The Stuff We Can't Fit In Somewhere Else in Basingstoke, Hampshire*

The things which can't be categorised

You can tell us more about Basingstoke.

• Why oh why oh why? The UK is a decent size. There are lots of places to live. Why oh why oh why?
• 822 cctv for gods sake which means in the space of and hour u are filmed 300 times
• Check out www.wellcoolbuds.com for all your hydro needs!
• I was brought up there, left, moved back within 5 miles, and have no intention to return at all (with the exception of the cinema). Told it was nice until the cockneys starting arriving in the sixties.
• b'stoke isn't too bad really , i've been to worse places ( Yeovil!)
• It's not as bad as it's made out to be, no, wait... It's worse, go out into town, you normally need to wear shoes and dress smart to get into pubs. I know what you're thinking, that it's to gain a selective clientel. Nope, I dunno why it is actually I've been to pubs in many other towns that don't have to resort to admitting half witted shaven headed fucknuggets, I suppose it's ok if they're wearing shoes though. Also, virtually no pubs serve bitter, they all serve badly watered down Stella. You should see the looks I get when I try to order a pint of Boddington's/John Smith's etc.... If it was my choice I'd bomb the living fuck out of these measly shit hole. There are a fair few people living here that are ok, shame about the rest of them.
• I have lived in Basingstoke for 7 years and I hate it I am looking for an Exchange to get out as Its the worst place in the UK to bring up children I have lived in alot of places which thay say are no go areas and fond them to be great and even safer then basingstoke!!
• Rubbish Shops.
• excuse me but is it basingstoke or peterborough u are talking about.did the town planers clone one or the outher towns, because they sound very similar and with the same sad boreing, interbread, rude people.
• I've heard people call it Boringstoke but I think Basingstoke is brilliant compared to living up north. Infact I'm moving to Basingstoke pretty soon I can't wait.
• I dont live in Basingstoke but every1 in my area (Camberley) lovingly refers to it as Basingjoke. I have to agree with them as my cousins live there I know wot its like and can understand why its other nicknames Boringstoke. I say put em together and make Boringjoke.
• Places to stay away from after 23:00 on a Friday or Saturday night - The Market Square area (aka the 'Top of Town') and the area around Basingstoke Leisure Park. The latter is surrounded by poorly lit paths and is a well known area for idiot packs of youths taking it out on innocent passers-by. If you you need to get home at night after going to the cinema/bowlplex etc then take a bus or taxi!
• Basingstoke is better than it used to be. It used to take the brunt of loads of jokes from comedians.
• Interesting question - why is there a 'Tadley Town Council'? Don't you have to have a Town Hall to be a town?? Or at least more than one off-licence?
• Most of the complaits about Basingstoke are made by youngsters and teenagers, but amazingly most of the fun things in Basingstoke are designed for them. Older people have absolutly nothing to do apart from bowls and the odd summer fayre. It's this 80% of the population that have something to moan abaout.
• Basingstoke is appropriately named Boringstoke
• Due the the town centre rebuilding, the nightclub 'Martines' has now closed so the choice of venues for swinging your pants in Basingstoke after 11pm in has decreased by about 33%. Magnum's Wine Bar on Basing View has an interesting 70s/80s night until 2am on Saturdays, although like most pubs/bars in central Basingstoke there are queues to get in - the exceptions are The Hog's Head and The Hop Leaf, the former being too trendy for the yobs whilst the latter is too pleasant and quiet for them. Beware of violence in the town centre after 11.15pm on Fridays and Saturdays; it is very easy for innocent passers by to have there faces smashed in for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The police presence at these times is not good enough, usually being two policemen huddled in a shop doorway watching fights from a distance.
• This place has got to be one of the strangest Twilight Zone places in the world, Why on gods earth would anyone choose to live there? So close to London, but the residents still choose to stay there than get on a train and get a life. Although if there was no Basingstoke Butlin's at Bognor Regis would fall into ruin (more so than it is now) as this is the place to holiday if you come from the town.
• Non geeky roleplayers/social/friends outfit always on the look out for other people.
• Basingstoke is a great place to live in and do business - the Mayor.
• And Karoke is not dead in Basingstoke, check The George on Friday nights (well it was on last time I went on a Friday night on 4/12/98). Sad sad SAD! If you need some bits for your car, go to Basingstoke Auto Parts on Worting Rd, (Nr ATS). Bloke knows his stuff and loads cheaper than Halfords et al. He can get you service items, engines, panels etc. almost anything to help you make a mess of your driveway and annoy suburban neighbours who have new cars.
• Basingstoke, as Prince Charles would say is a "hideous carbuncle" of a town, with quite possibly the ugliest population this side of the black stump. The town centre is populated by groups of objectionable youths, foul mouthed and foul mannered, single mothers pushing wailing kids in snot covered chairs attempting to placate the childs infernal whining by either swearing loudly at the the unfortunate or alternatively sticking sweets in it's mouth to shut it up. The pubs either in the town centre or in any of the estates are the sort of places you venture in at your own risk, if you happen to catch someones eye then the chances are you will probably catch a pint glass in the other one a short time later. I cannot understand why the locals all talk like extras from the Queen Vic, bearing in mind the subtle Hampshire brogue of the Town's most famous ex son the late John Arlott (the sound of summer) which should in theory be the native tongue of North Hampshire. I left Basingstoke as soon as was humanly possible and would urge anyone with half and ounce of grey matter to follow my example and get the hell out of there before you find yourself pushing kids around in snotty pushchairs.......
• Commonly refered to, by those people who don't live there, as Boringstoke.
• No: Basingstoke's real name is Donut City due to the massive and ever increasing number of roundabouts on our actually half decent road system.
• The best thing about Basingstoke is Pippa, the bird, who takes your coats in at Ziggys (it's the only reason I ever go down there). Other stuff, the Anvil (a1 skateboard area outside), 10 Screen Cimena, Ice rink (Wella Bison rule), Bowling allay.
• Best thing about Basingstoke: Mark, Rik, Drian, Stu, Stu-2, Chris and Phil are all really good people. Worst thing: psycho hit and run drivers who speed up, hit a skater (Eric), and leave him with a leg broken in three places. Basingstoke has a lot of people like that.
• I am from Basingstoke, but I now live in Norway (Thank God !!) The best thing about B/stoke is that my family are there and of course the pubs. Oh, and the roundabouts. The worst thing about Basingstoke is that it is the piss hole of the universe and the BLOODY multi story car park.
• The best thing about Basingstoke is the cool tall buildings. Churchill Plaza looks really cool when you're on one. There is nothing to do without money or alcohol here.
• If you're looking for somewhere to stay in Basingstoke, there are not a lot of choices. The Trust House and the Travel Lodge are always full but there is a Hilton (!) Probably the best choice is the YMCA. All the rooms are singles and have their own kitchen and en-suite shower & toilet and it's only a 10 minute walk from the Town Centre.
• The worst thing about Basingstoke is the guy moping around the streets every night asking for loose change. He likes to introduce himself as Stuart Gray. So beware.
• Best thing about Basingstoke: the social life around Brookvale and Charlies Mushrooms the local SurfJazz/AcidJazz quintet (and growing) and the Donut magazine.... and hopefully soon a new live music venue hopefully being set up with a euro-grant to give even more life to what is starting to look like rather a phoenix of a town.
• Worst thing: the old estates that it would be kinder to nuke and rebuild from scratch AND the fact that everyone whinges about it only being Basingstoke when they
  1. Wish it was London
  2. Don't get of their butts and organise things or support local ventures like Donut ragazine and thus damn the hard work of others with their negative attitude.
• The best thing about Basingstoke is leaving. Even when you're bored, depressed etc. you can cheer yourself up by thinking, "Well, at least I don't live in Basingstoke any more."
• Fit though Pippa is (I know, I went to school and college with her, great in a swim suit) there are other reasons to go to Basingstoke, like a few other fit birds (sadly minly ravers but at least they're easy on the eye).
• Could do with a decent department store, eg: John Lewis, and the M & S needs improving.
• Basingstoke is mentioned in Gilbert and Sullivan's Ruddigore. Whenever Mad Margaret starts to go off the deep end Sir Despard asks her to think of Basingstoke to bring her back to a state of calm.
• Yes I have noticed how ugly all the natives are. I think it might have something to do with the Chlorine fumes pumping into the town centre from the underground swimming pool!
• Basingstoke is trying to update its image, although it has a long, long way to go. The Anvil has improve life for culture vultures, and with the revamp of the lower half of town, we will gain a Debenhams and a BHS to boot. I am quite fond of Basingstoke, although not blind to the lack of amenities, the town shops shuts at 5.30 and the buses stop soon after that, so you don't live in Basingstoke for an exciting life!!
• Summary - A souless, ugly blot on one of the most beautiful areas in the country.

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Last updated: 2008-10-14