Middlesbrough - James Cook Hospital

[jeeves]

Hi.

I am a medical student from Dundee University that will be travelling to Middlesbrough for a block starting on 4th Jan on Cardiology.

I have heard mixed reviews about the city/town but understand that the hospital and teaching is very good. As i am new to the area, is there anything to do there? Any good clubs, bars, restaurants, take aways, pubs, gyms... or should i just hit Newcastle - whats it like there?

Also i need a job during my time there to do part time...any thoughts?

Cheers

[berrieds]

Hi.

I am a medical student from Dundee University that will be travelling to Middlesbrough for a block starting on 4th Jan on Cardiology.

I have heard mixed reviews about the city/town but understand that the hospital and teaching is very good. As i am new to the area, is there anything to do there? Any good clubs, bars, restaurants, take aways, pubs, gyms... or should i just hit Newcastle - whats it like there?

Also i need a job during my time there to do part time...any thoughts?

Cheers

Hi there Jeeves,

Well obviously you've been in Boro for a week or so, and hopefully the icy weather hasn't put a downer on things (though it's been much milder than elsewhere). I'll give you the upshot of the town, as a Middlesbrough resident:

Positives: It's cheap, there's a few good shops (and again plenty of cheap ones), the town centre is quite small but attractive esp. round the new Mima.

Going out is pretty good, quite studenty along Southfield road near the uni, Clubs like the Crown, Empire, Revolution are OK, but it depends on your tastes.

Negatives: It's small, and there is a distinct lack of variety among just about everything. One take-away place is just as bad as the next, and there is limited restaurants. Akbar's of Bradfod is probably the best place to eat on Linthorpe road, and plenty of pretty crap italiano-type places; I hope you like curry or pizza....

There's a gym next to the Cineworld cinema (used to be JJB), David Lloyds at teesside park, and a Banertyne's health club in Coulby Newham I think. There's a few other slightly more dodgy gyms in the area (Steel city in Boro and Moore's in Stockton specifically), and maybe not for the faint hearted.

If you go to either Lloyds No.1 near Captain Cook square or the J.D. Weatherspoons (Isaacs) nearer the train station, they have very cheap but quite acceptable food and drink, and it's usually better than spending an arm and a leg elsewhere.

There's a starbucks and costa coffee (don't think there's a Nero's in Boro, Defo one in Stockton though), which is about as cosmopolitan as this town gets, although, the MIMA has a great little cafe attached and entry to the museum is free.

Don't expect a hell of a lot from this town, and you'll be pleasantly suprised when you enjoy yourself. Otherwise York is an hour on the train as is Newcastle and obviously being bigger, it offers a lot more.

I hope you enjoy your time Boro. If there's anything else I can help you with then let me know.

[berrieds]

P.S. This is the capital of UK unemployment. If you can find any job then good on you (I was unsucessful in more than 6 months of job hunting).