Flat hunting...

[denny]

Was looking at flat-hunting websites again this evening. Found one place that's a bit off the top of my price range, but looks really nice inside. Then I noticed, it's a first-floor flat, straight on top of a pub. "Maybe not", I think.

Then I think again... after all, it's a pub in EC1. A City pub. It's probably rammed in the early evening, but I doubt it's that bad by kicking out time... and quite possibly quiet at the weekend too.

I decided that I'd drive past it a few times over the next week, see how noisy it seems at various times of day and week.

I just drove there for the first time, on the way home from visiting the House of Monkeys this evening. I managed to find it, got out of my car, and instantly felt incredibly at peace and at home - to a positively disconcerting degree.

I hope it's always that nice there. I hope I can get it.


Update: walked back there this morning... turns out the pub is closed, and has been for at least three years according to the locals. So not really a noise issue now, but could be re-opened any time I guess. Or could stay closed for the next ten years, or get converted into more flats. *shrug*

Comments

[skx.livejournal.com]

I'd be extremely reluctant to get a house above a pub, after visiting a few friends who lived above them in the past.

The biggest issue is that you have to worry not just about the current pub, but about every future landlord and refit over the duration of your time there.

Sometimes quiet pubs turn into noisy ones..

[blaadyblah.livejournal.com]

As gorgeous as it looks (and it really does) skx makes a good point. Even if the noise levels during the day and evening don't bother you or change later, it's worth considering that the market fluctuates too and that property may prove difficult to shift at a later date. If it were a rental job I'd go for it in a heartbeat, but to buy? I'm not so sure. :/

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

Hrmmm... good point, thanks.

[cokephreak.livejournal.com]

looks nice ...

And high ceilings -> good for poi and a doubt the pub will complain about the noise of dropped juggling balls

Me?
One track mind?
No...

one track mind

[libellum.livejournal.com]

Good for other things as well :)

Re: one track mind

[cokephreak.livejournal.com]

Hmm

enough room to swing a cat of some description...
or something else.
;)

[libellum.livejournal.com]

Hippy :)

[arachne.livejournal.com]

Bear in mind also that it's leasehold. I don't know a whole lot about the house-buying thing, but I've been led to believe that freehold are far better.

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

Almost all flats are leasehold - particularly in the centre of London.

[deerfold.livejournal.com]

About the only flats which aren't are ground floor ones. Although you do get Flying Freeholds which aren't half as much fun as they sound.

[denari.livejournal.com]

I would check with the planning office to see if there is any work planned on this pub. Could be an idea that you could buy it yourself at a later date and extend it onto your home?

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

The thought had occurred to me, although it's quite spectacularly far into random daydream territory at present.

[alterred.livejournal.com]

Hope you don't mind me adding you? You seem to have a top and spiffing sense of humour! :D

[dennyd.livejournal.com]

Anybody is welcome to read along - don't take it personally if I don't add you back straight away, I've been promoted recently at work and my spodding time has been sadly curtailed to below the 'adding interesting new random people' threshold.

[alterred.livejournal.com]

No probs. :)