pay up. While full-time students are exempt from paying Council Tax (visit your uni’s Accommodation Office for an exemption certificate), part-time students do have to pay, so bear this in mind. Unfortunately, students can be an easy target for burglars, so contents insurance is worth considering. There are various options, including Endsleigh (www.endsleigh. co.uk), who have student-specific plans. Finally, you’ll need a TV license to watch TV or stream live programming. This costs £145.50 per year (www.tvlicensing.co.uk/ check-if-you-need-one/topics/tvlicence-types-and-costs-top2/),
A F S E X P R E S S | Nottingham 2014/15
but the cost is less daunting when divided between housemates.
QUESTIONS TO ASK THE LANDLORD Even if you’ve found a property that looks great, there are other factors to consider in the future. Be prepared and make sure to ask a few questions to a prospective landlord. How long has the property been on the market? If the place has been listed for a while, there could be underlying issues. However, you may be able to negotiate the rent if the property is struggling to move. How much is the deposit, and what’s the length of contract? Generally, the deposit is one month’s rent plus £200, and the contract is usually 12 months, with half rent over the summer. In non-student areas, it may be easier to negotiate shorter terms. Is there a break clause in the tenancy agreement? This allows either party to give two months’ notice to end the tenancy after six months. Is the property accredited? The AFS/Unipol code is a national accreditation scheme for landlords, and has a number of standards that must be achieved in order to gain accreditation. These are assessed through a robust property inspection, so it is well worth asking.
A F S E X P R E S S | Finding the right accommodation
TENANCY AGREEMENT OVERVIEW Budget sorted? Check. Property found? Check. Pestered the landlord? Check. We’re nearly there - just need to sign the contract! As with any document that requires a daubed name at the bottom, it’s important to know what you’re signing.
NOTTINGHAM CITY GUIDE CITY CENTRE
The contract, known more formally as an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) Agreement, generally lasts 6 months to 3 years; however, a 12-month agreement is common, as landlords want to fill their properties over the summer. You can renew your tenancy at any point for the following year, and landlords are likely to ask a few months before the end of your contract. Rolling month-to-month contracts exist, but for students a renewal is likely to be for another 12 months. Remember, a landlord is obliged to provide two months’ notice if they want to terminate an AST. This can be done at any time, but cannot be dated to expire before the end of the fixed term. It’s a good idea to get your agreement checked before you sign it; often, your University Housing Office will do this for you.
PLACES TO EAT Nottingham is host to a variety of chain bars and restaurants, and unique, quirky places. The White Rabbit tea room – tucked away in a cute Victorian arcade – is a great place for lunch, with a range of sandwiches and cakes on offer. Be prepared to queue though; with only 10 tables, it’s always full! Long Island American Diner serves hearty American food at really reasonable prices. Long Island is also home to a nightclub with an entrance a few feet further up the hill; so if you want to continue the night there, just let the staff know and they’ll arrange free entry to the club!
DEPOSITS
NIGHT OUT Nottingham is a perfect city for students, with plenty of club nights and cheap deals on drinks in bars. Perhaps the most famous club is Rock City; with the biggest student night, Tuned, on Thursdays offering 2-4-1 drinks. Plenty of gigs are held here too, with some big names playing in the coming months. Just a word of warning: if you go here, do NOT wear nice shoes – the sticky floors will ruin them! Other popular student haunts are Forum in the Corner House, Stealth and Rescue Rooms. If bars are more your thing, Nottingham can offer plenty of these too. Dogma, hidden away in a little side street, offers a huge variety of cocktails and has a great atmosphere on Friday and Saturday nights. Alternatively, head to Saltwater and enjoy the city views with a Polish martini on the outdoor terrace.
There are two types of deposits: a holding deposit, which reserves the property and is normally nonrefundable; and a dilapidation deposit, which is held by the landlord throughout the tenancy. This money will be used at the end of the tenancy for maintenance, repairs and cleaning. So scrub your oven, alright? The Tenancy Deposit Scheme protects deposits, meaning the landlord must return the deposit, or pass it to an authorised scheme to register a dispute. These schemes provide a free dispute resolution service, but if the landlord or tenant(s) don’t agree, the dispute will go to court. Landlords must tell their tenants within 30 days of moving in which scheme the deposit has been registered. Finding the right accommodation is important, so remember to start as early as you can, stay calm and most of all, enjoy!
ACCOMMODATION Rental rates in the city centre are sig-
nificantly higher than Nottingham’s average (£79/week), at around £86/ week. However, this price doesn’t seem quite so astronomical when considering that you’ll save money on services like taxi fares, having all the city has to offer on your doorstep. There are also plenty of cheap and frequent bus services to all University of Nottingham and Trent campuses.
WEST BRIDGFORD Just a couple of miles from the city centre, with a regular bus service and its own mini-centre (Central Avenue) offering a variety of bars and restaurants, this residential area is extremely popular with students, as it’s close to the Clifton campus of Trent University. PLACES TO EAT A recent addition to Central Avenue is The Parlour; the Alice in Wonderland interiors act as a cafécome-restaurant-come bar. You can enjoy cakes and evening meals here,
BEESTON Five miles south of the city centre, Beeston is growing in popularity amongst Nottingham University students due to its close proximity to the main campus, and the frequent transport links into town.
cocktails with a twist, and even offers cocktail master classes for those who want to get behind the bar. The Monkey Tree is a great alternative if a good pint of beer or glass of wine is more your thing. ACCOMMODATION Rental rates are significantly lower in West Bridgford, with average weekly rates of £66; and students enjoy it here, with a satisfaction score of 68%.
LENTON
NIGHTS OUT A relatively undiscovered area for students, many families also reside in Beeston, so a night out here is fairly low-key and quiet. Favourite
Lenton is equally popular amongst students, located a mile south of the city centre, with low rents. Being so close to the city centre, there aren’t really any bars or restaurants around here, and it does have a reputation for being more of a rough area. However, there is an abundance of kebab shops, providing a perfect end to a night out in the centre; with favourites including Andrew’s Fish Bar and Tops Pizza & Fried Chicken. pubs include The Cadland and The Corn Mill, which offers a pub quiz every Monday evening, and live music every last Friday of the month.
but perhaps most impressive are the cocktails on offer. Try the Chocolate Brownie for a delicious cocktail topped with pieces of gooey brownie! Further up the road is the Mud Crab Café, a great place for meeting friends and enjoying nice food. This popular spot is particularly rammed at weekends so make sure you book in advance. NIGHTS OUT A lot of the restaurants here stay open as late night bars, so you can enjoy a full night out without having to venture into the city centre! Fire & Ice offers a range of classic
PLACES TO EAT Belle and Jerome is an eatery with a difference – during the day it is an independent European-inspired coffee house; in the evening it is a bistro which hopes to “transport you to a little corner of the continent”. If you like Greek food, you should definitely pay Yiannis a visit; it offers classic Greek dishes and live Greek music is played on Sundays.
ACCOMMODATION With average weekly rental rates of £64, Lenton offers a cheap alternative for students who are on a tight budget. Satisfaction rates are lower at 58%, but you get what you pay for.
A F S E X P R E S S | Nottingham 2014/15
ACCOMMODATION A relatively undiscovered place, recently growing in popularity with students, rental rates are on par with Lenton at £64 – but the area is much safer. Satisfaction rates are 56% but, again, this is probably due to the fact that Beeston is a newer area to students, and this figure is expected to rise rapidly in the coming years. Transport is rated highly at 7/10, with buses taking half an hour to get to the city centre.
student living the way you want it rooms available for spring semester
Enjoy the convenience and comfort of living on campus at Bonington Halls by CLV: > > > >
Full academic year and flexi contracts available Choose from a range of rooms Free 25mb WiFi in every room All inclusive rates – water, gas, electricity and contents insurance > Separate accommodation blocks so you live with your peers ‌all this plus: SkyTV, onsite laundry, bike storage, shuttle bus to Nottingham and City Campus and 24/7 security.
To book a viewing today or for more information, visit:
College Road, Sutton Bonington LE12 5RD web: clvuk.com tel: 01158 969810 email: boningtonhalls@clvuk.com
facebook.com/boningtonhallsbyclv
@clvbonington
clvuk.com
27947-Kexgill Half page ad.qxp_Layout 1 03/10/2014 12:45 Page 1
Book a room for just £1
Live with your friends in ultra modern fully inclusive accommodation
BOOK A VIEWING ON-LINE www.kexgill.com All Inclusive Award-winning Landlord 1-8 Bedrooms 24hr Emergency Call Out
Secure on Site Parking Easy Walk to University No Deposits No Signing Fee
View online @ www.kexgill.com or call 01159 582258 9-11 Wollaton Street, Nottingham NG1 5FW
Looking for convenient and contemporary student accommodation in Nottingham? For full details get in touch via... Telephone 07747 630 680 Email kristi@fish4accommodation.co.uk Visit www.fish4accommodation.co.uk
STUDENT ACCOMMODATION
PRIC FRO ES M
£96
per wee k
A F S E X P R E S S | Listings
City Centre
10 Beds
Available from August 2015 Street address 93 Talbot Street Postcode NG1 5GN Contact name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
Arboretum
Available from August 2015 Street address Flat 2 115 Waterloo Crescent Postcode NG7 4AX Contact name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
Arboretum
Available from August 2015 Street address Flat 1 115 Waterloo Crescent Postcode NG7 4AX Contact name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
West Bridgford
Available from 1st July 2015 Street address 16 Radcliffe Road Postcode NG2 5FW Contact name Paul Cookson and Simon James Tel 01158410138
RENT FROM
£110 pppw Incl Bills
7 Beds
RENT FROM
£99 pppw Incl Bills
6 Beds
RENT FROM
£95 pppw Incl Bills
5 Beds
RENT FROM
£65 pppw
Arboretum
Available from August 2015 Street address 17 Gedling Grove Postcode NG7 4DU Contact name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
City Centre
9 Beds
RENT FROM
£105 pppw Incl Bills
7 Beds
Available from August 2015 Street address 87 Talbot Street Postcode NG1 5GN Contact name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
£110 pppw
West Bridgford
6 Beds
Available from 1st July 2015 Street address 17 William Road Postcode NG2 7QD Contact name Paul Cookson Tel 01158410138
City Centre
Available from August 2015 Street address 1 Chatham Street Postcode NG1 4EA Contact name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
RENT FROM
Incl Bills
RENT FROM
£67 pppw 3 Beds
RENT FROM
£89 pppw Incl Bills
City Centre
Available from August 2015 Street address 91 Talbot Street Postcode NG1 5GN Contact name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
West Bridgford
Available from 1st July 2015 Street address 14 Radcliffe Road Postcode NG2 5FW Contact name Paul Cookson Tel 01158410138
Arboretum
Available from August 2015 Street address 4 Waterloo Road Postcode NG7 4AU Contact name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
The Meadows
Available from August 2015 Street address Lamcote Grove Postcode NG2 2GY accommodationforstudents.com Ref 79449
A F S E X P R E S S | Nottingham 2014/15 | accommodationforstudents.com
9 Beds
RENT FROM
£110 pppw Incl Bills
7/8 Beds
RENT FROM
£67 pppw 5 Beds
RENT FROM
£90 pppw Incl Bills
3 Beds
RENT FROM
£75 pppw Incl Bills
A F S E X P R E S S | Listings
Arboretum
Available from Sep-15 Street address Alfreton Road Postcode NG7 3PE accommodationforstudents.com Ref 80713
Arboretum
Available from 2015-2016 Street address All Saints Street Postcode NG7 4DP accommodationforstudents.com Ref 11313
Arboretum
Available from Sep-15 Street address Gamble Street Postcode NG7 4GU accommodationforstudents.com Ref 37177
Arboretum
Available from Sep-15 Street address Wimbourne Road Postcode NG7 5PD accommodationforstudents.com Ref 94929
10 Beds
RENT FROM
£99 pppw 9 Beds
RENT FROM
£95 pppw 6 Beds
RENT FROM
£84 pppw Incl Bills
5 Beds
RENT FROM
£59 pppw
Arboretum
Available from August 2015 Street address 17 Gedling Grove Postcode NG7 4DU Contact name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
Lenton
Available from 2015-2016 Street address Harlaxton Drive Postcode NG7 1JD accommodationforstudents.com Ref 51935
Arboretum
Available from Sep-15 Street address Russell Street Postcode NG7 4GT accommodationforstudents.com Ref 37237
Arboretum
Available from Sep-15 Street address Gamble Street Postcode NG7 4GT accommodationforstudents.com Ref 37216
9 Beds
RENT FROM
£105 pppw Incl Bills
8 Beds
RENT FROM
£95 pppw 5 Beds
RENT FROM
£87 pppw Incl Bills
4 Beds
RENT FROM
£84 pppw Incl Bills
Lenton
Available from 2015-2016 Street address Derby Road Postcode NG7 2GY accommodationforstudents.com Ref 70660
Wallton Park
Available from 2015-2016 Street address Oundle Drive Postcode NG8 1BN accommodationforstudents.com Ref 11306
Arboretum
Available from August 2015 Street address 4 Waterloo Road Postcode NG7 4AU Contact Helen Solomon Telephone 07879615729
City Centre
Available from August 2015 Street address 1 Chatham Street Postcode NG1 4EA Contact Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
A F S E X P R E S S | Nottingham 2014/15 | accommodationforstudents.com
9 Beds
RENT FROM
£95 pppw 8 Beds
RENT FROM
£90 pppw 5 Beds
RENT FROM
£90 pppw Incl Bills
3 Beds
RENT FROM
£89 pppw Incl Bills
A F S E X P R E S S | Listings
City Centre
10 Beds
Available from August 2015 Street address 93 Talbot Street Postcode NG1 5GN Contact name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
Arboretum
Available from August 2015 Street address Flat 2 115 Waterloo Crescent Postcode NG7 4AX Contact name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
Arboretum
Available from August 2015 Street address Flat 1 115 Waterloo Crescent Postcode NG7 4AX Contact name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
West Bridgford
Available from 1st July 2015 Street address 16 Radcliffe Road Postcode NG2 5FW Contact name Paul Cookson and Simon James Tel 01158410138
RENT FROM
£100 pppw Incl Bills
7 Beds
RENT FROM
£99 pppw Incl Bills
6 Beds
RENT FROM
£95 pppw Incl Bills
5 Beds
RENT FROM
£65 pppw
Arboretum
Available from August 2015 Street address 17 Gedling Grove Postcode NG7 4DU Contact name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
City Centre
9 Beds
RENT FROM
£105 pppw Incl Bills
7 Beds
Available from August 2015 Street address 87 Talbot Street Postcode NG1 5GN Contact name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
£110 pppw
West Bridgford
6 Beds
Available from 1st July 2015 Street address 17 William Road Postcode NG2 7QD Contact name Paul Cookson Tel 01158410138
City Centre
Available from August 2015 Street address 1 Chatham Street Postcode NG1 4EA Contact name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
RENT FROM
Incl Bills
RENT FROM
£67 pppw 3 Beds
RENT FROM
£89 pppw Incl Bills
City Centre
Available from August 2015 Street address 91 Talbot Street Postcode NG1 5GN Contact name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
West Bridgford
Available from 1st July 2015 Street address 14 Radcliffe Road Postcode NG2 5FW Contact name Paul Cookson Tel 01158410138
Arboretum
Available from August 2015 Street address 4 Waterloo Road Postcode NG7 4AU Contact name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
The Meadows
Available from August 2015 Street address Lamcote Grove Postcode NG2 2GY accommodationforstudents.com Ref 79449
A F S E X P R E S S | Nottingham 2014/15 | accommodationforstudents.com
9 Beds
RENT FROM
£110 pppw Incl Bills
7/8 Beds
RENT FROM
£67 pppw 5 Beds
RENT FROM
£90 pppw Incl Bills
3 Beds
RENT FROM
£75 pppw Incl Bills
Student Accommodation
Nottingham
Why look anywhere else?
Rooms
ÂŁ89pw
All Inclusive Utilities* :: All En-Suite Rooms Free 14 Mb Internet in every room No Deposit :: Free Sky TV Incl. Sky Sports 24 Hour Maintenance and Security City Centre - Minutes from University * T&C Apply
CONTACT US:
+44 (0)115 908 2600 Curzon Street, Nottingham, NG3 1DJ nottingham@victoriahall.com www.victoriahall.com
A F S E X P R E S S | Listings
Lenton
Available from 2015-2016 Street address Barrack Lane Postcode NG7 1AN accommodationforstudents.com Ref 60495
Lenton
Available from 15th July 2015 Street address 349B Derby Road Postcode NG7 2DZ accommodationforstudents.com Ref 126681
Arboretum
Available from August 2015 Street address Flat 1 115 Waterloo Crescent Postcode NG7 4AX Contact name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
West Bridgford
Available from 1st July 2015 Street address 16 Radcliffe Road Postcode NG2 5FW Contact name Paul Cookson and Simon James Tel 01158410138
9 Beds
RENT FROM
£96 pppw 7 Beds
RENT FROM
£79 pppw 6 Beds
RENT FROM
£95 pppw Incl Bills
5 Beds
RENT FROM
£65 pppw
City Centre
9 Beds
Available from August 2015 Street address 91 Talbot Street Postcode NG1 5GN Contact Name Helen Solomon Tel 07879615729
City Centre
RENT FROM
£110 pppw Incl Bills
7 Beds
Available from 14thAugust 2015 Street address Mansfield Road Postcode NG1 3HW accommodationforstudents.com Ref 39219
Arboretum
RENT FROM
£78 pppw 6 Beds
Available from Sep-15 Street address Russell Street Postcode NG7 4GT accommodationforstudents.com Ref 37217
Lenton
RENT FROM
£83 pppw Incl Bills
4 Beds
Available from August 2015 Street address 100 Harrington Drive Postcode NG7 1JN accommodationforstudents.com Ref 79556
RENT FROM
£83 pppw
Arboretum
Available from 2015-2016 Street address Cromwell Street Postcode NG7 4GJ accommodationforstudents.com Ref 11319
Dunkirk
Available from August 2015 Street address Barrique Road Postcode NG7 2RP accommodationforstudents.com Ref 61903
Lenton
Available from Jul-15 Street address 5 Gregory Avenue Postcode NG7 2EQ accommodationforstudents.com Ref 81035
City Centre
Available from 14thAugust 2015 Street address Mansfield Road Postcode NG1 3HX accommodationforstudents.com Ref 39271
A F S E X P R E S S | Nottingham 2014/15 | accommodationforstudents.com
8 Beds
RENT FROM
£90 pppw 7 Beds
RENT FROM
£85 pppw Incl Bills
6 Beds
RENT FROM
£80 pppw 4 Beds
RENT FROM
£84 pppw
A F S E X P R E S S | Finding the right accommodation
THE ORDINARY BOYS INTERVIEW A
head of their whistle-stop tour this winter, we were able to chat to the Ordinary Boys about their lives on and off the stage, and what we can expect from them and their new material. Sam Preston and newest member Louis Jones (formerly of Spectrals) let us in on their influences old and new, and what makes them happiest about bringing the Ordinary Boys back onto the music scene. Keep reading for their take on uni life, sweaty mosh pits, and most importantly, hummus…
Thirteen years after formation, how has the band’s sound developed? SAM: We have been playing music together since we were 12 years old and the new songs that we are writing are more in keeping with how we used to write, pre first album even. Maybe it’s the freedom of writing purely for fun, maybe it sometimes takes a wander off the path to realise where you feel most comfortable. Part of the reason that we are doing this new tour and record is that we rediscovered some of the bands that we used to listen to when we were teenagers and we remembered why we wanted to play music in the first place.
Louis, as a relatively new member of the band, what do you hope to bring to the upcoming tour and new material? LOUIS: On the November tour I want to be able to play the old songs well enough that people get the same buzz that they got from them the first time around! They are super fun songs to play and I think that comes across. The new material is where I do my thing a bit more, I sing some parts and I’ve contributed writing, my hope is that those songs are good enough to sit with the old material and that people will be open to what we are going to sound like going forward! We had the best time together writing new songs and I think everyone at the shows is going to be able to tell!
A lot of young people start up bands whilst at college/uni. Do you have any tips for juggling different aspects of life with a music career? SAM: I really regret not finishing the final year of my degree. I had put a lot of time into it but I had also put a lot of time into my band. My course was in music so it seemed counterintuitive to jeopardise one for the other. However when I was offered a record deal towards the end of my course I chose that instead. Somehow I’ve managed to make a living from music for maybe 10 years now but I know that should I want to pursue anything else I would have to go back to my studies when I could have juggled the 2 and finished the degree. University is a great time to have a band, with all the like-minded, new people that you meet and the free time that would otherwise be invested in daytime TV but it also gets very busy very suddenly as a band can. It’s just about having the balance so that you can invest in whichever snowballs first I suppose.
Will you guys In three words, maintain other how would you projects outside of the describe your show at band now that you’ve Birthdays earlier this reformed? year? SAM: I write songs for pop acts (Olly Murs/John Newman et al.) and Charlie has a vintage clothes store in Falmouth. James does sound design for movies. Everyone is very busy with lives and careers and grown up things. That makes this so much more of a treat for us. It feels so good and is so positive for the music to not really have to care about what people make of it. And so far that has worked out really well and the response from the new songs has been one hundred percent positive.
What’s your favourite part of the touring process? LOUIS: Wow, there are too many favourite bits! Doing jokes in the van, listening to music really loud in the van, eating at M&S at service stations, playing football in the venue before doors open, drinking all of the free beers and then asking for more, playing guitar really loud but nobody that can tell you off, sleeping in weird hotels, making friends with people, dancing badly at indie nights after the shows. I guess just getting away from real life for a while!
SAM: Sweaty Mosh Hole
What’s the best part of having a fan-base like “The Ordinary Army”? SAM: The best part is the bit where you go on telly and make a really weird third album and they still believe in you enough to make it so you can tour 5 years later and they still want to see you!
Finally, and most importantly, can your fans expect to have a drink with you guys on this tour? SAM: Yes we always sell our t-shirts and hang out after the shows. We always have. It’s nothing ostentatious, simply it’s the most fun thing to do after a show and it certainly beats sitting in a tiny box-room eating hummus from the rider. The Ordinary Boys spoke to AFS Student team member Lou Budd, who is a current student at Manchester University. For tour dates, tickets, and pictures of sock puppets, see: www.facebook. com/TheOrdinaryBoysOfficial
50 PRIVATELY OWNED and MANAGED QUALITY properties available for 2015/16 Lenton
RENT FROM
£92 pp/pw The Park
RENT FROM
£98 pp/pw
8 Beds
Available from 2015/16 Albert Grove, Lenton, NG7 1PB 2 Bathrooms, Open Plan Living, Off Road Parking.
Available from 2015/16 Barrack Lane, The Park, NG7 1AN 3 Bathrooms, Very Large Double Rooms, Off Road Parking.
Wollaton Park
RENT FROM
£88 pp/pw
9 Beds
6 Beds
Available from 2015/16 Orston Drive, Wollaton Park, NG8 1AJ 2 Bathrooms, Double Beds, Off Road Parking.
Arboretum
RENT FROM
£95 pp/pw
Available from 2015/16 All Saints St, Arboretum, NG7 4DP 3 Bathrooms, Double Beds, Off Road Parking.
Arboretum
RENT FROM
£90 pp/pw
£92 pp/pw
8 Beds
Available from 2015/16 Burns St, Arboretum, NG7 4DT 2 Bathrooms, Dining Kitchen, Double Beds.
Lenton
RENT FROM
9 Beds
7 Beds
Available from 2015/16 Rolleston Drive, Lenton, NG7 1JT 2 Bathrooms, Double Beds, Off Road Parking.
Telephone 07793 556656 Email amsproperty@outlook.com Visit www.amsproperty.co.uk
Arboretum
RENT FROM
£90 pp/pw Lenton
RENT FROM
£95 pp/pw Lenton
RENT FROM
£88 pp/pw
5 Beds
Available from 2015/16 Annesley Grove, Arboretum, NG1 4GU 2 Bathrooms, Double Beds, Off Road Parking.
9 Beds
Available from 2015/16 Derby Rd, Lenton, NG7 2GY 2 Bathrooms, Open Plan Living, Newly Upgraded.
6 Beds
Available from 2015/16 Sherwin Rd, Lenton, NG7 2FB 2 Bathrooms, Dining Kitchen, Off Road Parking.
Arboretum
RENT FROM
£92 pp/pw
7 Beds
Available from 2015/16 Arthur St, Arboretum, NG7 4DW 2 Bathrooms, Double Beds, Off Road Parking.
The Park
6 Beds
RENT FROM
£86 pp/pw
Available from 2015/16 Hope Drive, The Park, NG7 1DL 2 Bathrooms, Open Plan Living, Newly Upgraded.
Lenton
RENT FROM
Available from 2015/16 Welby Ave, Lenton, NG7 1QL 2 Bathrooms Newly Built EPC B Off Road parking
£95 pp/pw
7 Beds
Life made simple for students.
Glide makes bills simple for students living in shared households. We provide gas, electricity, water, telephone, broadband and TV licences. You choose which services you want and we give each housemate a single monthly bill, split equally, so everyone pays the same.
Simply go to glide.uk.com to see how we can make your life simple.
THE ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL OF YOUR STUDENT ACCOMMODATION NEEDS! Over 750,000 student rooms online! Search houses, flats, halls & housemates Built by students...for students Safe Student Letting International Visit accommodationforstudents.com today to start the search for your perfect student property.
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
Student lettings and property management
Something to shout about
Very low admin fees for students Photo & details online
Accredited / reputable landlords
0115 822 4388 | www.purplefrogproperty.com 363 Derby Road, Lenton, Nottingham, NG7 2DZ