Any OCuKers from in/around Fareham?

ChrissyT88

ChrissyT88

ChrissyT88

Associate
Joined
9 Mar 2008
Posts
1,039
Hi guys/gals,

To cut a long story short, I have been offered a job in Fareham. Given the current economic climate, I said yes to the offer, but have since been offered another job in Bristol. Basically, the roles are very similar, and both have their pluses and minuses, but both will require me to move (currently at University). I'm a little more familiar with Bristol/Somerset than with the Portsmouth/Fareham area, so thought i would see if any OCuKers could voice their opinions on Fareham. I plan on heading down there next week to look around a bit (pretty much only experienced Fareham station so far!), look at some estate agents etc, so are there places to avoid, or particularly nice parts?

Thanks, advice etc is appreciated
 
if you're willing to live a few miles outside Fareham, Park Gate is nice. Also this way is Swanwick, Sarisbury, Whiteley (loads of houses there) and Hamble.

I've only ever been shopping in Fareham, never really looked at houses there tbh.
 
Farehams a decent place to live, portsmouth is a bit down graded if you know what i mean :p

Southampton isn't to far, someone said hamble, it's a nice place just far.
 
Lived there all my life, nightlife wise its pretty crap but you have Portsmouth and Southampton less than half hour away both directions, pretty safe place with no real bad areas but traffic can be a nightmare if you live towards Gosport. Cant really go wrong just a quietish town with no real issues in my eyes.
 
Cave_man said:
Farehams a decent place to live, portsmouth is a bit down graded if you know what i mean :p
Click to expand...

No idea what your talking about, Fareham is a suburb outside of Portsmouth and is a relativley decent place to live, quite a few chavs but just outside the city so you are within travelling distance.

Socially you are pretty much going to be heading out to Portsmouth as there isn't really much in Fareham "clubbing/pubbing" wise, all the action is in city. I have lived in Porstmouth ~18 years and it's always got something going on. I prefer it to Southampton but I am bias really :) Better shops Southampton I think but Portsmouth is nicer overall.

There are some nice housing areas and there is a new estate just outside Fareham called "Knowles" which is nice, a friend has a flat there. Depends what you like really.

Where abouts do you have a job if you don't mind me asking, I also work in Fareham just up "High Street" which is near the main town centre road. I also live in Southea, Portsmouth. I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have :)

Oh yeah, and don't live in Gosport, it's a ****ing traffic nightmare.
 
Last edited:
Knubje - we'll have to meet up for a few drinks one day. I'll be living in Southsea come September :)
 
Knubje said:
Where abouts do you have a job if you don't mind me asking, I also work in Fareham just up "High Street" which is near the main town centre road. I also live in Southea, Portsmouth. I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have :)
Click to expand...

Cheers. Its not actually in Fareham but just outside, about 10 mins from the station by car (in traffic). At the moment i dont have a car/cant drive, so whilst i intend to learn, id probably have to live fairly close by. I don't know what public transport is like in the area, but i assume i'd have to live fairly close or within cycling distance, so i would be looking at the immediate area rather than Southampton. As i said, i plan on going to have a look round to get a feel for the place, so if i need any questions answered, i'll be sure to post here!

I must admit im not overly bothered by nightlife, but i have actually been to a gig in portsmouth (honestly, Wedgewood rooms is false advertising - its just a room...). Still, its nice to know its there! Aside from that, my only experience of portsmouth is the port and some early morning ferry crossings, so perhaps not the most well rounded exposure to portsmouth!
 
There is plenty to do. The wedgewood rooms may just be a big room but it does have many bands come by there if you are interested in going to see bands perform. There is also the Pyramids leisure centre in Southsea where bands also go and the guildhall in Portsmouth city centre where live acts are hosted.

As you don't drive travel will obviously be the main issue. You can easily get trains to Portsmouth or Southampton, 15-20mins either way can have you at Portsmouth City Centre or Gunwharf Quays (Shopping Districts on harbour mouth).

Bus services are pretty good although they take a while. I know Portsmouth quite well and everything thats needed is in walking distance for me. (Gunwharf, Town Centre, etc).
 
Cheers Knubje - i'll try and remeber to resurrect this thread next week(ish) if i have any other questions. Thanks again for the info, its much appreciated.
 
ChrissyT88 said:
Cheers. Its not actually in Fareham but just outside, about 10 mins from the station by car (in traffic). At the moment i dont have a car/cant drive, so whilst i intend to learn, id probably have to live fairly close by. I don't know what public transport is like in the area, but i assume i'd have to live fairly close or within cycling distance, so i would be looking at the immediate area rather than Southampton. As i said, i plan on going to have a look round to get a feel for the place, so if i need any questions answered, i'll be sure to post here!
Click to expand...

I live near Fareham in one of the areas already mentioned in this thread. Public transport is pretty poor compared to what I'm used to, for example there is no bus service from here to Southampton. I can't drive either and to be honest if my partner didn't have a car we probably wouldn't have come here.

As a whole I think the area is quite nice, I've lived here for 2 months and haven't witnessed a single (non-traffic) crime, a sharp contrast from my time in Southampton where you'd get woken up at 3am due to smashing windows, parties or slanging matches / fights in the street. Obviously I'd expect there to be some rough areas in Fareham itself though.

Fareham has a funny reputation, it is almost like some kind of Mecca for people that work round here which is pretty crazy as it's just another average town with your usual high street amenities. "Oooh lets get to Fareham for lunch! How exciting!!"

To be honest Bristol is a much more 'happening' town (I have a couple of friends there) and all else being equal I would rather go there than just outside Fareham. It's bigger, if you lose your job there's more chance of getting another one without having to move, better for shopping, nightlife, public transport etc. Obviously you'll want to weigh up the cost of living too.
 
Used to be based at HMS Dryad off and on for a couple of years back in the 90's. Not really any help but there you go :p
 
HangTime said:
...
Click to expand...

I must admit im finding it difficult to make a decision between the two. I havent really been to Bristol in a while, but i know friends/family who live or have lived in Bristol, and i'm only really next door in Bath. As such, i feel i know it a bit better, and perhaps would find it a bit easier moving. I guess i was not expecting two offers, and part of me would feel quite guilty for turning the first down. However, i also feel like which ever i chose i would always wish i had chosen the other! As i mentioned, both have their pluses and minuses, but both are very similar, which only makes the choice harder really! I need someone to pick for me - maybe an OCuK poll would be in order (...spec me a career path...?)! :D
 
Well it seems a bit of a no-brainer to me, Bristol is bigger and closer to family and friends. Might even be able to commute from your current home in Bath depending on proximity of home and office to the stations. Which makes me think there must be something attracting you to the Fareham job a bit more, otherwise you wouldn't still be mulling it over...

So whereabouts exactly is the job (approx postcode will do if you don't want to state the precise company/location)? 10mins from Fareham could actually put it somewhere else like Titchfield, Whiteley, Park Gate, Wickham, Swanwick, LocksHeath etc. This would influence your choice of housing a lot.
 
The office in Fareham has the post code PO17 6AD - its on a large hill over looking the town, so looking on google maps its about half way between Southwick, Portchester, Fareham and Portsmouth itself. You're right, there are things attracting me to the job in Fareham over Bristol. I think the job could be more secure and offer better training possibilities, and has the potential to be more interesting (although whether or not this will be the case, im not sure). On the other hand, the starting salary is quite a bit lower than in Bristol, and the company in Bristol seems like it could be a little more dynamic (if that makes sense...?). Plus, as i said, i feel i know Bristol a bit better.

However, im not really familiar with the type of work done in Bristol (the job has a control engineering background, of which i have none!), but was told i should be able to pick it up fairly quickly. This could be the case in Fareham, and i suppose i dont really know what either will entail (both are graduate roles).

Unfortunately commuting from my house in Bath to Bristol will not be possible - as i mentioned, im a student, and the landlord has had people viewing the property for next year. Im not too bothered about moving away from family and friends etc, and anticipated having to move. I know most of my friends will be taking jobs wherever they can find them, so its quite likely they will end up a long way away anyway, and even from Fareham, 'home' is only a few hours on the train.
 
It's not Cams Hill is it? I used to work there and would be worried depending on who you would be going to work for :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom