Guildford: Ranked Top For LGBTQ Friendliness But Most Expensive For A Pint

Published on: 21 Mar, 2017
Updated on: 22 Mar, 2017

By Megan Wilman

Guildford, as a university town, has come out top for LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer) friendliness but is also as the most expensive place for a pint, according to the Alternative UK University City League Table.

Collated by City Base Apartments, the table compares aspects of the UK’s top university cities and towns.

LGBT charity Stonewall gathered research based on a 10 point checklist and Guildford scored nine placing them the highest alongside Canterbury out of 37 universities.

The checklist includes factors such as whether there is an appropriate society and what support and events are on offer. “Glitterbomb” a gay-friendly club night held every month at the Student Union, is one such event.

Unsurprisingly, Guildford trailed behind in the “Price of a Pint” section, coming last of those surveyed. At an average £4.50, prices of a pint here are dear, even trumping London by a whole 60p. The national average price is just £3 .

In terms of Lowest Crime Rate, Guildford is placed at a commendable 4^th thanks to an average of 6.5 incidents per 1,000 residents.

Other areas assessed were: “Average Graduate Salary”, ranking 14^th (£40,000), and “Sustainability”, also 14^th.

Overall Guildford ranked 9^th out of the 37.

Professor Jane Powell, Vice Provost Education and Students, at the University of Surrey said to G Scene: “This reflects the positive feedback we have from our students about their experience of their time here, not just in their studies but also in relation to broader quality of life issues, including social facilities, support systems and a welcoming community.

“It is testament to the warmth and friendliness of our community that those who come to study here have such a positive experience in many aspects of their lives.”

As previously reported by The Dragon, the University’s UCAS applications soared last year with a 24% increase from 2015.

Compared to more conventional league tables, Surrey, named University of the Year in 2016, still rates highly. It is: 4th in the Guardian University Guide 2017, 10th in The Times Higher Education Table of Tables 2017, 11th in The Complete University Guide 2017, 14th in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017 and achieved a 90% overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2016.

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