Winter Warmers

It’s winter now and you’ll need a coat to keep you warm throughout the sleet and snow, here’s a few favourites from around the college - by Madeleine Lynch.

So it’s winter time again and the coat that you bought last year is seriously outdated and you need a new one. The variation of coats that I’ve seen around college is great and there are so many different styles. Despite this there are some that have stood out to me as being rather popular. Firstly is the New Look Textured Single Button Boyfriend Coat (that’s a mouthful) [pictured on the left]. This coat and others similar to it are popular this winter, especially the boyfriend style and the deep burgundy colouring. It’s in New Look for a decent price of £39.99.

Next is the H&M Grey Fake Fur Coat [pictured in the center]. Fur coats have obviously been popular this year, I myself have looked for one but it’s hard to choose. H&M have provided this for only £29.99 and it’s good quality! Soft and fluffy, as a fur coat should be to keep you warm and it looks beautiful as well. The best thing about fur coats is that they have a classy look about them.

Last on my list is the Topshop Slouchy Mohair Dark Green Boyfriend Coat [pictured on the right], which has been extremely popular as me and many other girls around college have purchased this. It’s has a lovely boyfriend style and it’s great at keeping you warm but I would recommend wearing a scarf alongside this. This coat is a bit more expensive at £89.00 but is definitely the best quality out of the three.

Starbucks– costing your wallet and your waistline

Emily Beard takes a look at popular coffee shops and how much they are really costing us.

As the weather is getting colder and colder and you make your weekly treks to Starbucks in your frees, perhaps you should reconsider?

The world is being dominated by coffee shops like Caffè Nero, Costa Coffee and Starbucks– the latter having almost 21,000 stores worldwide! Some places in particular take coffee drinking to the extreme as proven in Santa Fe, California which has the highest concentration of Starbucks’ with an outrageous 560 within a 25 mile radius.

Whether it’s the thrill of tricking the baristas with a fake name, or the feeling of being on the set of Friends in a Central Perk-esque coffee shop that tempts you, what is your daily caffeine fix actually costing? The average drink at Starbucks is around £2, which may seem like a steal for somebody that has one every now and then, but you daily junkies could be spending around £730 a year! And your bank account is not the only thing suffering. A tall gingerbread latte is around 300 calories– the same as a cheeseburger from McDonald’s!

If your withdrawal symptoms are too strong to ignore and cutting back seems out of the question, perhaps consider a cheaper alternative? A flask from Costa is £3. Making your own drink everyday and bringing it to college with you would save you hundreds!

But, with over 35 million likes on Facebook, it doesn't look like the loyal fan base of Starbucks will be decreasing any time soon.

Deck the Halls

At Christmas time we all notice the divide between the Scrooges and the fanatics, but we all need a break from the stress of dashing about, whether it’s just for a coffee or to catch a movie. By Richard Burrows.

Tis the season to be jolly, and there’s plenty of events that will get you  into the Christmas spirit!

Who could forget the massive Christmas  market on the High Street last year that brought together a crowd of over 12,000 people? What better way to sort out your gifts to loved ones than with a festive shopping trip with hot drinks and food available all day? The 8th of December is the day to do your Christmas shopping, so don’t miss it!

On the Silver Screen

Christmas time is always a competitive period of the year for film producers, each trying to grab that  number 1 position, and this year we’re sure to not be disappointed. The second Hobbit  movie: ‘The Desolation of Smaug’ (release date: 13th) as well as the highly anticipated sequel to the hilarious Anchorman (20th) are likely to be two major competitors for the top spot.

Sleeping Beauty

We all love a bit of a lay-in, but this damsel-in-distress is overdoing it a bit in this month’s featured pantomime at the Mercury Theatre. The  famous children’s fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty with a few of the Theatre company’s little touches will be showing from the 6th of December until the 11th of January. With brilliant comedy suitable for guys and girls of all ages, and fantastically hilarious music to accompany the happily-ever-after adventure  story, this play is a great, feel-good festive treat!