S pa Li f e The Freshers Issue
Confessions
On A Budget
Get the inside goss on the life of a fresher with our Freshers' Confessions.
Things to do in Bath that will hardly cost you a penny.
Bath's Nightlife
Student Cooking
Find out where to go and when to go on a night out in Bath.
Kitchen tips for the humble fresher – don't be the fool who gets food poisoning.
SpaLife Magazine | September 2017
Made for students, by students. The Freshers Issue Despite what most people think, being a fresher is not just about drinking and
partying; it's about growing up, figuring out who you are and who you want
to become. University is an opportunity for you to grow, gain experience, discover new talents, and to build a network of friends you can
trust and rely on. We created this issue to give you a bit of guidance while you do all the things you've dreamed about and the ones you didn't think were possible.
Contributors Becky Hart Oli Cliffe Sadie Bennett Sam McKenna
The Team Editor in Chief – Anika Schulze Commissioning Editor – Jemima Ung Entertainment Editor – Annabel Miller Marketing Manager – Sam McKenna Photographer – Mark Banham Social Media – Becky Hart & Ellie Crichton Copy Editors – Chloë Lewis & Ella Mackey
CONTENTS © Komedia
© Anika Schulze
© Jemima Ung
Tips & Tricks
A Fresher Life
On A Budget: things to do in Bath that will hardly cost you a penny.
Freshers' Confessions: see what freshers before you have been up to!
4
7
Party Time
8
Club Guide: where and when to go on a night out in Bath.
12
Student Cooking: kitchen myths debunked. Plus, tips on how to avoid food poisoning.
Cover Design by Anika Schulze Cover Image by Jemima Ung Page Design by Anika Schulze
Bath Spa University Students' Union is a Registered Charity. No: 1139037
Photo: The Roman Baths, one of the most famous tourists attractions in Bath. Š Jemima Ung
BATH BUDGET BUCKET LIST
S
o, you've moved into your new room, registered onto your course, and hopefully made friends with your new flatmates. However, after the first couple of weeks of painful hangovers and bad decisions, you'll probably be searching for some more relaxed and cheaper ways to spend the daylight hours. Search no more! SpaLife has some top recommendations on how to get the most out of living in Bath without having to dive too far into your overdraft.
Get a discovery card Now that you're an official resident of Bath, you're eligible to register for a free Bath Discovery Card. The card will get you free access to some of the most popular tourist hotspots, including the Roman Baths, Fashion Museum and Victoria Art Gallery. On top of this, you'll get exclusive discounts on entry to the American Museum, Beckford's Tower and Bath Abbey Tower Tour, as well as at restaurants including Absurd Bird, Clifton Sausage and Bath Pizza Company. 4
SpaLife Magazine | September 2017 | Tips & Tricks
On the big screen With its student population and deep cultural history, Bath offers a range of artistic and cultural entertainment which truly offers something for everyone. For the film buffs, Bath's Little Theatre Cinema offers a £20 year-long student membership which gets you two free cinema tickets, discounted tickets from as little as £5.50, and free previews of future releases exclusively for members. As part of the Picturehouse cinema chain, The Little also holds E4 Slackers Club screenings once every month. These are completely free if you present your Bath Spa student ID card at the ticket office. They do tend to fully-book pretty quickly, so make sure to keep an eye on the Slackers Club and Little Theatre Facebook pages to grab your tickets in time.
Live and on stage Komedia is not only one of Bath's top venues for club nights and live music, it also holds a monthly New Act Comedy Night. Tickets are just £3 which can only be purchased on the door. Check out Komedia's website for their full events schedule. Bath is also home to a number of theatres such as The Mission Theatre and The Rondo. Student tickets to productions at these theatres will only set you back around £11, and are definitely worth checking out. The Ustinov Studio, offers audiences the chance to catch some fantastic productions at a much cheaper price, with student tickets generally costing around £20.
Left: The Little Theatre Cinema, Bath. © Zelah Kayleigh Hart Below: The Neon Sign of Komedia. © Komedia
SpaLife Magazine | September 2017 | Tips & Tricks
Take a walk
Go for a ride
JRR Tolkien once wrote that "not all those who wander are lost." This is certainly true in Bath! With its stunning Georgian architecture and beautiful gardens, Bath is the perfect place to explore nature and culture with friends, or alone. Many of the town's most impressive sights are within walking distance of each other, including Sydney Gardens, Parade Gardens and the Botanical Gardens in Royal Victoria Park. If you prefer a little structure in your life, the Visit Bath website offers a range of free walking tour routes, including a Jane Austen audio tour and a movie location map to guide you around filming locations for productions including Sherlock, The Duchess and Les MisĂŠrables.
Bath's hireable nextbikes are a great way to get the most out of the city. The bikes can be picked up and dropped off from various stations across Bath, including the university's Newton Park and Sion Hill campuses. While they don't exactly look great, they are certainly practical, allowing you to explore trails such as the Canal Cycle Path, as well as Bath's less accessible locations, without having to worry about navigating the city's stress-inducing oneway road system. Sign up with your Bath Spa email address and qualify for a free membership.
Words by Oli Cliffe
Above: The Botanical Gardens in Bath. Š Jemima Ung Right: Grab your bike and go for a ride.
6
SpaLife Magazine | September 2017 | A Fresher Life
W
e've asked former freshers at BSU to share their Freshers' Week experience with us to give you an idea of how your first week and year at uni might look like, what to look out for, and maybe what not to do.
Go-to drink for a great night?
CONFESSIONS OF A FRESHER "Vodka Lemonade & lime, or a Zombie from Turtle Bay (if you don't want to remember...)."
"Tequilaaaaaaaaa!!" What we think: With lemon or lime?
"Snakebite, a beer mixed with cider, Lidl's finest!"
What we think: And there will be things you will want to forget, just saying!
"Malibu with tropical juice and lemonade."
What we think: Right guys, let me introduce you to SpaLife Mag's new mascot drink for socials!
What we think: Mate, that sounds disgusting...
Best memory of 1st year?
"Hosting a spontaneous flat party at Waterside Court at the beginning of Freshers and getting to know my new flatmates."
"My first kiss with the love of my life." What we think: Spontaneous flat parties are a great way to make new friends. Even if you don't drink, watching everyone else getting wasted is just hilarious! "Most of the best memories I don't remember directly." What we think: Drinking and partying is great but make sure you still remember the good times – they will be over soon enough!
What we think: Good for you! But it's certain that most of us kissed a lot of frogs in 1st year! "Coming back to uni, being told all the stupid things my friends had done without my calming influence."
What we think: We can relate...
7
more confessions on page 11 ...
SpaLife Magazine | September 2017 | Party Time
Above: The big but fun queue at Zero Zero. Š Zero Zero Left: SLAM! on a Thursday night at Bridge. Š Second Bridge
A NIGHT OUT ead about Bath's most popular clubs and get advice IN BATH Ron where and when to go. Sam McKenna, third year business student and experienced club-goer, put together a guide for all you keen freshers so that you never have to worry about a night out again!
Zero Zero
Second Bridge
If you're an avid nightclubber, Zero Zero is where you want to be on a Wednesday night. The venue sports three bars, a VIP lounge and a surprisingly sizeable dance floor, given its smaller venue size due to being underground. Zero Zero is incredibly popular on various days during the week and weekends, given its notoriety amongst both students and locals. Bump 'n' Grind, the club's most popular R'n'B night amongst students, often leads to those infamously lesspopulated lectures on Thursday mornings.
Hosting a mix of R'n'B, grime and chart music, SLAM! is the place to be on a Thursday night. The club provides a fantastic VIP service for events like birthdays, society meet-ups and other occasions. The bar upstairs, which is joined to the club, offers a wide variety of discounted cocktails to start the night off with a fruity bang, and houses a spacious outdoor area with umbrellas and outdoor seating. All in all, Second Bridge offers a great venue and reasonable prices resulting in consistently fantastic nights out. 8
The Nest Back to student basics: strong cider, loud live music and great people. Firstly, Bee Sting: go get one! It’s a great first taste of what Somerset has to offer. Not a big fan of Somerset cider? Shame. If you're interested in live music and experiencing great new artists firsthand, The Nest is for you. It's the best alternative to a night out clubbing when you just can't take hearing Justin Bieber apologise anymore; swapping out that Apple laptop for an electric guitar. With its rock 'n' roll aesthetic, three bars, a spacious dance floor and its main stage downstairs, The Nest is a definite on any Bath Spa student's list of favourites.
Above: SpaLife Goes Jungle at Moles. © Zach Thomas Below: Gorilla Tactics Midsummer Vibeout at The Nest. © The Nest
Moles This venue offers a night out with an edge. An edge so sharp it could cut tuition fees if elected as prime minister. Again, a place where Bee Sting flows like honey but more viscous and alcoholic, yet just as sweet. Moles is an underground nightclub with bands playing live music six nights per week followed by club nights on some of them. It's extremely popular with most students, hosting nights to appeal to all tastes: rock, hip-hop and the infamous Big Cheese on Tuesdays, playing 90s tunes all night. Yet another great venue with superb music where you can catch up with your mates as well as maybe making new ones. Aww, friends.
SpaLife Magazine | September 2017 | Party Time
Po Na NA Po Na Na hold a variety of events throughout the week, including music genres like disco, hip-hop, grime, rock, 90s pop and R&B; their flexibility is key to their popularity amongst the residents of Bath. One of Bath's most wellrenowned venues, this hidden gem hosts a number of unique events throughout the year ranging from pizza parties to fancy dress. With Po Na Na, it pays to be a loyal clubber; members of the club's one-off, low-cost loyalty scheme will get huge discounts on drinks throughout the week. Great prices on shots and cocktails? I’m there. Words by Sam McKenna Right: Propaganda Cheese Night at Po Na Na. © Soul Media Below: DJ set at Komedia. © Komedia
Komedia Regarded as one of the best venues in West England and Wales, Komedia is certainly the largest and most grand in Bath. Arts café by day, comedy club or nightclub by night, the venue caters to all tastes and is especially popular with the locals. Whether it's cheese you're after or some old-school Motown with spins and soul, Komedia's got you covered. With a large stage for performers, two cracking bars and even lovelier staff, this location offers a fantastic, high-energy atmosphere for those Saturday nights where the week's nights out just weren't enough. 10
SpaLife Magazine | September 2017 | A Fresher Life "The fresh start. Unless you go to uni with friends, no one knows you, no one knows your history, the things you've done, mistakes you've made. They just take you as you are and that is a beautiful thing." What we think: It truly is a beautiful thing! Just be aware, in the times of social media there's nothing a keen stalker can't find online.
"Being able to learn for the first time how to be a true adult; living on your own for the first time."
"None of your marks count towards your degree. Do whatever the f*ck you want!"
What we think: Preach! Be an adult, be independent and take some responsibility for your life.
What we think: Questionable. If you fail, you still failed. Doesn't matter then if it counts or not 'cause your out!
Most embarrassing story of 1st year?
"I pissed myself in my catsuit outside a club and then continued to wear it for the rest of the night."
"I definitely walked into the wrong lecture a couple of times and had to slowly back out like I'd just accidentally entered a Bath Uni social."
What we think: There's nothing we wouldn't do for a great night, even if it means wetting yourself !
What we think: That's bad but not as bad as actually walking into a Bath Uni social.
"Apparently I had sex on the dance floor in Zero Zero with my boyfriend but don't actually remember any of it."
What we think: Bee Stings are the worst, and the best!
What we think: If you don't remember, then it never happened.
11
"Bringing a guy back and then refusing to f*ck him when he said he was a virgin..."
What we think: Now that's just plain rude! You probably missed out big time...
"Being introduced to Bee Stings at the Nest – fair to say, I got kicked out within the hour."
more confessions on page 14 ...
Best part about being a fresher?
Drunkest moment of 1st year? "On a night out during Freshers' Week I got so drunk I went around calling all my new friends c*nts and f*ckers. Most found it funny but most isn't everyone."
What we think: Well, you can't please everyone!
KITCHEN MYTHS & TIPS
O
ver the next couple of weeks, you're going to face a lot of new stresses and joys. Some of you may be used to looking after yourselves, but many will be much like I was a year ago: willing to learn but failing miserably. Like it or not, when the hype of Freshers' Week is over, and you can How do you like your no longer order in from takeaways, you eggs? will need to cook for yourself.
Preferably not out of date. One way to ensure this is to keep your eggs away from the fridge! So, before your natural reflexes kick in and you put the eggs in the fridge, maybe ask yourself why supermarkets don't keep eggs in the fridge! Many people have been brought up with the thought that cold equals fresh. This is not true when it comes to eggs. A consistent temperature is what will keep your eggs fresh. If eggs have been kept on a shelf in a shop and you put them in the fridge at home, the sudden temperature drop speeds up the eggs' ageing process. This can lead to rather disgusting scrambled eggs when you take the first bite and realise that they are out of date.
A song of rice and fire Rice is filling, cheap, and certain types don't go out of date, it's a staple part of any student meal. Now, some of you may have heard that reheating rice can cause food poisoning and let me tell you, this is not just an old wives' tale. According to the NHS, "uncooked rice can contain a bacterium that can cause food poisoning." This bacterium can survive the cooking, however, if the rice is eaten straight away there won't be a problem. Leaving the rice stand at room temperature and then reheating the rice inadequately is the actual problem. So make sure that you only reheat rice once and when you do, make sure that it's piping hot. 12
SpaLife Magazine | September 2017 | Tips & Tricks
Banana split At home, fruit was in plentiful supply; however, I never wanted it. As a student buying fruit is a luxury, as stocking up on a variety of fresh fruit can cost a lot. So, when you do splash out and treat yourself, you'll want to make sure that they last as long as possible. One great tip for this is to split your bananas from your other fruit. The main reason for this is that fruit lets off a gas called ethylene which can cause them to ripen. Bananas do this the most. If you keep bananas and apples together they will release more ethylene and they'll ripen and rot quicker. Therefore, if you wish to make them last a couple of extra days, make sure that you don't mix your bananas with your other fruit.
Why did the chicken take a bath? Because it could cause the spread of food poisoning! Okay, so it's not my best joke, but when it comes to raw chicken there is nothing to laugh at. Something all aspiring chefs should know, but many don't, is that washing chicken is a huge risk not worth taking. The NHS states that "splashing water from washing chicken under a tap can spread bacteria on to hands, work surfaces, clothing, and cooking equipment," and these germs can spread up to "50cm in every direction." Therefore, when one considers that the high temperature needed to cook chicken properly kills off campylobacter (a bacterium that is one of the biggest causes of food poisoning), it's obvious that washing chicken causes more problems than it prevents.
The
four pieces of advice I have given you should help avoid some of the more needless kitchen mishaps that come from lack of experience. And I have one last nugget of wisdom for you: look after yourself. It's so easy to forget but your diet and how you cook your food has a direct effect on your health and energy to perform well. So, stay healthy and make good choices.
13
Words by Sadie Bennett Photography by Anika Schulze
SpaLife Magazine | September 2017 | A Fresher Life
Biggest regret of 1ST year?
"Choosing my housemates for second year too early – a lot of people change after Christmas..."
"Spending all the money in my overdraft." What we think: The amount of times we've heard that one... "I tried so hard to get first class grades in my assessments, which is almost impossible anyway, by sacrificing social events. Get the balance right."
What we think: It's all about the right balance!
"Not joining any societies." What we think: Societies are a great way to make new friends. Give it a go!
Advice for new Freshers?
"Take advantage of all the support at uni. You don't have to do everything on your own just because you're on your own now. And live every moment." What we think: Student Support is located at Sophia House. Sometimes, all you need is someone to talk to who isn't your friend...
What we think: Agreed. Don't get caught in the rat race. There's still plenty of time in the new year.
"Seize the day, be a nice person, and remember that the most growth we experience comes from our mistakes."
What we think: Couldn't say it any better ourselves!
"Don't drink to impress your new housemates. It won't end well." What we think: If your new friends expect you to drink when they do, they are not your friends!
Editor's advice You're only a fresher once, make the most of it but don't lose yourself along the way. Be true to yourself and don't do anything you don't want to do just because it might be 'cool' to do it! Use your time wisely; don't waste it on people who aren't worth the trouble.
Surround yourself with people who enjoy being around you and appreciate your company. Join a society or start a project of your own, don't sit around at home waiting for someone to make plans for you, be proactive! 14
SpaLife Magazine | September 2017 | Get Involved SpaLife Magazine is published as a print edition once a term, and is also available online. Every feature is produced by a student with heart and passion to create interesting content for students at Bath Spa University. It’s a great opportunity for those who participate to build their CVs and portfolios.
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