Grainy and contrasty is sort of a contradiction (see HP5+) unless you have plenty of contrast in your subject as a result of the light. I shoot FP4+ at box speed and develop in ID-11 with the standard recipe from Ilford, and it's OK. The HP5+ though is with Ilfords advise too thin and I always shoot it at EI 250 with the advised developing times in ID-11 or Perceptol (the latter to reduce the grain a bit).
Generally B&W needs more contrast compared to color to look attractive. Ways to increase contrast are extending the developing time, which also enhances the grain, to mount a mild yellow filter (with factor 1x), and/or enhance contrast in post when you scan, but the latter tends to degrade tonality.
Over the years that I'm shooting B&W I have come to the conclusion that the best way to get contrast is to wait for sunny weather! Or in other words, it's not the film or the developer or how you process it, it's mainly the light. So, once I discovered that, it has reduced my output considerably, but the results are 100% better.
BTW in these times of the year, with a low standing sun, it's an extra argument to shoot with sunny weather to get pictures with atmosphere:
Camera: Nikon F-801, Nikkor 35mm f/2.8 AI
Film: HP5+, Ilford ID-11, 1+1.5
Post process: DSLR scan, Neat Image (to reduce the grain), PSP.
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