What's Lancaster like?

[cyberfairy]

That's very true, it was only a few families but they pretty much terrorised the whole estate, Mal got it in the neck mainly because he was the only Asian living on the estate (for the vast majority of the time) and he stood up to bad behaviour and various other antisocial activity being carried out in and around his shop. he also got a lot of lovely people from there supprting him, but often not publically because of the fear of others.

Anyway, back to your question......I don't know the areas that well, I lived in Preston at the time, but as you come in to the city on the main road from the South there are some very lovely,and expensive (even for the North) houses, many of which have been turned into flats from the look, and size, of them.

There are also quite a few Green Councillors and they seem to mainly represent Castle and Scotforth Wards, with 1 each in Duke's and Bulk ward as well - these could be good places to start looking and would prob mean something to an Estate Agent

Don't think can afford to buy atm but good to know of many Green councillers. Bit skint so know can't expect to live in salubrious area but as live so far away, have no idea of what areas fall between super posh and downright awful. Your poor friend My greatest fear is living somewhere where I don't feel safe or happy and do not like or trust the neighbours. Happy to live in the crappiest looking area as long as the people there are sound and I feel secure

 

[citydreams]

Lancaster is on the whole really nice but it has some pretty crap places as well. Spent a number of years working with a victim of sustained and horrendous racial harassment (Mal Hussain on the Rylands Estate). Mal and Linda have now moved on

That was in my time in Lancs.. around 1998? Sorry he eventually moved on.. he stood his ground well.

It was the only incidence of racism I came across.

How's the Marsh estate doing?

 

[cyberfairy]

Well, just handed my notice in at work as they were talking to me about long term plans. I hope I like Lancaster as would be far too embarressed to tell work, not leaving after all any tips for a poncey southerner moving north to be with some guy she met on the net, much appreciated

 

[sojourner]

any tips for a poncey southerner moving north to be with some guy she met on the net, much appreciated

A split is chips and mushy peas

 

[cyberfairy]

A split is chips and mushy peas

Oh-thought it was something rude
looking forward to a pie butty (or indeed a barmcake-see, i'm an honoroury northerner already)

 

[PursuedByBears]

I've lived in Lancaster since 1994 when I came to uni here and liked it so much I stayed. It's a brilliant place to live and I hope you like it here.

Just to reiterate what speedier posters have said: we have a great veggie cafe where I have lunch every Saturday called the Whale Tail (top of Penny Street), the arthouse cinema (the Dukes) on Moor Lane is also a favourite haunt as they let you take your drinks in and there's no popcorn, if you want live music the John o'Gaunt is still going strong and there's also the Yorkshire House which is less cramped. The best pubs are owned by the same people - the Sun on Church Street and the Waterwitch on the canal - both do loads of real ales and good food. It's true that there isn't much nightlife but I can't stand clubs so that's never really been a problem.

A northwest photographer did loads of pictures of life in the district, worth a look here to get a feel for some areas you haven't seen yet.

Which area of town have you settled in? I'm in Bowerham to the south of the city by St Martins college. If you ever fancy meeting up with a (very) occasional poster drop me a pm.

 

[cyberfairy]

I've lived in Lancaster since 1994 when I came to uni here and liked it so much I stayed. It's a brilliant place to live and I hope you like it here.

Just to reiterate what speedier posters have said: we have a great veggie cafe where I have lunch every Saturday called the Whale Tail (top of Penny Street), the arthouse cinema (the Dukes) on Moor Lane is also a favourite haunt as they let you take your drinks in and there's no popcorn, if you want live music the John o'Gaunt is still going strong and there's also the Yorkshire House which is less cramped. The best pubs are owned by the same people - the Sun on Church Street and the Waterwitch on the canal - both do loads of real ales and good food. It's true that there isn't much nightlife but I can't stand clubs so that's never really been a problem.

A northwest photographer did loads of pictures of life in the district, worth a look here to get a feel for some areas you haven't seen yet.

Which area of town have you settled in? I'm in Bowerham to the south of the city by St Martins college. If you ever fancy meeting up with a (very) occasional poster drop me a pm.

Thanks for that-going up this weekend to have a nose but have already decided I am going to live there Might see you in the veggie cafe next Saturday! It all looks and sounds perfect-not really into night life anymore, more watching random bands and weirdness and bimbling around.
Have not yet moved there-need to find a place to rent that will accept a cat-hard to find private landlords on net. Don't suppose you of any places that advertise houses to rent privately?
Will send you a pm when we have got things more settled and would love to meet for a pint in one of those pubs Second Lancaster urb I've found now-any more lurking?
Will go look at the pics now-nice one!

 

[PursuedByBears]

Oh and can anyone recommend any local mags or newspapers? Despite my atrocious punctuation, spelling and grammar, have worked for number of years as freelance journalist, mainly doing music reviews etc and would love to be able to carry on doing the same thing.

There's a couple of rubbish local papers: Lancaster Guardian, Morecambe Visitor and Lancaster and Morecambe Citizen. Further afield there's the Westmoreland Gazette which is the Lancaster Guardian with more sheep and the Lancashire Evening Post which is a daily and based in Preston.

 

[cyberfairy]

I want to live on Storey Avenue Is there any way of making pics work as slideshow? You have banished my boredom now!

 

[cyberfairy]

There's a couple of rubbish local papers: Lancaster Guardian, Morecambe Visitor and Lancaster and Morecambe Citizen. Further afield there's the Westmoreland Gazette which is the Lancaster Guardian with more sheep and the Lancashire Evening Post which is a daily and based in Preston.

Cheers-looked at a few online but will buy loads next week and have a look.

 

[PursuedByBears]

Have not yet moved there-need to find a place to rent that will accept a cat-hard to find private landlords on net. Don't suppose you of any places that advertise houses to rent privately?

There's a lettings bureau further up from the Whale Tail on Penny street and I think Bradford and Bingley have a big rented accommodation section - they're opposite Waterstones in the middle of town as you come down from the train station.

If you do go to the Whale Tail this Saturday I'll be the one sitting under the clock with a carnation and a copy of the times

 

[PursuedByBears]

I want to live on Storey Avenue Is there any way of making pics work as slideshow? You have banished my boredom now!

Is that the memorial village? We wanted to live there but didn't think we could keep up to their exacting standards of garden maintenance - they have regulations that you have to agree to before they let you move in, scarily.

 

[cyberfairy]

There's a lettings bureau further up from the Whale Tail on Penny street and I think Bradford and Bingley have a big rented accommodation section - they're opposite Waterstones in the middle of town as you come down from the train station.

If you do go to the Whale Tail this Saturday I'll be the one sitting under the clock with a carnation and a copy of the times

If you hear someone who sounds like they are a poncey southern type asking for pie then that will be me
Thanks again for your help-will go to all lettings places you've mentioned and all pubs (prob a good idea to do it in that order)

 

[cyberfairy]

Is that the memorial village? We wanted to live there but didn't think we could keep up to their exacting standards of garden maintenance - they have regulations that you have to agree to before they let you move in, scarily.

My goodness. Looking around the state of my current house, I don't think would be good idea to move there. Don't think they would let me after seeing the state of my hair, nevermind anything else

 

[PursuedByBears]

Mrs Bears posting: look for areas south of the city if you can find a reasonably priced place to rent there, that would be best. Second best areas are Moorlands, the Marsh and the Ridge. Avoid Ryelands at all costs. Most other places are fairly safe and the crime rate is astonishingly low all over the city.

Also, the glue factory was really an animal rendering plant and has now been shut down for being too smelly (no really!). That, and the big fire....

Anyway, it's no longer a problem. Come live in Lancaster, it's brilliant!

 

[cyberfairy]

Mrs Bears posting: look for areas south of the city if you can find a reasonably priced place to rent there, that would be best. Second best areas are Moorlands, the Marsh and the Ridge. Avoid Ryelands at all costs. Most other places are fairly safe and the crime rate is astonishingly low all over the city.

Also, the glue factory was really an animal rendering plant and has now been shut down for being too smelly (no really!). That, and the big fire....

Anyway, it's no longer a problem. Come live in Lancaster, it's brilliant!

Thankyou-would move tomorrow if I could but prob going to be February as need to give work time to replace me and sort out how I'm going to get rid of stupid amount of clothes, CD's and books that I really could do without. Have had Moorlands recommended to me before. So looking forward to starting to look Good to know about crime and stuff too Look forward to meeting you both (and getting off the bloody net-what a wasted weekend )

 

[killer b]

i was talking to a pal today who lives in 'freehold', which he says is near the park, reasonably priced and quite nice. he rents through countrywide, says they are ok... i'm still looking for smaller letting agents, but there simply doesn't seem to be that many of them any more.

 

[PursuedByBears]

OK, full list of nice areas in estate-agent speak so you know what to look for:

South of the city:
Greaves
Scotforth
Bowerham
Newlands
Hala

Other not bad areas:
Freehold
Moorlands
Ridge
Marsh
- these are all nearer the city centre. However as Lancaster is so compact everywhere is near the city centre, I live in Bowerham and that's just a 15-min walk to the centre.

You might find cheaper places to rent in Beaumont, Skerton and Newton, which are t'other side of the river. A friend lived in Skerton and liked it but other people don't seem so keen.

 

[cyberfairy]

Thankyou very much the both of you. Will jot it all down and forget to take with me on Saturday Tangerinedream and I prob can't afford to live in the nicest of places as I will be jobless until i find something and one other concern is my cat-some letting agents have a problem with animals I know. Will need something with a garden for her as well so can she can refuse to go out in it and wee in the hall instead And not near a main road as she sits in them and waits for cars to stop. I can't see it being easy to find somewhere atm Not even trying to think about fact that we are both non drivers and I have a house filled to the brim with stuff 400 miles away...
Appreciate your help and hope to buy you both (and Mrs PBB) a pint sometime soon.

 

[cyberfairy]

Oh yes, move prob not going to happen till around mid Feb but if anyone knows anyone with a big fuck off van or a not so big fuck off van ,that can deal with a long journey, then let me know. Be a cash in hand job...

 

[killer b]

no van driver here, sorry.

a preston/lancaster urban meet would be mighty cool though... roll on february!

 

[cyberfairy]

no van driver here, sorry.

a preston/lancaster urban meet would be mighty cool though... roll on february!

Indeed Looking forward to yr next radio show too

 

[killer b]

me too... i'm in charge of the studio today - got a load of kids in rapping and calling me 'blud'...

(not on air - they're practicing for their thursday night show. they're ever so sweet, bless)

 

[JohnC]

Look at the notice boards in Single Step (wholefood store in Penny Street, downstairs from the Whale Tail veggie cafe). There's always loads of accomodation on them.

I live on the Marsh - it's okay I guess but there's a lot of small houses to let on the other side of Long Marsh Lane between the Marsh and the river. Nice location and as cheap as it gets for Lancaster.

You mentioned magazines - Single Step has the best collection of interesting/arty/hippy/anti-fascist/anarchist/LGBT mags anywhere in the area and you can sell your own in there too (for a very small commission) and your own cards (if you're into making such things).

The Gregson is good. Pub/restaurant/community centre. Always excellent bands, special events for good causes, nice atmosphere and interesting people. Just up the hill from the Dukes. Highly recommended.

 

[cyberfairy]

Look at the notice boards in Single Step (wholefood store in Penny Street, downstairs from the Whale Tail veggie cafe). There's always loads of accomodation on them.

I live on the Marsh - it's okay I guess but there's a lot of small houses to let on the other side of Long Marsh Lane between the Marsh and the river. Nice location and as cheap as it gets for Lancaster.

You mentioned magazines - Single Step has the best collection of interesting/arty/hippy/anti-fascist/anarchist/LGBT mags anywhere in the area and you can sell your own in there too (for a very small commission) and your own cards (if you're into making such things).

The Gregson is good. Pub/restaurant/community centre. Always excellent bands, special events for good causes, nice atmosphere and interesting people. Just up the hill from the Dukes. Highly recommended.

Excellent Cheers for the tips-do you know which agent/landlord rents the places in long Marsh Lane? Will go there and Single Step on Saturday-prefer to rent from someone who frequents health food stores than a letting agent
Single Step sounds fab-haven't seen any interesting new alternative magazines in ages....My goodness, there's loads of urbs in lancaster

 

[killer b]

there is a few decent bands & band nights in lancaster, even if the nightclub scene is practically non existant... the superkings should be checked out if you get the chance (quality piano rock with a cello), and the band nights which look the most interesting are transition (i think at the yorkshire house) - they do decent up-and-coming indie - and lawm (at the yorkshire house again, i think) - who do bedwetter acoustic stuff...

 

[cyberfairy]

there is a few decent bands & band nights in lancaster, even if the nightclub scene is practically non existant... the superkings should be checked out if you get the chance (quality piano rock with a cello), and the band nights which look the most interesting are transition (i think at the yorkshire house) - they do decent up-and-coming indie - and lawm (at the yorkshire house again, i think) - who do bedwetter acoustic stuff...

Cool. Been a freelance music journo for Bristol mages etc for a few years and want to worm my way into writing reviews for local press up there so good to know some decent bands about. Do you get many national bands gigging?

 

[PursuedByBears]

Do you get many national bands gigging?

We used to be on the indie circuit for bands playing at the Sugarhouse, which is the student union club in town but this has all stopped since Preston uni built their shiny new club. Preston Guildhall sometimes has decent bands and Kendal Brewery Arts Centre sometimes has Jah Wobble-type weirdness going on but otherwise you have to travel into Maaanchester to see a big famous band.

 

[Wookey]

Ooh, memories!!!!

I used to always go to the Ring O Bells opposite the Dukes cinema...it was a jazz bar...fucking loved it...

 

[JohnC]

'do you know which agent/landlord rents the places in long Marsh Lane'

No, they're all sorts really. There are a couple at the top of Market Street that rent out stuff (opposite Waterstones) but to get a place through them you generally have to put down a month in advance, an enormous deposit and a kidney, just in case you're tempted to steal a piece of rancid carpet when you leave.

Personally I'd stick to Single Step's noticeboards and, an often surprising gem, the boards in the entrance hall to the Gregson. I was looking at them a few days ago and they've got a few ads for accomodation up there. If you can get a place in LML, Primrose or Moorlands, they're all nice places to live (though the hills will kill you).

Regarding music - Yorkshire House (Indie), Gregson (World, Ska, all kinds), John O'Gaunt (jazz), the Farmer's Arms (Odds 'n Sods) and, er, that's about it really. The Ring O'Bells has turned into a really drecky pub over the last couple of years.

If you like reviewing music, Virtual Lancaster and the Gregson newsletter will love you. Biggest band here recently was, I think, Chumba, down at the Station in Morecambe a few weeks back. The nightclubs are all shite for chavs as far as I can see. Preston's good for music (allegedly).

There's a fair bit of activism going on here - animal rights, anti-fascism etc. PM me for more details if you want.

And, of course, welcome to Lancaster...