Lisburn Road or Ormeau Road???

teaspoon1

A quickie! I am thinking of moving to the Ormeau Road purely because I have seen a lovely house. I also have a my eye on a house on the Lisburn Road, also lovely but a few £ more expensive (renting BTW). We have haggled both rents down by about £50pcm so there is no scope for more discounts!

Does anyone have any views on the relative merits of both areas? I have lived on the Lisburn Road before but never the Ormeau Road so would be v. interested to hear your thoughts. I know they both have Asian supermarkets but only the Lisburn Road has other supermarkets (I don't count Dunnes as it is too dear and has a poor selection). I walk to work so parking/buses aren't an issue. Here are my thoughts so far (sorry if this thread seems a bit silly, it is actually MS as I am keen to have some decent and cheap food shops nearby!). Thanks. :A

Pros of Lisburn Road house:
2 bedrooms (both quite large)
Through lounge
Wood burning stove (surely more useful than a garden in this climate!)
Gas cooker and slightly bigger kitchen and bathroom

Cons of Lisburn Road house:
No garden
Currently being renovated so might not be ready in time (although we have been assured that it will be!)
£25 dearer per month

Pros of Ormeau house:
Back garden
3 bedrooms (all quite small though)
Nice quiet neighbours
£25 cheaper per month

Cons of Ormeau house:
Separate lounge/dining rooms (I prefer a through lounge)
Back gate not very secure!
Small bathroom (shower over bath)
Electric cooker

Pros of Lisburn Road:
Supermarkets (Tesco & Co-op) within a few minutes' walk
Nice cafes and delis and cheese shop, mmmm
Good base for evening walks

Pros of Ormeau Road:
?

teaspoon1

p.s. we sort of need to decide today so any replies would be v. gratefully received!

Normskin

I have never lived on the Lisburn Road but can recommend the Ormeau Road. Good pubs - The Errigle and the Big House. There is the Olive Tree Deli which I think sells different types of cheeses and pesto etc. Gaze is pretty cheap and tasty for Asian food and is bring your own. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes in the vicinity and as for evening walks, the towpath isn't too far away and also Ormeau Park. I actually find Dunnes quite reasonable for some things but the selection is pretty poor although I have a car so that isn't so much of an issue.

Bigcammy

Personally I'd prefer the Lisburn Road area, but the Ormeau Road house sounds better just because of the garden. In the good weather, which we've had a reasonable bit of so far this year, you'll be glad of it.

You should also be able to get the Landlord to secure the back gate, especially if you make it a condition of taking on the tenancy.

sleepymy

I agree with Bigcammy, the Lisburn Road wins hands down for aesthetics of the road & shops etc but the Ormeau road is nice in areas too and is very handy for the town, Forestside and the big Tesco at Belvoir. It would be the garden that would swing it for me. Good luck!

SnowyOwl_2

In the interests of money saving I'd say go for Ormeau Road - for starters you have the back garden in which to line dry washing, therefore you won't have to run a drier, which of course would eat electricity. If in the event there are days when it's sunny you'll be glad to open your back door and let some air in, or even sit outside. Also having a surplus bedroom will be very handy for accommodating guests, or to set up a home office or just to store things - and all for £25 less pm.

teaspoon1

Thanks for all the replies so far, very interesting!

As for using the garden to dry clothes, that is true - but the other house does have a large yard which is being cleared and whitewashed so would also be suitable for drying clothes. We never use a tumble dryer or dishwasher, I don't like them!
Neither garden nor yard gets the sun late in the evening (this may have swung it for me).

Anyone got a view on the through lounge with dining area vs separate lounge/dining rooms? I lived in a house which had separate lounge/dining and it was very odd! The dining room being between the kitchen and lounge seemed very sterile.

Agree that the third bedroom would be good as an office/storage but the other house has bigger bedrooms and space downstairs for a PC desk and extra storage.

And nobody has commented on the wood burning stove...

Pretani

I would go for whatever area has less crime.

here's a very interesting site giving all the stats on areas in N.Ireland. Including geography, demographics, crime and justice, education and training, employment, deprivation, health and care, housing and transport.

http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/default.asp

teaspoon1

Burglary is a lot higher in Windsor ward although the rubbish back gate might make us one of the statistics in Ballynafeigh!!! Violent crimes similar in both.

Another thing is, I feel relatively safe walking home at night to the Lisburn Road compared with the Ormeau Road. The area between the city centre and the Ormeau bridge is very dodgy, I don't think I would feel safe. At least there are always lots of people around on the Lisburn Road!!

I really can't decide, I might actually need to flip a coin!

Honkycat

I'd go for Lisburn Road every time. A better vibe I think.

teaspoon1

Thanks all. I have been thinking about it all morning. The sunny weather is making me want a garden but how important is it really?

I just took a walk up the Ormeau Road pretending I was on my way home. The part after the bridge is nice but the lower Ormeau just gives me a weird feeling. I mean the section between Ormeau Avenue and the Hatfield. It's a really empty weird place. I could walk to work and back via Sunnyside Street and Stranmillis every day but could I be a*sed? I am on the verge of calling the LL to say no thank you and choosing the Lisburn Road house.