Accommodation of famous graduates from Bristol Uni

Rumor has it that one of James Blunt’s guitars is hidden somewhere in Stokey B

Knowing how many people have lived in our freshman rooms before us can definitely scare you. However, what if a celebrity was one of them, brushing their teeth in the basin you’re sure to soak in after a night on the town. Bristol Uni has some very old accommodation that has (in most cases) stood the test of time, which makes us wonder who banged their cutlery on the Wills table as they demanded more food.

Bristol Uni has produced some incredibly famous individuals who note that their time at UoB is influential in shaping their careers. From comedians to illusionists, we’ve had it all, and if you’ve ever wondered what their time at UoB was like, I’ve managed to find an insight into their university life – starting with first year accommodation.

Will Poulter – Badock Hall

No wonder Will decided to quit after living in Badock for a year (just kidding). Will said: “I’ve always had an ambition to go to university and study drama.” It’s no wonder Bristol was where it ended up, being the first university in the UK to offer a theater degree (shout out to Bristol’s drama department, I love you). Will certainly gives Stoke Bishop his charm and good looks, leaving the girls heartbroken as he left U1 without noticing their presence. Sadly, Stoke Bishop couldn’t compete with Hollywood – it blames The Maze Runner for its sudden exit.

David Walliams – Manor Hall

British icon David Walliams loves the city of Bristol – as seen in this extremely insightful tweet. He was resident at Manor Hall, which makes sense as he is a certified Clifton boy. He would have loved to be surrounded by other rah individuals and he was lucky to have Matt Lucas just a second away. You would see these two buffoons developing sketches on the Goldney grounds.

Matt Lucas – Goldney Hall

Matt Lucas was 100% BNOC and thrived at Goldney. I can imagine Matt and David developing Little Britain and Come Fly With Me in these very rooms giggling as they annoy their flatmates. If you met Matt after a long day at college, you’d be sighing while stuck listening to his latest comedy set for half an hour. He would have been a regular at The Room Above at The White Bear.

Julia Donaldson – Clifton Hill House

Julia Donaldson, one of the most influential authors in children’s literature, must have gotten the idea for The Gruffalo from a warden at Clifton Hill House. She described her time on the case as quite extreme in that it was only for women and no visitors were allowed, only on very rare occasions. The rigor experienced at Clifton Hill House made her feel like she was still at school, so she wrote children’s books.

James Blunt – Hiatt Baker

I don’t even want to think about James Blunt taking girls back to U1 at the Hiatt, looking into their eyes while strumming his guitar at the end of the bed singing “You’re beautiful, it’s true.” All jokes aside, James Blunt is a true icon and his flatmates would have been blessed to have him play guitar all night.

Emily Watson – Manor Hall

Actress, Emily Watson is another celebrity who was born in Manor Hall. Starting out as a stage actress I’m sure she was very involved in Bristol’s extensive theater scene. As an English major and performer, her room would have been covered in books and her flatmates would have looked at each other when they could hear Emily rehearsing her latest Shakespearean role.

Derren Brown – Wills Hall

There is no accommodation that suits Derren Brown better than Wills. It has that old historical, creepy vibe that fits so much of his work. He actually went to a hypnotist show while studying at Bristol, which inspired him to start a career in hypnosis and illusion. You’d be out in the yard after a night out and see Derren’s window with some kind of illusion trick being tested on his long suffering flatmates. Derren was the first to tell people that Wills was haunted and he wanted to prove it to the boys who laughed in his face. Well, as one of the most successful entertainers of our generation, who is now laughing.

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