The Spit and Guy’s Bar

Over the summer, the Students’ union have been refurbishing and redesigning its areas at the Guy’s Hospital Campus. The now called KCLSU Student Centre (formerly, ‘The Spit’) has had a bit of a make over, along with Guy’s Bar in the basement of Boland house.

The Spit at Guy’s Hospital Campus, located on the ground floor of Boland house, just off the colonnade, was so called due to its original use as a TB isolation ward when patients were still based in Boland House, although now long since departed. Coupled with its make over, the spit now contains the designated student support centre. It will be here that all information regarding student clubs, societies, campaigning and volunteering services will be located. In creating this new admin area, it will allow the main Union staff to be more easily accessed, along with the Student Officers and now, MEDSOC since we have moved our office downstairs to the first floor as well.

This new space will also allow student society leaders access to administration equipment, photocopiers, printers and additional board room meeting areas. Laptops will now be available for use and improved PAWs facilities for public student access.

Although the shop no longer exists per se, it will still be possible to buy tickets for events (especially important during Fresher’s, RAG and the Christmas Show – note plug for all?!!), pay club and society memberships, and the TFL discount scheme, allowing for cheaper travel in London.

Guy’s Bar, located in the basement of Boland House has had a long needed facelift, and even now, as this is being written, as a building site, is looking to be highly exciting! For those who like to relax in a comfortable and stylish area, whether for a pint of the finest after college, or for a coffee and a glance at the papers, the new bar will have something for everyone.

Following a joint venture with MEDSOC last year, KCLSU undertook a focus group workshop at the Guy’s campus to find out what the student body wanted from their bar. It is as a direct result of this that Guy’s bar will now be open from Midday to serve coffee, tea, hot meals and made to order sandwiches, allowing us to dine in a comfortable, sophisticated and elegant environment.

As part of the refurbishment, new lighting, including some fabulous Art Deco lighting has been introduced, along with a specifically designed wall paper, chandeliers and Chesterfields! Very suave indeed, although unfortunately, cigars are now a forbidden fruit, and can no longer be enjoyed with a glass of the finest ruby port!

Certainly equally importantly (or more so, depending on how you look at it!), the bar menu itself has had a bit of an update, and with a wider range of beers, ciders and wines, plenty on hand to wash away the trials of a long day in lectures, dissection or on the wards!

There have been improvements made to the sound system i.e. there is now one! With a bespoke DJ booth and intelligent lighting systems for late evening bopping, having watched the latest sports games on the new 50” Plasma screens!

Guy’s bar opens for business on 10th September and is set to be an absolutely awesome venue! There will be drinks organised by MEDSOC to meet us and some of the staff during the first week or two so watch out for posters! In the meantime, we would suggest you check out the events planner for Freshers whilst enjoying a quiet pint (or 10!) with new found friends in the great new Guy’s Bar!

Charlie Morgan
Vice President Medsoc