Beyond the Box Student Limited Avon Way House reviews

★★★★★ 4/5

Google

The Studio rooms at Avon Way are great! They are clean, well-equipped and stylish. They are also affordable compared to nearby studio options. Not to mention they are right next to a shop and a nature reserve! It is highly likely I will be staying at Avon Way for the rest of my Uni course. However, it is not all perfect. If you have a car you will be fighting over a space with people who don't even live on site! I have watched people from nearby estates park their car and walk off. There is a permit system, although it doesn't seem to be enforced at all, so you might as well park on the main road. I was also under the impression that this was a student accomodation when I booked it, however I have seen more families than students (in the *student* accomodation). Numerous times have I been woken up in the morning by screaming and/or crying children either in a neighboring room, or running loose kicking a ball in the car park at 8am. On one occasion I saw a child running around the car park squirting yoghurt(?) all over the bricks and other cars. I wasn't aware it was possible for an entire family to stay in a student accomodation, and I will definitely take that into consideration when I book my acccomodation next year. If not for these occurences I would have given a 5 star rating without hesitation.

Jota · 14 April 2025

★★★★★ 4/5

Google

It's better than it's given credit for - I saw some very negative reviews before taking the plunge, but my expectations were better than described. The rent is quite decent, the rooms aren't too shabby, and the hub runs events among other things to keep it interesting. The events are a load of fun and excess stuff is given out for free the next day - good way to get some free pop. There's some vending machines, that's pretty neat. In my experience, the staff are absolutely swell and very approachable. Going to the University is nice, you walk down a quaint nature reserve, route is pretty safe in the daytime and it's 15 minutes. You're also a 15 minute walk from Greenstead, which has a park, supermarket, and doctor's surgery. Chippy is like, right on your doorstep, Tesco is further down but I'd recommend the Greenstead co-op for pricing. I've been able to run on a budget of around £250 a month - that's for all non-rent-related payments. Definitely gives me the squeeze, but the fact it works is enough, y'know? VERY, VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This place doesn't exactly run on a rental system. They'll call it rent, but it's more like a loan. Ergo, if you want to leave, you need to find a rent replacement to cover your contract, lest you be liable. Additionally, if you begin your contract late in a month before you start, you may end up paying two sums of rent in quick succession because rent is usually paid at the start. If you work with these people, you need to use this information well, or you'll be a bit short. This is why I haven't given a 5 Star rating - it's quite insidious, in my opinion, though the staff have been badgering the parent(?) company to change the system. It's on them. You can haggle payment windows. Accommodation itself is fine. I got the cheapest joint, which meant I had a really small room, but I'm a uni student, so, y'know how it goes. Beds are comfortable, you get a wardrobe and desk to use, stuff like that. Cooker was a bit grim and one of the freezer doors wouldn't work properly, but I'm pretty sure that was flatmates being daft. Tap would scream like a banshee. However, staff are very communicative and always willing to address issues that you tell them about - many examples of things being fixed, inspections are run regularly and told in advance, so on. I do wish I was given a proper chair to sit on as it did make studying difficult, but organisational issues prevented that. I definitely got the short end of the stick as you can tell, but apparently my experience is among the worst, so you'll get a better one. If you want mail, you have to tell the accommodation to leave it out if you collect after 4:30 PM. It's delivered to the hub which locks up after roughly that time. It's also not open on Sundays (accessible, just no staff, so no mail monitoring). The heating is controlled remotely across all flats, the most control you get is the knob on the radiator. This means that, occasionally, it'll be on when it's super hot, or really cold, with no way to turn it on. There's several occasions where this happened and it caused one of my flatmates to get a bit sick. Not much you can do here without a complete change to the system, unfortunately. Washing clothes can be a bit arduous, the washing machines are shared across a lot of students (it's within regulations, but the regulations suck, what can you do?). My flat block didn't have one, so I'd have to go across to another to do it. In the end I chose to sink wash my clothes and dry them with the windows open and a fan nearby instead - not new to this, I did it in my previous flat too. But I can see it being bad for most people. This is something I would want changed at some point. Getting food deliveries and such is fine, but not everyone serves here, and depending on where you are you may need to give precise directions. I'd say pick the University accommodation if you can afford it, every time. But if you can't, Avon Way is definitely the one to go with. The location is very difficult to say no to, everything is very cheap.

Llinos · 14 April 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I recently moved into beyond the box in October and what an amazing experience I have had so far ! The staff are amazing a huge shout out to Sonia Chantelle Paige and griff have made me feel safe and at home ! Our studio is perfect and I’ve only had 1 little issue which was sorted in 24hrs the staff are always working so hard to make sure everyone is okay ❤️ for our big studio the price is amazing for being in Colchester! 👍🏻 thank you BTB team ❤️

Abdelhalim · 30 December 2024

★★★★★ 4/5

Google

It's better than it's given credit for - I saw some very negative reviews before taking the plunge, but my expectations were better than described. The rent is quite decent, the rooms aren't too shabby, and the hub runs events among other things to keep it interesting. The events are a load of fun and excess stuff is given out for free the next day - good way to get some free pop. There's some vending machines, that's pretty neat. In my experience, the staff are absolutely swell and very approachable. Going to the University is nice, you walk down a quaint nature reserve, route is pretty safe in the daytime and it's 15 minutes. You're also a 15 minute walk from Greenstead, which has a park, supermarket, and doctor's surgery. Chippy is like, right on your doorstep, Tesco is further down but I'd recommend the Greenstead co-op for pricing. I've been able to run on a budget of around £250 a month - that's for all non-rent-related payments. Definitely gives me the squeeze, but the fact it works is enough, y'know? VERY, VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This place doesn't exactly run on a rental system. They'll call it rent, but it's more like a loan. Ergo, if you want to leave, you need to find a rent replacement to cover your contract, lest you be liable. Additionally, if you begin your contract late in a month before you start, you may end up paying two sums of rent in quick succession because rent is usually paid at the start. If you work with these people, you need to use this information well, or you'll be a bit short. This is why I haven't given a 5 Star rating - it's quite insidious, in my opinion, though the staff have been badgering the parent(?) company to change the system. It's on them. You can haggle payment windows. Accommodation itself is fine. I got the cheapest joint, which meant I had a really small room, but I'm a uni student, so, y'know how it goes. Beds are comfortable, you get a wardrobe and desk to use, stuff like that. Cooker was a bit grim and one of the freezer doors wouldn't work properly, but I'm pretty sure that was flatmates being daft. Tap would scream like a banshee. However, staff are very communicative and always willing to address issues that you tell them about - many examples of things being fixed, inspections are run regularly and told in advance, so on. I do wish I was given a proper chair to sit on as it did make studying difficult, but organisational issues prevented that. I definitely got the short end of the stick as you can tell, but apparently my experience is among the worst, so you'll get a better one. If you want mail, you have to tell the accommodation to leave it out if you collect after 4:30 PM. It's delivered to the hub which locks up after roughly that time. It's also not open on Sundays (accessible, just no staff, so no mail monitoring). The heating is controlled remotely across all flats, the most control you get is the knob on the radiator. This means that, occasionally, it'll be on when it's super hot, or really cold, with no way to turn it on. There's several occasions where this happened and it caused one of my flatmates to get a bit sick. Not much you can do here without a complete change to the system, unfortunately. Washing clothes can be a bit arduous, the washing machines are shared across a lot of students (it's within regulations, but the regulations suck, what can you do?). My flat block didn't have one, so I'd have to go across to another to do it. In the end I chose to sink wash my clothes and dry them with the windows open and a fan nearby instead - not new to this, I did it in my previous flat too. But I can see it being bad for most people. This is something I would want changed at some point. Getting food deliveries and such is fine, but not everyone serves here, and depending on where you are you may need to give precise directions. I'd say pick the University accommodation if you can afford it, every time. But if you can't, Avon Way is definitely the one to go with. The location is very difficult to say no to, everything is very cheap.

Plague · 24 September 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Very poor. They deducted the deposit even though I wasn’t the one responsible. It was the staff’s fault for not properly checking that the glass room was missing, yet they charged the next tenant for it. Some staff members speak rudely and make false accusations, even when all rules are being followed. There is only one washing machine and one dryer for three houses, which is not enough for the number of tenants. The dryer doesn’t produce heat, likely because it’s broken, but the staff haven’t fixed it. It’s been like this for 4, 5 months.

Sothasa · 14 October 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I was living in the countryside view Pankhurst House ensuite room. I really enjoyed my experience. It is very quiet, i could concentrate on study and work, and facilities are modern and comfy. There is everything you need in the room: cooking area, fridge, stove, microwave, cupboard, wardrobe, desk, coffee table, chair. My love is from ceiling to floor window with the view on nature and wide wooden windowceile. In the hub you can use study areas, quiet area and meeting room and a gym, you can play pingpong and meet with friends over coffee, the area is taken care of, there are flowers everywhere and nice grass, BBQ tables and benches. The location is close to uni, you can walk 20 mins or go by bicycle. I used to go to the hill at Salary Brook nature reserve and watched sunsets, it's tranquilinng and the view is fantastically beautiful.

Maria · 14 April 2024

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Recently just finished a 2 year contract with beyond the box and it honestly made my last 2 years of Uni. Staff are absolutely lovely and supportive and helped me through some rough patches. Rooms were decent size and same as the kitchen. Overall worth the price

Georgia · 14 April 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I recently left this place. My experience was good here. I highly recommend this place 🏠 🏢 because it provides good amenities to the students 📚 and gives a good option to live here in different rooms like 2-5 bedrooms 🛌🪑🛋 with ensuite/without ensuite bathroom 🛁 🚾, studio🛌🪑🛋 apartments 🏢. Landscaping 🌼 🌸 🌻 of this accommodation is beautiful. It looks like you are at the expensive resort. There is a 🌃 night/day 🌄 guard 💂‍♂️ cat 🐈. There is a separate huge study 📖 📓 room. They have resolved issues quickly in my flat as I complained about some problems. Overall, I love this place !!! It was a great one year experience, I miss this place.

Highdrive · 28 August 2023

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

This will be the best choice you ever make for your child. The staff really go above and beyond to make the students stay memorable. Staff is wonderfull, caring, helpfull in every way. Housing is close to Essex University, transport and shops. Everything your student will need is there. I am glad we chose Beyond the Box for our daughter from South Africa. (stayed 3 years 6 months). You can have peace of mind if you are a International Student. International students THIS is the place to stay.

Belinda · 30 August 2022

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

They definitiely delete comments because this place is not 4 stars. The way this company treats students is honestly disgusting. They are proud of their "cheaper" rooms compared to other accomadations but only offer 48 week contracts. This means if you move back home after the school year has finished in June, you'll still be paying for a room you wont be living in for 2 months. Obviously they know what they are doing when they wont budge on amending the contract in any way. Even when covid started and so many students went to live at home. Of course they were still charging full price for every single contract. For the price you pay, having to share 1 washing machine between 200 other tenants is insulting. Winters are uncomfortable beacuse heating is centrally controlled. The quality of the rooms and kitchens are awful. It's clear they barely clean rooms inbetween tenants. Furniture is cheap and ugly. Fridges and freezers can barely keep food cold. Kitchen appliances are terrible. However, for me the worst part is reading the made up and insanely expensive charges when you leave to make sure that you get as little of your deposit back as possible. Only redeeming quality is that staff are nice. This place is a joke. Only consider living here if you have literally no other options.

John · 1 July 2022

★★★★★ 4/5

Google

Great place for both undergraduate and postgraduate students! The accommodation has everything you need and you can book it individually or with friends. Felt very safe for living in Greenstead. I personally booked individually as I did not know anyone, but ended up making some of the best friends here! They also have a really cool hub which is great for both studying (chill areas and quiet rooms) and hanging out, which was a lifesaver during the pandemic. The only downside is that it can be quite pricey for the average student, which is why I eventually had to move out. There were also some moisture issues due to the safety locks on the windows, which mean the windows can barely be cracked open. All in all, I highly recommend!

Claudia · 27 May 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

One of the best accommodations I have lived for a long time so far. I bet you’ll enjoy your staying here. If you like to walk or run in the morning the Salary Brook trail is your place which is one minute walk from this accommodation. Tesco is 10~12 minutes walk, the university is 15~20 minutes walk. There is a bus stop just in front of the Hub. From my window, I could enjoy the view of the nature as well as birds who used to wake me up in the morning. The hospitality team is extremely helpful. I specially thank Chantelle for her supports and amazing instant responses.

Syed · 27 May 2022

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

Recently just finished a 2 year contract with beyond the box and it honestly made my last 2 years of Uni. Staff are absolutely lovely and supportive and helped me through some rough patches. Rooms were decent size and same as the kitchen. Overall worth the price

Georgia · 24 September 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

AVOID AT ALL COST! I spent approximately 3 years of my PhD life in Avon way I wish I hadn't. They look for every chance to fine the students and when it comes to supporting them, abra cadabra, they are gone!! I cleaned every single bit of my studio before returning it, yet they charged me £215!! £150 for two spots on a mattress that doesn't count this much if new! Either they don't know what is wear and tear or they are just looking for every chance to take your deposit!! Will definitely see them at court, no matter how much it costs. This has to stop for future students.

Kiana · 14 April 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

I recently completed my contract at Beyond the Box in Colchester, and I must say, it was a wonderful experience. The environment was both comfortable and welcoming. The staff were consistently helpful and professional, ensuring that repairs were carried out promptly and regular safety checks were diligently performed. Additionally, the location near the Salary Brook Natural Reserve provided the perfect opportunity to unwind and enjoy the beautiful evenings. University and Tesco are very close to the property. The only thing that constantly disturbed me there was the students making a lot of noise at night - but I believe Hospitality Staff shouldn’t be blamed for is this, as despite their repeated warnings students kept their behaviour unchanged.

Showkat · 14 April 2025

★★★★★ 3/5

Google

Like any accommodation it's not perfect. It's got its pros and cons and might be more suitable for certain individuals rather than others. I rented a 2 bedroom apartment with a friend. Pros: - Location. It's relatively close to the University. In fact, this accommodation would be really suitable for those who own bikes as it's easier to get to the university that way than walking. Walking to the University takes around 25 minutes depending on your pace. - Decent storage space. I'm pretty sure every room has at least one set of drawers and a wardrobe which is not the best, but decent. It also has a set of shelves above the desk similar to The South Towers rooms at the University and the desk has a drawer as well. It's also got a bit of room if you're thinking of bringing along your own furniture. There's also plenty of storage space in the kitchen. I've never fully used mine. Only the fridge and freezer sometimes get full because the fridge is a mini fridge and so is the freezer in terms of size. - Decently sized rooms. The bedroom has got good space for one person. The living room is almost the size of 2 bedrooms in my flat. It's a shame they couldn't have made better use of that space and extended the bedrooms instead. The kitchen is perfectly sized if 2 people need to cook at the same time. - Nice staff. The staff have always been friendly and helpful with the students. Every request I had was dealt with relatively quickly. Plus it's nice that they are able to accept parcels on the residents' behalf in case you are away during a parcel delivery. - Good heating. The heating is amazing. Compared to other accommodation I've stayed at outside of University, this one is really good. I've never felt cold inside my flat or felt the need to put layers upon layers of clothing to keep warm. - Good Internet speed. You can also buy an upgrade if you need to. - Double bed. Cons: - Bus. Now that the 75B is no longer working, there are no direct bus routes to University anymore. This means you would have to take the 64 bus to Tesco and switch there, walk to Tesco and take the bus there or just walk to University. Sometimes the bus is faster than walking if you're lucky, sometimes it takes about the same time if you were to walk which is around 25 minutes. - No proper ventilation. My flat has a hallway from which you can access every room, but it has no windows and no ventilator. This means that every time I enter the flat, I am met with stale air. You can't even open the window in an adjacent room and leave the door open because all doors are fire doors and fire doors are not be left open. Even the windows have some security on them similar to the University accommodation, since they can only be opened a tiny amount. So during hot weather, the flat can get close to boiling. - Some furniture varies across flats. After I moved in, I found out that some flats have TVs, mine didn't. Considering this flat is one of the most expensive ones on the site, that was surprising. There is a reason behind it, but it doesn't take away from the fact that some flats have TVs and some don't. For people who enjoy watching TV or have consoles, bear this in mind and ask the staff before accepting your contract. Some fixtures like lighting or fridges can also vary from flat to flat. - The living room. The living room is quite big as I mentioned before and it's got quite sparse furniture. It's mostly empty and it's got plenty of unused space. This might be good for some people though if they workout at home frequently. Otherwise, it's a waste of space. - The fridge. It depends on the person here, but I like to buy quite a few ingredients to store in the fridge. But I only have one mini fridge shelf, half of the vegetable mini-drawer and half of the fridge door. Most of the time I have to stack things on top of each other and still use my flatmate's shelf from time to time. As for the freezer, I have 2 shelves there which is enough. This was from the perspective of a 2 bedroom flat, it might not apply to all flats.

Irina · 27 May 2021

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

I lived here for 2 years only because it was closer to the uni. The accomodation and facilities are decent but the staff are unpredictable. They care more about the cat than any student living and they dont care if people do recreational drugs and some of areas smell like pot. Also the deposit charges are ridiculous. There are cheaper accommodations with better services (eg: Maltings has a cinema room and a gym!!!).

Teena · 14 April 2025

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Constant issues with silverfish in the room. I’ve contacted reception numerous times and they’ve informed me on multiple occasions that they would send someone to come spray something in the room. I kill roughly one silverfish a day and today I found them in my clothes. It’s becoming unbearable and the lack of interest from reception is quite infuriating. They keep telling me they will resolve the issue but it’s an excuse until I visit them the next day.

Yehia · 30 November 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Avoid this place as much as you can , they withhold your mail , the rooms are full of damp and mould , the hot water is constantly going wrong and your often left without hot water , the washing machines damage your clothing , the doors fall of there hinges , the sercurity doors that are on the blocks are often propped open so you have no safety anyone can walk in , the staff just let there selfs into your flat with out knocking , they have a 3 hour lunch break so the hub is closed 3 hours a day which makes no sense, I mean who has a 3 hour lunch break ? Constant smell of cannabis on site and drug dealing happening in broad daylight on sight , we had a window smashed in the middle of the day because the tenets above us threw something out the window see pictures attached , this place is not safe for any families or infact anyone to live in , The staff are incredibly rude and not helpful what so ever , they do not do anything about complaints , I had a medical letter delivered which was urgent and had to be taken to a hospital appointment the same day but they refused to give it to me when it was right in front of me this has now caused my medical appointment to be pushed back 4 weeks , As said the staff are very rude and do not care about the people who live here , please see pictures below

Lillie · 14 September 2025

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

!!! HIGHLY NOT RECOMMENDED !!! If someone is looking for an accomodation during University period I suggest not to opt for this. There are many other good accomodations with good amenities as it has got nothing but highly priced. If you wanna waste your money for nothing then YES this is the best place. They take 250£ as deposit and you rarely get that back after finising your stay here. I stayed in a Studio and I didn't get a single penny out of 250£ even after a thorough cleaning during the time of leaving. I vacated a week ago from this accomodation and I do not recommend this to anyone.

Chandan · 14 April 2024

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Incredibly greedy accommodation team charging ridiculous rent for the facilities they have. Rooms stink, are unpainted, kitchen is tiny and the fridges and freezers break repeatedly, they target international student as they are less likely to complain about the conditions. Avoid like the plageu

K · 14 April 2025

★★★★★ 1/5

Google

Absolutely shocking accommodation, fire doors fitted with inadequate screws that do not support the weight of the doors and two doors have fallen off , mould growing in most rooms , the staff mainly Sonia & Chantelle are very rude and over talk you when you want to talk to to them simple no accountability , they do not listen to you and they have no respect for the tenants , we are taking this further through the appropriate channels , please avoid I do not recommend what so ever

Benjamin · 2 February 2025

★★★★★ 2/5

Google

I had a mixed experience during my stay at Avon. The room was comfortable, and the view was lovely. However, I noticed a slight change in staff behaviour over time. Initially, they were friendly and welcoming, but later on, some staff members seemed less friendly. My main concern was their main focus on money, mainly fines and deductions, rather than warnings. This was particularly evident when it came to a fine for a bin disposal + deposit return process, where vague reasons were given for deductions. Although I didn't raise this issue, I wanted a smooth refund process and to provide feedback on their services. I want to say that this is my personal experience, and others may have different perspectives.

Sukanya · 29 January 2025

★★★★★ 5/5

Google

This is a favorable location for students seeking accommodation. It offers a wide range of student activities and provides attractive study areas and meeting spaces. However, the shared kitchen and bathroom facilities were not well-maintained, and the rental cost was quite high. It tends to be a rather solitary environment, making it an ideal choice for those who enjoy spending time alone.

Aarcha · 14 April 2024