Dining hall?

[letsgetouttahere]

I'm looking to move from our pokey little flat in the next year or so and have been looking to see what I can possibly afford. I have a teenage DS and top of my list is a bigger bedroom for him and space to put a dining table.

Anyway, I don't want to overstretch myself financially and I have a seen a couple of flats like this one www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-73749791.html which are in budget, but lacking dining space.

My question is, would it be weird to use the hallway as a dining room in this type of flat?

Thanks.

Lovely flats but the halls only look about 8 feet wide. I'm not sure there's really enough space. Could you mark the space on your floor and put a table in a middle and see how it feels. Not sure if you've got dc and will need to store a buggy in your hall and loads of coats and shoes but I don't think this will work in practice.

I'm not averse to a dining hall but I think you would end up with a cluttered hall and it would be a pain to walk around the table to get from room to room.

I thought large hall was odd, but assumed it was because I've grown up in and live in an area where vast majority of houses are less than 40years old, so halls are kept small to maximise room sizes on small plots! So is the large hall layout on a flat more of a Scottish thing then?

These flats are amazing! I love traditional Scottish properties, I think a dining hall could work just fine if you find the right one.

I feel like it could be quite annoying going round the dining table every time you moved rooms. The slimmest table possible with row benches that push under fully might help.

Yes benches would intrude less, or even better kick-under stools

What lovely flats and they look incredibly affordable to a Londoner like me! Oh for a sea view!
I think it might work fine - however, with so many doors leading off the hallway, you will not be able to push the table against a wall. If the table fills the space, it's going to be awkward crossing to the hallway getting from room to room (you'll have to walk round the table). Also, I would be fearful that the table would become a dumping ground for unopened post, schoolbags, scarves and gloves etc - you'll have to work hard to keep it tidy otherwise you'll not be able to use the table and will always enter the flat to a depressing pile of clutter.

Is it just you and your son?

In which case there are great small extending dining tables (Ikea has one that goes all the way from 2 seater to 6 seater) that will fit in beautifully.

I would be mercilessly strict about the hallway being kept tidy though! Coats and shoes straight in that cupboard.

Those flats are lovely.

Out of curiosity, what's wrong with a top floor flat? I lived in one many years ago and thought that would be the common preference as you don't get the noise from people above? I feel like I am missing something fundamental lol. Garden access? 🤔

It is just my son and I, so essentially we don't need anything too big, but I'd like the option of something bigger if it can be done.

@Anastassiabeaverhausen I'm already in a top floor (attic) flat, and have been for over 12 years. Not too fussed about garden space anymore as my son is older, but I'm not going to be 36 for ever and it would just make a nice change. Good point about the noise, but I have to risk a compromise somewhere for the sake of my knees

Gourock looks delightful! Worth a visit?

Think the dining hall would work totally fine.

I stay in my friends ground floor flat, I would go top floor flat then move to ground floor once deaf

Stayed in a flat like that once. They had the dining chairs around the outside of the hall. The dining table was one that had to sides that folded down so it was in the middle of the room with a base on top. Looked lovely and it felt like a good use of the space.

My aunty has done exactly this in her flat - works really well.

Lovely properties

Gourock looks lovely and all of those flats are great. It would be nice to have one with a big kitchen where you could put a table but if not a dining hall would work and you could make it look really nice.

Another one who now wants to move to Gourock! OP you should get a job promoting the area! I agree with others, a dining hall could really work in those types of flats. Definitely not a mad idea.

Well, plenty would knock it as too small and quiet, but the scenery speaks for itself and it's where I grew up. I live in the next town now but I'm looking to move back if possible. Even if that means a flat instead of a house.

OP save quickly, there might be a housing boom in Gourock coming as a load of MNers want to move there!

I think I'd swap my house for one of those flats very happily too.