Pollock Halls/Edinburgh Uni Accommodation

[BeenThereItgetsbetter]

Anyone got any recent experience of Pollock Halls or recommendations for University of Edinburgh accommodation? Also, has anyone's DS/DD recently requested alcohol free or quiet accommodation?

My DD stayed in Lee House first term of 2022 and in Fraser House at beginning of 2023 (did a resident assistant job whilst studying).

She hated Lee (too noisy and didn't like being in catered accommodation). However room was fine (had washbasin) and shared bathrooms were okay. Fraser Court (self-catered) was better and quieter.

DD stayed in Warrender Park Road in 1st year. Room tiny but much preferred the area and being in smaller self-catered flat.

She would recommend Salisbury Court if you are minted or any of the self catering halls around the Meadows. Give New Arthur a miss unless its been refurbished and Kinkcaid and the others on the Cowgate (unless your DC is a clubber).

No experience of requesting alcohol free or quiet however the halls she's stayed in without their own common rooms have been quieter. If your DC is Scottish state school then Pollock could be hard going (see PollockTV on Youtube to get an idea).

There's a Facebook page that's quite helpful on this kind of thing- Parents of Students at the University of Edinburgh. Lots of US parents, but also locals.

I can't help with Pollock other than to say ds (Scottish state school, deprived area, low income) would absolutely not have fitted in there.

Ds is in Hermit's Croft this year - It's not shiny and new (apart from the common room which opened partway through the year), but it has everything he needs and it's a great location close to uni but away from noisy bars/clubs.

@Unmute Glad you mentioned Hermit's Croft (DDs bestie stayed their in 1st year and enjoyed it).

Chancellors seems to be the most partying hall but others not far behind! Dd was in Holland House and changed room once she had made friends in a different part of the building. Not sure any of it is that quiet tbh.

@Unmute @SandyIrving , thanks for sharing your experiences. Pollock used to be the default option for first years when I was young but have heard suggestions it is 'cliquey and snobby', which surprised me. We're not minted and, yes, coming from a state school. Will have a look at Facebook and YouTube as you suggested.

It does tend to be populated by ex public school and international students.

Although I remember reading Edinburgh Uni was trying to reduce UK privately educated percentages (from over 50% to 25%) so maybe Pollock will change this year.

@LIZS , this is what I wondered and thanks for the warning about Chancellor's Court.

I stayed in chancellor's court about 15 years ago. I liked that it was ensuite, the big common rooms and the bedrooms were clean and spacious. Bedding was provided and changed weekly by the cleaners, bins emptied daily. Catered halls was good option for me too.

But...as a Scottish state school kid I was a complete fish out of water. I had nothing to do with any of my neighbours, could barely tell you what they looked like, didn't know any of their names. I got the impression they looked down their noses at me and they all knew each other from various private schools. My friends were scattered across different halls in Pollock and we met for meals, nights out , pub and to walk to classes.

My direct neighbour had decks with a heavy bass and smoked a lot of weed and always had a room full of guys, it was noisy and smelly. I tried to ignore it mostly but someone more sensitive might have issues with it. Security tried but they were pretty useless.

The system may have changed but you used to not be able to select which hall in Pollock, you simply chose catered or self-catering and they allocated you wherever so it's a gamble.

@Invisimamma , thanks. This is the reason I'm asking as it sounds as though the atmosphere and demographic is quite different to how it was when I was in Pollock 35 years ago, though the tower block accommodation looks exactly the same!

My DD is aboutt o start at Einburgh and has been offered a room in catered accommodation in Pollock halls (Grant House). She is coming from a large and diverse south London state school and is concerned that by living in Grant she is going to be thrown in with a load of toffs. Is that likely? Any thoughts?

Grant used to be the least posh as it had not been refurbished and didn't have en suite bathrooms but that was 20 years ago. When I was there it was mainly people from Scotland and North of England with a few posher people.

Thanks @kaffkooks Very good to know.

Grant still is least posh!

Thanks letgoofmyblank