Busby’s

"In many ways, not much has changed in Busby’s since it was established in 1926: a strong house identity, no devices, plenty of laughter around the pool table, and lively discussion – not always especially highbrow. The house, rebuilt in 1936 and designed by Sir Herbert Baker, sits tucked away in its own yard on the corner of Great College Street. Its setting means that, despite being just off the bustle of Little Dean’s Yard, it feels very much like a home. Busby’s is known for its strong identity – Busbites wear their house colours with pride – for its sense of community, and for its competitive sporting prowess. In recent years we’ve won seven Athletic Sports trophies in a row, we’ve enjoyed considerable success in house football during my tenure, and this year we currently sit in second place in the race for the Tim Wood’s Trophy (for overall athletic performance). As one of the larger boarding houses, Busby’s has a healthy 50/50 split between day pupils and boarders. As one of the first houses to accept female boarders in the mid‑1990s, it has long had a strong co‑educational ethos. We also have the luxury of one common room large enough to fit all 76 Busbites at once. Regardless of gender or age, whether day pupils or boarders, pupils get to know one another remarkably well simply by living alongside one another. “Vertical integration” may be the fashionable term, but for us it has always been entirely normal. Inside the house you’ll find a pool table, table football, two pianos, a house guitar, a full Hi‑Fi setup, and a cinema system used for communal film nights, music evenings and watching sport. In the yard outside, there's garden seating and beanbags throughout the summer, a table‑tennis table, a cornhole set and a large BBQ that becomes the centrepiece of our frequent warm‑weather gatherings. Board games and other shared activities help ensure that there’s always something going on. "