York

A few months ago I went to York University with my family as my son had an interview there. The whole visit rapidly took on the spectre of being a total waste of time. I do not who is to blame for this - is it us the parents or my son  for not being thorough enough?

We love York, we regularly visit, we love the history of the place as one of England's great historical centres going back to Roman and Viking times. I think of York I think of old England, Cambridge, Oxford, Durham, Bath and the ancient seats of learning that go with them.

So, York University think -
old buildings, cloisters, closed environments squares, quadrangles etc.. - wrong, wrong, wrong
In reality think - out of town campus.
Think East German social housing estate circa 1973.
It was a total crap hole with a cherry on top.
Once parked up it simply got worse! We went into a "coffee shop" - given that most urbanites even outside London and even in Wigan are used to Starbucks, Cafe Nero types of facilities and service. This York University had a coffee room with piss poor selection, piss poor seating and closing at 3pm!!

The drama department, where my son was visiting was in a non-descript building on an industrial estate attached to the campus called York Technology Park - an out of town B&Q or ToysRus would have fitted in perfectly. Given that our son was there until 1700, 3 hours away we again struggled to find somewhere comfortable to wait. A lecturer suggested "Central Park" - another coffee room.

We found it eventually and again it was apparent it was to close at 1500 - however it was only 1415. But no sandwiches or cakes were available and best of all no hot water!!!! So no tea or coffee- what a farce I am redirected to an upmarket coffee vending machine, but this is u/s as its "filter"  was full!!
All in all it was  comfortable and well decorated  but completely devoid of any refreshment.

A coffee shop with no coffee or cakes is just a shop, if it has northing to sell at all it is not even a bloody shop it is just a bloody ROOM!!
-but one with lovely seating and a plasma TV





Remember two wrongs don't make a right bit three rights make a left!