Just finished my stay at northgate and I cannot recommend this accommodation enough. The reception staff are very friendly, and go above and beyond to help. Issues are dealt with quickly and with little hassle. The staff were very reasonable with extra consideration if you just ask them, and really seemed like they want to make your stay as good as it could be.
The accommodation also host plenty of social events to meet other tenants and get to know the staff better. Sadly I couldn’t attend any of these due to work, but it’s worth noting that the events took place. There is a free gym, a study area, and a cinema room which you can book if it’s available.
For context, I stayed in a 7 bed flat (which only had 4 occupants) on the second floor. Because of this kitchen space was never an issue, and we managed to keep the flat tidy relatively easily. Noise was never really an issue either. The walls are a bit thin, and if you have your window open you can hear other rooms if they are being noisy, but it’s never unmanageable. The rooms are decently sized, and have plenty of storage with a good en-suite.
The building as a whole has a few minor flaws, but nothing major. The lifts seem quite temperamental and broke down a few times, so I would recommend using the stairs where possible. The WiFi is pretty reliable once set up, and I only had a couple issues where it went down for a day or two. Dust seems to build up quite quickly as well, in your room and corridors. There are also only 3 washing machines and dryers for the whole building, although this never posed an issue with waiting. The heating worked amazing during winter, and stayed at a reasonable temperature over summer. Water pressure is also good. The doors between flats are sometimes left unlocked, so people from the neighbouring flat may walk through to get to the washing machines etc. If you intend to bike, there is also a bike shed where you can get a key if you ask reception. There are also shopping trolleys available to use to help move in.
The accommodation is located a few minutes walk from the friar gate campus, and the new cavendish campus, with uni bus stops across the road for access to further afield. It’s only a short walk into the city centre for shopping, a short walk to Lidl or coop for groceries, and Markeaton park for a scenic walk. There is also a great Chinese just around the block (modern cuisine) which comes in very handy.
All in all, I believe northgate house is an amazing accommodation to stay at, with friendly staff who make your stay so much more pleasant. The experience may vary if you have a noisier flat, but I imagine the staff would help relocate you if you were not happy with the flat you’re in.
Thank you for making this past year as good as it has been!
