Renting in Dundee - any tips?

Swan_2

newmove wrote: »

Ah, thanks. Anyway, having gone through agents and gumtree, if things go smoothly I should be viewing about 10 places in one day of viewings... Now just need to decide whether to stay in Dundee overnight, so I can get a feel for what any promising places are like in the evening...

that's lot you've got organised! an overnight stay's probably a good plan, it'll be a busy day & you'll be tired too

you'll likely get some more advice about pubs, restaurants, clubs, places to visit & other things to do if you post on the Scotland board

newmove

Thanks - yes, a busy day. Been a long time since I've been flat-hunting...

newmove

Anyway, will be staying the night in Dundee. Hotel prices there aren't unreasonable, and hotels.com have a Quidco deal on...

Swan_2

that sounds like a good plan

maybe post the areas you'll be looking at? or if you don't want to make it public, PM one or more of the posters on this thread

what do you want to do on your evening in Dundee? I only know the pubs in the West End, oh and & a couple of dodgy ones on the Hilltown
I could ask my daughter too, she knows the places the younger folks go :cool:

ali-t

newmove wrote: »

Anyway, will be staying the night in Dundee. Hotel prices there aren't unreasonable, and hotels.com have a Quidco deal on...

What sort of pubs/clubs are you into? Are you looking for mingling with students/professionals etc give me a few clues and I can suggest a few places for you. :beer:

newmove

Thanks. Sadly, doubt I'll be clubbing when visiting this time: too busy and knackered at the moment Any suggestions for somewhere decent to eat in the West End? (anything from a chippy to an Indian place to pub food would be fine as long as the food's good...)

Pubs - tend to prefer nice real ale type places. Even better if they have live music some nights

Swan_2

the best chippy in the West End, well it's nearer the town centre but the only one actually in the West End is rubbish, is the Deep Sea 1382 224449 good fish & chips & it has a time-warp sit in area where you still get pots of tea & bread & butter, think it closes 6.30-ish though

there are 2 or 3 Indians, including The Balaka 01382 643537 which is decent, & Dil Se 01382 221501 which is pricier but has won awards, I've only ever had the buffet there (its website seems to be down, & the one that comes up takes you to the Balaka's site:eek: )

Piccolo 01382 201419 is nice, it says Italian, but I last time I was there I had tagliatelli with prawn, coconut milk, lime & chilli, it was lovely, apparently everything is cooked fresh, so service can be a little slow, but it's worth the wait

there's an Italian, Don Michel 01382 660600 which used to be great, marvellous atmosphere & delicious food, but they've got a new chef now & it's not been so good, which is a shame as it was my favourite, along with ...

Agakan 01383 644227 if you like Turkish food, this place is the best, it's tiny so best to call & book, the menu's limited, but the food is really nice & you can see it prepared in front of you (if you're facing the right way ) also the place is decorated in spectacular style, mostly done by the owner, it's well worth a visit ... no website, but a Google brings up my posting the last time I recommended it on MSE as the first result :rotfl:
I want Kazartma & the Pilic Special now :drool:

there are loads more, but I've only mentioned ones I've first hand experience of, I'm sure someone else will be along with more suggestions

Swan_2

loads of pubs out the West End, well it is the uni area

one of the best for real ales is The Speedwell Bar but be warned, don't ask anyone to direct you to it by that name, you'll get blank stares, it's always known as Mennies, see the website for the explanation

the only live music is has at the moment is an Irish music jam in the back room once a week

again I'm sure there will be loads of other suggestions

newmove

Think I may have found a nice flat - thanks for all the help :T A *lot* of variation in what's on the market: the condition of some places was pretty poor, even with high-ish rents (some landlords must be getting a pretty good return, and not bothering to spend anything much on maintenance...letting to students, I'd guess) Most 'nice' places seemed to be getting towards the £500/month mark, but some more reasonable (I was lucky enough to find one).

Ended up heading for a drink at Mennies and then eating at Dil Se - did a very nicely bitter, fresh-tasting lamb Ghost (that's the wrong spelling, I think). Seems a pretty decent Bangladeshi place; lamb was leaner than I'd like, but I guess that lean meat tends to be viewed as better in the UK. Not especially cheap in the evenings, though if the cooking's consistent the lunch/early evening menus seem like good deals.

Swan_2

that's great you've got a place sorted out :T

I know what you mean about the huge variation in the condition of rented properties, I've been round a few lately with friends who are looking for a new place
we saw an absolutely beautiful fully-furnished flat in a lovely quiet well-maintained block at £390 & the same day a nice unfurnished one, but in a block where you had to fight your way past furniture & rubbish on the common stair & the communal back garden had waist-high grass, they were looking for £500

saag gosht (I think ... I don't know how to spell it either) my favourite curry (but difficult to get a decent one so I usually end up making my own) I'll have to save up & treat myself at Dil Se

great you got to Mennie's, it's my favourite pub & is my local, although I've not been in lately as I'm moving house myself, so I wasn't one of the 'colourful' characters you probably saw
if you go back again you'll find they have different beers on offer week-to-week, with the promotions chalked up on a board behind the bar at the corner

anyway, good luck with your move & I hope you enjoy your stay in Dundee