[Marc]

hosting packages? I've been looking at the forums while there is a good choice of hosts in the USA I couldn't find any decent reviews of UK hosts. Most if not all of my users will be in the UK so it seems to make sense to have the server based here.
My domains are registered in the USA with Godaddy, does that mean all the HTTP requests will go through USA anyway?
1: pomirc is not based in the UK, it doesn't look like it's going to last 6 months, it isn't hosting any proper websites and generally appears very unprofessional. I'm not really looking for any of those things. No offence, but to be honest I could probably knock up something better myself.
@parker_94: The IP's for your host are all under a /18 based in Dallas, TX. I'm looking for something in the UK. I'm not really interested in an account with a reseller, my site could be taken down any day! Good luck with your design efforts though. Try to get some work experience through your friend Keisha and maybe you'll go places.
@Dave G: I'd like to believe you but I have dark suspicions about your motives. The affiliate link looks a lot like the stuff I see in my spam box warning me about updating my paypal account. Regarding the server's location, why do we have mirrors on the internet, why do big corporates set up hosts across the globe, for fun?
For anyone finding this through google in "the future" here are some hosts with half-decent reviews, mostly found on drupal.org.

In no particular order the less-well known:
http://www.mythic-beasts.com/ - the shell accounts
http://www.machinenetworks.co.uk/webhosting/standard/
http://www.xion-internet.co.uk/
http://www.clook.co.uk/services/shared - highly recommended, reasonably expensive
http://shared.nethosted.co.uk/plans/ - don't seem quite as good as the others
http://www.ukshells.co.uk/webhosting/ - linux shell account
http://www.rapidswitch.com - very fast, for dedicated / co-located hosting only, shouldn't really be part of this list

And the more prominent (but not necessarily the best):
4uhosting.co.uk - very cheap, all packages include at least 2 mysql databases, some very poor reviews
fasthosts.co.uk - need to pay extra to get 1 mysql database
uk2.net - not clear if there's full PHP support, 1 mysql database

[Dave G]

Take into consideration that web hosting is a global service, it is not important you are located in Au, UK, Ca or US. And also the cost of hosting services in UK & Au generally is a little high in compared with the same services in CA & US.

As an experienced webmaster I recommend BlueHost service which I’m sure it would work for you and fulfill all your requirements. They have a really great offer for hosting & I have used them for over 3 yrs now, and have never had a single problem with them.

They are a Multi-awarded Web Hosting which offer a Full-featured service only $6.95 a month. Their service is really perfect and uptime.

You can go there through the address below:
http://bluehost-service.atspace.com

Here I have copied and pasted its features from their website to view:

- Free Domain Forever
- 1500 Gigabyte Hosting Space
- 15000 GIGS of Transfer
- Host UNLIMITED Domains (Support All Domain Names)
- 2,500 POP/Imap Email Accounts
- SSH (Secure Shell), SSL, FTP, Stats
- CGI, Ruby (RoR), Perl, PHP, MySQL
- 2000/2002 Front Page Extensions
- Free Site Builder
- 24/7 Superb/Responsive Sales/Support
- Free Search Engine Submission

******IMPORTANT*******
* This service was awarded as the best Web Host 2008.
* If you sign up for this service you will have $100 credits to advertise your website with the google & yahoo search engines for free!
*************************
Good Luck!