Facilities at GCR

Howlands Farm, located on the southern edge of Durham is the main Ustinov site. Over 600 Ustinov students live here. The site offers the following factilities.

Fisher House

Bar

Our bar is easily the friendliest (and least expensive) student bar in Durham! Whether you want to come for a soft drink and a chat, or a pint and a game of darts, this is the place for you to socialise and meet your friends.

We have Sky satellite television and generally show all major sporting events on the big screen. You can also borrow board games from behind the bar. Every Thursday at 9pm, bar is hosting our very own Ustinov Bar Quiz, so grab your flatmates or friends, form a team and come along to win the jackpot!

GCR Office

If you have a query and want to talk to a member of the GCR committee, we can be found here. Open for regular office hours nearly every day.

DVD Library

Any member of the GCR is welcome to come and borrow DVDs from the DVD library located in the GCR Office. More information on how to borrow a DVD can be found here.

Common Room

The common room in Fisher House is located conveniently just next to the bar and coffee shop. It boasts a Wii console, which you can borrow from the porter on duty (£2 per session), a foosball table (20p per game), a dart board and two pool tables (50p per game). You will also find a range of comfy sofas to relax and watch TV, a drinks and snacks vending machine in case you get the late-night munchies, and a couple of computers if you quickly need to check your e-mail.

Book Exchange

On the shelves in the Common Room, you can exchange books you've read for new reading material - you will never run out of fun books, but at the same time you won't end up with a huge pile of paperback novels to take home with you at the end of the year!

Coffee Shop

The coffee shop in Fisher House offers a range of hot and cold drinks and snacks. A great place to come and have a break with your friends or sit and do some work. Wireless internet is available. Open Monday-Friday.

Shop

There is a shop in the Howlands Building with normal opening hours of: 10am to 5.30pm Monday-Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays. You can purchase all the usual essentials: bread, milk, groceries, stationery, frozen food, sandwiches and snacks, newspapers, stamps, toiletries, laundry products, household stuff and basic non prescription medicines (pain killers, etc).

Laundry

Coin-operated washing and drying machines are available in the Howlands Building. Open 24/7. The washing machines cost £2.50 and dryer 50p for 20 minutes.

Gym

Shared with Josephine Butler, a fully equiped gym. To find out how to join please read the instructions available together with the application form here.

Music Room

A range of instruments and space for band and instrument practice. You must join the Music Society in order to be able to use the Music room.

Howlands Hall

A large sports hall shared with Josphine Butler. Can be booked to play basketball, badminton, cricket, table tennis and for other sports and events.