Green Areas and Open Spaces

Hi all! Today I am going to write about some of the green areas (Southampton has a lot!) available around the area for anyone interested in fitness, sunshine and friends/ family fun! Southampton is a coastal city which is also brimming with patches of green. Southampton Common is probably the closest one to the University and is only a five minute walk away from Avenue Campus. In the summer, the Common is always full of people practicing sports, having picnics with their families/ friends or just relaxing in the sun. Even during winter, one can see determined people running and keeping fit there. The Common is home to the Cowherds pub and has a children's play area, making it a nice spot for a family day out. The venue is also the host of the recent but very popular Common People Festival which takes place during a weekend filled with fun and music in late May. And at 44 pounds for the entire weekend (students), it makes it an extremely affordable Festival ticket.

Big Attraction- St Mary's Stadium

St Mary's in Southampton is the home Stadium of Premier League Club, Southampton F.C., or as they are also known 'The Saints', since 2001. It has a mighty capacity of 32,505 spectators and with its colossal architecture it is the largest football Stadium in the South of England, excluding London. They have If you are a fan of football, or the saints, it is definitely worth a visit as you can go watch the white and red stripes playing in their own home. If you aren't so keen on football, the atmosphere and the excitement of a live match might be fun in their own right! It is only about twenty minutes from the town centre/ WestQuay by bus. Tickets can be a little pricey, but they have concessionary tickets for people aged between 17-21. Also worth noting that drinks and food there might be a little pricey so taking a packed lunch for your day out might be a very good idea.

Big Attraction: WestQuay

Today I will present some facts about one of Southampton's main tourist destinations, which happens to be the South Coast's premier retail destination too. The shopping mall has a whopping 800,000 square feet total area and is the home of major retailers such as John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Zara, Apple, amongst many others. It has a food court with popular restaurants such as Nando's and Wagamama's. It is situated near the docks, in the centre of town and only a short walk away from IKEA, which also attracts myriads of shoppers. WestQuay also hosts events such as the Student Sessions event, which student can, by presenting their student ID, benefit of really good sales from their favourite retailers, watch live music and receive many freebies. I would recommend it to any prospective students reading this, it is a very fun event and you will get a chance to socialise with other students, so it is worth keeping an eye out for these events as they are definitely worth it. In addition, WestQuay is on its way of getting an extension primarily for a wider diversity of leisure. It will be called Watermark WestQuay and it is a 70 million pounds investment due for completion in 2016 and there are plans for more shops, cafés, restaurants, a luxury cinema and housing to flank a public plaza overlooking the beautiful medieval town walls.

Junk - Night Club Review

Today I thought I would talk about a venue which isn't for dining. Today I will talk about the best club in Southampton. Don't take it from me, it has been awarded DJ Mag's award in 2013 for 'Best Small Club'. With Junk at the heart of the Southampton city centre there is no need to go to the busy London if what you are looking for is a remarkable clubbing night! The club has nights to suit music every need, from house to drum and bass to pop and indie rock, the club has everything. There is even a whole night dedicated to the singer Beyoncé and for anyone interested, the event takes place next week on 12/02/2016. Tickets must be purchased online and you can find the link to the event by accessing their facebook page and selecting the event. Junk often brings in many renowned artists, from Ben Pearce to Radio One's DJ Annie Mac. The club is guaranteed to deliver in quality of sound as their speakers are of the best possible quality. Although a bit on the small side, the club embraces this feature and it provides a grungy and cool atmosphere. There are two rooms, a main one and a downstairs room in which the DJ's usually play the latest R&B hits. One small downside to the club (I said I will strive to give my absolute honest opinion in every post I make on this blog) is the prices of their drinks which can indeed be a bit pricey, especially on a student budget. However, there are ways to work around that and save a little to go on a night out at Junk and it is well worth it. I will post another review tomorrow, so keep posted and have a nice friday evening!

Mango - Restaurant Review

Hello all! Since yesterday I wrote a review about my favourite restaurant in Southampton, I feel it is appropriate that today I talk a little about my second favourite: Mango. Mango (I will be reviewing the one in the centre of Southampton) is a Thai Tapas Bar and restaurant and it is some of the most delicious food available in Southampton. When you hear the name 'Tapas', little portions of Spanish food come to mind and to have a Thai Tapas Restaurant is a brilliant innovation on the concept of Tapas. First of all, it is the perfect restaurant to go if you love sharing food and trying a little bit of everything by doing so. Second of all, you also have the option of ordering a full meal for yourself (for those of us who don't like sharing so much) and they have a selection of stir-fries, soups, salads and noodles guaranteed to suit every like. The wide selection means that I spent a while trying to decide what I was going to order, because everything sounded absolutely delicious. I finally ordered a soup to help cure my cold and it did the perfect job. On the side I had tempura vegetables and I received a wide selection of mushrooms, peppers, courgettes and cauliflower which was all scrumptious. There was some sweet and chilli sauce on the side of my tempura vegetables which gave it a nice touch and the sauce itself was also very scrumptious. Which brings me to my favourite part: dessert. I ordered a salted caramel and brownie tort and although that sounds extremely indulgent, it was just right. It wasn't excessively sweet, the brownie filling of the tort was rich and dark, which contrasted nicely with the more sweet caramel on the top. The coconut ice cream scoop on the side was my favourite part. I am a fan of coconut ice cream and Mango Tapas Restaurant's coconut ice cream was gorgeous. I will also add that the selection of alcoholic drinks was also very affordable and I shared a happy hour deal with the friend I had lunch with and the raspberry cocktail we ordered was tangy and delightful. I will also add that the service was excellent and the attentive service provided by their waiters and waitresses made for a great customer experience. Additionally, the atmosphere was very agreeable. It reminded me of being in a calm temple, with little Buddha statues and tropical plants placed adequately in the modest restaurant. I have been there many times but always in the afternoon, so I will comment on the type of lighting they had for that time of the day. The lighting was dim and appropriate for the etherial ambiance. The music was soothing and provided a nice backdrop for conversation to take place. The prices overall I found to be affordable and for any students reading, I believe you will find that to if you decide to go to Mango Thai Tapas Bar and Restaurant. It would make for a great location to go for Valentines Day which is fast approaching but it would be wise to call in and book in advance as spaces there are limited. Overall, I would greatly recommend this restaurant and bar for anyone visiting Southampton or who lives in the city but has never been there before. It is located just five minutes away from WestQuay which is good news for anyone wishing to take a lunch break from a day of shopping and who doesn't really like the crowded eating spots in the dining court of the shopping mall. This is all for today and I will post another review of Southampton spot tomorrow, I hope you are all having a great day.

Trago Lounge - Restaurant Review

Trago Lounge, located in Portswood, has got to be my favourite dining place in Southampton. I often choose to bring visitors, from members of my family as well as friends there and they all agree with me. Some might say that Oxford Street in Southampton, close to the docks, might be a more elegant location than the one Trago Lounge is in. But no restaurant there has got what Trago has. It might seem odd to the reader to come across such enthusiasm about a small restaurant such as Trago. I suppose it's the little things that bring me pleasure as a student, but I should say that is a good thing. I love to go out on dates, to go have dinner there with friends and chat the evening away or to go have a pleasant meal with my family. There is no better word to describe the restaurant than 'quaint'. It's a cozy little spot where promising first dates happen as well the get together of large groups of friends . The quirky pictures on the walls remind me of a large family's rustic dining room. As if you are at your great aunt's home in Spain that you never knew you had. The décor makes you feel at home, at ease. Trago seems to pride itself in making their customer's experience a comfortable one. There is no need for ostentation there, no room for exhibition or flamboyance. As many people say, less is more and I have often found that to be true. The experience of dining there is definitely comfortable, diners get the chance to find their own table and to go up to the counter to order when they are ready. One can also find a bookcase near the entrance stocked with crayons and colouring books, making the restaurant very family friendly. They have a friendly staff, who are very attentive, asking diners how their meal is going with a smile on their faces. The lighting is always perfect at Trago Lounge. The restaurant has big windows which let a lot of natural light in during the day, which is good news for the environment and for diners who care about sustainability and saving the planet. Evening diners will rejoice in hearing that the lights in the restaurant in the evening are always just right. Not too bright, not too dim. Just like Goldie locks would have it. The music is soft in order for conversations between diners to be heard and enjoyed. Which leaves me with the food, which is paramount for a restaurant review. I just feel that I needed to paint the picture of the restaurant before I go on to talking about food, because for me, personally, it is the ambiance and staff reception which leave me wanting in other restaurants and which Trago always delivers. I shall talk about the food. As a vegetarian, I can say that Trago is very vegetarian friendly. Of course, my friends and family have enjoyed the meaty burgers, which look delicious, but I will speak from my own experience which is the only one I can speak with entire confidence. The food is delicious, very healthy too. Obviously there are the more indulgent meals, but I often order the halloumi salad which has a delicious tropical dressing and is plentiful with its dark healthy leaves, golden roasted sweet potato and vibrant red peppers. I would also recommend the pancakes with greek yoghurt and peach dressing for breakfast or a late lunch like I had it. The greek yoghurt makes for a rich and healthy replacement for the usual whip cream and the fresh peach dressing is simply delicious. I should also recommend the coffee there, which is very aromatic and tasteful. There is also great selection of loose tea leaves for an after dinner treat. The prices are very affordable and I am speaking as a student which should give readers quite a lot of confidence. All in all, it is a great experience and I would definitely recommend it to anyone wishing to have a very pleasant experience with dining and seeking to have a scrumptious healthy meal as well.

Welcome to the blog Moments in Southampton

I'm a second year philosophy student at the University of Southampton. I have created this blog to turn my passion for the creative arts into a useful platform for prospective students as well as visitors coming to Southampton to read about places and events. I have a keen interest in trying out new things, therefore I know I will have some good insights into what Southampton has to offer! I hope to write honest and insightful reviews about the places I have been to during my time here and that people will find of use to them.