- 2 weeks ago
A New Life in the Sun - Season 11 Episode 1
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00:00It just reminds me of the Wild West. It's just stunning.
00:03It's definitely very much different from a top floor flat in Edinburgh.
00:06And we're joining them as their adventures begin across Europe.
00:11This is what we've been waiting for.
00:12It's beautiful. That's the Atlantic Ocean.
00:15This is where the work begins, mister.
00:17Playing the part...
00:18Oh, yeah!
00:20...of chateau owners in France...
00:22We've never done this before. We're making it up as we go along.
00:24...to launching fitness retreats in Bulgaria.
00:27Big red card!
00:28But will their gamble pay off?
00:32Absolutely bonkers, but it's what we came for, yeah?
00:36Or will they fail to hit their target?
00:39Brexit has put the complications into overdrive.
00:43As they carve out...
00:45...their new lives in the sun.
00:47I just still feel like I'm on holiday a little bit.
00:50It's not sunk in yet, but this is my actual home now.
00:54What a lovely place to live.
00:55Today, we meet a young family saddling up to keep their French dream alive.
01:01There's no going back now. The kids are French, so we're in French school.
01:04They're eating octopus for lunch.
01:06They don't want to go back and have chicken nuggets.
01:09But they're in for a steep learning curve in their new careers as publicans.
01:13We've gone full throttle, haven't we? So let's move to France and buy a business that we don't know how to run, and let's just do it all.
01:21In Spain...
01:22It's all going to be fine.
01:24It's the first summer season for the owner of a rural guest house.
01:28I just love seeing people enjoy themselves.
01:31But will her new events prove popular with the locals?
01:34Now it's time that I become the hostess.
01:37I'm a big believer in no risk, no reward.
01:40Also going all in, a couple who swapped life in Bath to open a mountaintop B&B.
01:47Pink makes the boys wink.
01:51Kick-start a challenging renovation.
01:54I think that ladder needs to go to the doctor's.
02:16The Dordogne in south-west France has a long tradition of attracting families from the UK
02:22looking to relocate to Europe.
02:26As along with its sun-drenched valleys and endless outdoor activities,
02:30there's a British familiarity so it doesn't take long for newcomers to feel at home.
02:37You've settled in well to the markets, haven't you,
02:38with your little French basket and eating your baguette and your cheese and ham-filled croissant.
02:44Well, you don't want to look like the odd one out.
02:46No?
02:47Like Emily and Dave from Huddersfield and their two children, Hugo and Willow.
02:52Which one?
02:52Come on.
02:53This one?
02:54Bonjour.
03:00The community spirit and everyone from the town hall, school teachers,
03:06our neighbours, French and English, are so supportive, aren't they?
03:10Yeah.
03:10This is like England 50 years ago, where it's old school.
03:18But it wasn't just a change of scene they were after, but also a change of pace.
03:23After more than a decade working as a car sales manager for Dave
03:26and a career as cabin crew and more recently a travel agent for Emily.
03:31You know, we wanted the kids to have the freedom and space and safety,
03:37but it was very much about us as well.
03:41Look at that where we were.
03:42She's bouncing.
03:42Bobbling up and down.
03:45We didn't get to spend a lot of time together.
03:48Now we're spending too much time together.
03:50As Dave has both a UK and Irish passport,
03:58the family could immediately begin planning their new lives.
04:01Come on, dogs.
04:02Which brought them to the rural commune of Santesteph,
04:06an hour to the west of Limoges to take on a former bar and restaurant.
04:10We fell in love with this area.
04:14We had a look at a few different places to buy, didn't we?
04:18And we were shocked at, like, how much you could get for your money, weren't we?
04:22Yeah.
04:24You know, for the price of our three-bedroom semi-detached house in the UK,
04:29literally £50,000 less,
04:33we've got a four-bedroom apartment
04:36and an English-style pub in France.
04:41The pub's been closed, though, for the past six months,
04:44and to sustain their new lives here,
04:46Dave and Emily are keen to reopen as soon as possible.
04:51Welcome to the Crazy Frog, I guess.
04:53This is our terrace outside,
04:55which we're pretty in love with, I think, aren't we?
04:58Yeah, it's the best one in the area.
05:00But before they can relaunch the pub,
05:02everywhere needs a deep clean, the bar stocked
05:05and a fresh menu developed, which is all new territory.
05:08We've gone full throttle, haven't we?
05:12You know, let's not just move to France.
05:15Let's move to France and buy a business that we don't know how to run
05:18and let's just do it all.
05:21Well, we're going to make mistakes and we're just going to have to learn on the job.
05:24It's the end of April.
05:31With the official handover of their new business scheduled for next week,
05:35Dave and Emily are back in Huddersfield.
05:40You're going to have to push it upwards.
05:42Push it towards me so I can take the work.
05:44Clearing out the last of their things from their old family home.
05:47But I can't lift that any higher.
05:51Before the sale completes.
05:55Right.
05:59How are you?
06:00OK, that didn't work.
06:04Today's all about packing the van.
06:06Am I doing it right?
06:07I think we need to squidge it in a little bit more than that.
06:09Packing our lives up is something that over the last 11 years that we've been together,
06:15we've done quite a few times.
06:17We've lived in one, two, three, four, six houses in 11 years.
06:29What are you doing?
06:31Where are you going?
06:32So that we can both just walk on in line.
06:33It's too long.
06:35It doesn't actually feel real.
06:36I feel like I'm just going on holiday.
06:38But I think once we land in France, it'll be...
06:41It'll start to feel a little bit more real.
06:58In the far south-eastern corner of Spain lies AlmerÃa.
07:02Wild, rugged and a world away from the bustling tourist towns on the coast.
07:07It just reminds me of the Wild West.
07:09It's just stunning.
07:10It's beautiful.
07:11And since moving here from Leicestershire,
07:13former dog groomer Emma has been enjoying exploring the region on foot.
07:17This is a natural spring, which is great for a bit of refreshment.
07:26I've been told by an elderly Spanish, very elderly, she's 92, bless her,
07:31by drinking the spring water.
07:33So it adds ten years to your life.
07:34So it's got to be worth a try.
07:38Living somewhere like this was a dream born in Emma's childhood,
07:42a dream that never faded.
07:45From going on holiday as a child, I just fell in love with the place.
07:49I love the culture, the language, the people, and obviously the sunshine.
07:54Come on.
07:54That was always the life goal.
07:57I feel like a piece of my heart here.
07:59After both her sons flew the nest,
08:01the time was right for Emma to make her long-held dream a reality.
08:05I would never be here without my son's permission, basically.
08:10I asked them first and foremost.
08:13And they said, yeah, you've raised us, Mum.
08:16So it's your time now, which, yeah, they're special boys.
08:22So then I set the wheels in motion.
08:25Good girl.
08:26Emma's house hunt has led her to a 300-year-old rural cortillo
08:31near the village of Orilla, full of original features.
08:37These two rooms are the oldest part of the building,
08:40so this is the lounge area.
08:41In the summer months, it's actually the coolest room in the house.
08:45It also boasts five bedrooms, a large bathroom,
08:49traditional kitchen and ample outside space.
08:53Here, obviously, speaks for itself, a beautiful sun-soaked terrace.
08:57All set within an acre of land with mountain views.
09:06Having been brought up on a farm,
09:09I always wanted a big farmhouse with land,
09:12and I would never, ever be able to afford that in the UK.
09:15So for me to have that here is just amazing.
09:19Happy to be here.
09:21But to ensure she can stay in her rural retreat,
09:24which she's spent ten months renovating,
09:26Emma needs a regular income.
09:30Delicate teacups.
09:32So she's begun renting out four of her bedrooms
09:35on a bed-and-breakfast basis
09:37and hopes to boost her earnings
09:39by expanding into events and retreats.
09:43Now it's time, with the business being open for guests,
09:46that now I become the hostess
09:48and offer the hospitality side
09:50and begin to create something here
09:52that would both nourish me professionally and personally,
09:56but also be able to offer that to other people
09:59who would visit as well.
10:00I'm a big believer in no risk, no reward.
10:05It's early May,
10:07and the start of Emma's first summer season,
10:10the most lucrative time of the year.
10:12Another table required.
10:18And to capitalise on it,
10:20she's advertised a series of new events on social media.
10:24Are you going to help me, Phyllis?
10:26Can you help me?
10:30We're having a Greek extravaganza event today.
10:34Basically, it's a whole package
10:36where people book to come for the day,
10:37they have an afternoon tea,
10:39they have an evening meal,
10:40and then they stay over for the night
10:42and then breakfast in the morning.
10:44I've always wanted to do something a little bit different.
10:46I just love seeing people enjoy themselves,
10:49so I get a real kick out of that.
10:52At €160 per couple,
10:55Emma's sold six tickets for the full package
10:57and is expecting additional guests in the evening.
11:01Does that look odd?
11:04Yeah.
11:05So she's hired friend Hilary to help in the kitchen.
11:10So they're the flatbreads, are they?
11:13Yeah.
11:13Wicked.
11:16But as 2pm rolls round,
11:19there's no sign of anyone arriving
11:21at Emma's remote hilltop cortijo.
11:25Raring to go.
11:26Just literally waiting on guests now to arrive,
11:28so it should be any minute now.
11:29But I am half expecting them to get a little bit lost,
11:32so I'll need to keep an eye on my phone
11:33to make sure they find it OK.
11:37Just waiting on them now.
11:38A hundred and twenty miles south-west,
11:48and also a little off the beaten track,
11:50is the traditional whitewashed village of Polopos.
11:54At 800 metres above sea level,
11:57halfway between the Med and the Contravieza mountain range,
12:01while it's a hidden beauty,
12:03it's a place with meaning for Nigel from Wiltshire
12:06and his Spanish husband, Fede.
12:09Look what a beautiful day.
12:11And it's only February.
12:14The pair met in the UK 11 years ago
12:17and regularly holidayed here due to Fede's family links.
12:22His grandfather used to be the village doctor.
12:24Look, that's the street that is named after my grandad.
12:29Having both worked in hospitality in Bath,
12:32they want to use their skills to open their own B&B,
12:36which they'll base out of a former 25-room guest house in the village,
12:40which they've bought at a knock-down price.
12:43We viewed it, liked it,
12:47and I had a couple of cheeky wines one evening
12:50and emailed the owner,
12:51and we managed to bag it for 70,000 euros,
12:55which is 58,000 pounds.
12:57So if it weren't for the wine that I had and emailed the owner,
13:00we wouldn't be in this situation now,
13:01so it paid off.
13:05Also driving them to take the plunge
13:07to chase their dream of moving to Spain
13:10was the passing of Nigel's father.
13:13Losing my dad last January made us realise
13:15that, you know, life's too short
13:17and we are here today because of that, unfortunately.
13:21But Dad would have been really proud.
13:23It's a dream come true
13:24and, you know, I do pinch myself every day.
13:27But to make a life for themselves here,
13:30this pair of DIY novices
13:32need to restore their dilapidated building
13:34into guest accommodation
13:36and a home for themselves as soon as possible.
13:40Yeah, we haven't got an endless pot of money,
13:42but, you know, we think if we're sensible with the funds...
13:46This is one of our biggest challenges.
13:49Apart from marrying him.
13:53It's now early February.
13:57All right, this is where the work begins, mister.
13:59And Nigel and Fede are kick-starting their B&B renovations.
14:06I love to sort out.
14:08As you can see, it's, er...
14:10The lady had a lot of stuff.
14:13But we'll get there.
14:14The first task is sorting through
14:16the previous occupants' possessions,
14:18which have been left behind.
14:21Some tinsel.
14:22How are those?
14:23Pink makes the boys wink.
14:26LAUGHTER
14:27Maybe I'll do it to you.
14:30LAUGHTER
14:31Mr Pink.
14:33LAUGHTER
14:33It's like a Pandora's box.
14:39Here we are just, er...
14:40..discovering new things.
14:43And we'll try to make use...
14:45Look.
14:46Make use of it.
14:50The old bar is also earmarked to stay.
14:54And what would you like, sir?
14:56I would like, um, gin and tonic, please.
14:58Gin and tonic?
14:59Ooh, that's brave of you.
15:01LAUGHTER
15:01I thought I'd left my bar days behind me,
15:04but who knows?
15:06You know, could have a fun few evenings here.
15:08Ooh, it looks like somebody's left something behind already.
15:11LAUGHTER
15:12LAUGHTER
15:12Oh, my God.
15:15Alongside the clear-out,
15:18Nigel's also in the process of selling a motorhome back in the UK.
15:23Hello?
15:26Is that Ali?
15:27As the extensive renovations needed
15:30are likely to run into thousands of euros.
15:3425 rooms is a lot to deal with, so every penny counts.
15:38And, you know, all my funds and my savings
15:42have gone into this property
15:43and likewise with Freddie,
15:45so, you know, we need to get this sold
15:47to be able to continue.
15:52Coming up...
15:53It's a big shock and a big change
15:55and very, very daunting.
15:57Reality hits as Emily and Dave
15:59arrive at their new home and business across the channel.
16:02It's a little bit dirtier than we thought it was going to be,
16:04to say the least.
16:06All I'm doing is swishing round muck.
16:08And will the long trip to Emma's rural location pay off for her guests?
16:13With the events here, there's a catchment area that I'm aiming for
16:18from maybe 40, 45 minutes away today.
16:20In the Dordogne in south-west France, it's now May,
16:35and having said goodbye to the UK for good,
16:38Dave and Emily have been getting their family settled into their new French home,
16:42above their new pub.
16:44So, from work...
16:48This is our makeshift living room.
16:52At some stage, this will be a kitchen.
16:55Like, a proper kitchen.
16:57Yes, not even any lighting in here or anything.
17:00It's pretty dark.
17:03While it's a work in progress...
17:05So, the bedrooms are all up this way.
17:08To ease the family's transition to France,
17:11they've prioritised getting son Hugo's bedroom set up.
17:15He wanted two blue walls because he wants a gaming corner in this corner.
17:19And making daughter Willow's room feel homely too.
17:22She wanted pinks and she wanted greens.
17:25So, you did this wall, didn't you?
17:26I did the wall.
17:27And again, she's dead happy in here, isn't she?
17:29It's functional now and it's comfortable for the kids.
17:33Yeah, they're fine out there. They have no problem.
17:34Yeah, they've got what they need.
17:35It was a big shock and a big change and very, very daunting,
17:39but the amount of work we've done in three weeks,
17:42we know now that we can do it with kids and guinea pigs and dogs.
17:47But with purse strings tight,
17:49they're now forced to put the rest of their home renovations on hold
17:53until the pub turns a profit.
17:56We're not open.
17:57We're not actually making any money yet.
17:59But, you know, once we've started to get some money coming in...
18:01Yeah.
18:02..and we'll come upstairs and we'll be like,
18:04wow, look at what we've done.
18:06And we've fought and we've made it work.
18:08Yeah.
18:09Because it 100% has to.
18:11It can't not work.
18:12There's no going back now.
18:13The kids are French.
18:14They're in French school.
18:15Yeah.
18:16This is...
18:17They're eating octopus for lunch.
18:19They don't want to go back and have chicken nuggets.
18:21No, no.
18:24Having set their opening day for just over a week's time, though...
18:30I'm really not enjoying it.
18:32It just makes me feel sick.
18:34The pair now have their work cut out to get the pub ready.
18:37Today, we're getting our heads round cleaning a professional kitchen
18:45for the very first time.
18:47And it's a little bit dirtier than we thought it was going to be,
18:51to say the least.
18:53I'm just dismantling the cooker hood
18:55so we can give that a really good clean.
18:58It isn't the most pleasant job that I've ever done.
19:02All I'm doing is swishing round muck.
19:08I've been doing this for an hour and a half,
19:10and I've got nowhere.
19:14Is that supposed to be clean up there?
19:17Ew.
19:20Let's move to France and buy a restaurant.
19:23Wow.
19:24It's a good job the wine's cheap.
19:29I'm definitely going to need a shower tonight.
19:32Do you know what I need?
19:34A bath?
19:34A bath.
19:35What I haven't got?
19:37One step at a time.
19:39Rome wasn't built in a day, I think they said.
19:51Across in southern Spain, having already opened for business,
19:55today is the trial of Emma's new Greek extravaganza event.
19:58Once her guests have managed to navigate their way
20:04to her rural cortejo.
20:06With the events here, there's a catchment area that I'm aiming for,
20:10so it's trying to sort of get the word out locally, really.
20:13Within about an hour's radius,
20:15people tend to travel for unique events, experiences,
20:19so they're coming from maybe 40, 45 minutes away today.
20:22Having provided detailed directions,
20:26it means her nervous wait is soon over.
20:29You're welcome.
20:30This is Phyllis.
20:32She will just kiss you to death.
20:34So where is it you've come from today?
20:36Hueco la Vera.
20:37Hueco la Vera.
20:37Oh, fantastic.
20:39Yes, love it there.
20:40Right, I shall show you your room.
20:43OK, thank you.
20:45This one is the Granada room,
20:47and it has the best views of the mountains.
20:51Breakfast in bed, though.
20:53Well, you know...
20:54It can be arranged.
20:57It's absolutely gorgeous.
20:58Oh, thank you very much.
20:59And it's not long before more guests are here to check in.
21:05You're in the en-suite room,
21:07which is just to the external part of the house,
21:09so I'll just take you round there.
21:11As her first guests soak up the sun with welcome drinks...
21:16..the final prep for the afternoon tea is made,
21:20Emma having put her own twist on a British classic.
21:24We have Greek-themed afternoon tea,
21:27or Greek-inspired, shall we say.
21:30So we have little shot pots of creamy rice pudding,
21:34a syrup sponge cake,
21:37flatbreads with coronation chicken
21:39and feta salad and pesto.
21:43Yep.
21:44Scones are a classic, no-brainer, jam and cream.
21:50So, yeah, that will all be going out first
21:52with endless supplies of tea and coffee.
21:55Although one couple are yet to arrive,
21:58Emma gets serving keen to stick to the day's schedule.
22:03How's it looking?
22:04I think we're there.
22:06It's looking good.
22:09We'll take these out first.
22:13Now to negotiate the...
22:15..the curtain.
22:18It's all going to be fine.
22:19Her selection of sweet and savoury treats
22:25are getting the thumbs up.
22:29Are you OK for drinks?
22:31Yes.
22:32Yep, fantastic.
22:33Enjoy.
22:34Through the curtain again.
22:40And would you like tea or coffee with your afternoon tea?
22:43One tea, one coffee, please.
22:44Absolutely.
22:45One tea, one coffee.
22:47Wonderful.
22:49Hi, guys.
22:50Hello.
22:50How are you doing?
22:51Hi, thank you.
22:52Good to be here.
22:53And you too.
22:55After her final customers arrive...
22:58Here we go, ladies.
23:01Emma grabs the opportunity
23:03to take some publicity photos
23:05to help market future events.
23:08Would you mind if I took a photo of you both?
23:10Wonderful.
23:15Because if today goes well,
23:17she hopes her Greek-themed event
23:18will be a regular in the Cortillo's calendar.
23:22Everybody seems really settled and happy.
23:24Tea and coffee's flowing.
23:26Vintage China on the go.
23:28They've complimented me on the details on the table,
23:31which is always good.
23:31So, yeah, all good.
23:35With the event halfway through,
23:37Emma must now prepare for the evening's activities.
23:40There is a stain on it somewhere.
23:46I think we'll get away with that.
23:51Lee, the chef, has arrived for this evening
23:53and we're just turning tables around.
23:55People have made friends that well
23:56that they've requested to sit together for dinner.
23:59So we're just reconfiguring the tables
24:01so it would just be a better atmosphere for them.
24:03But with an extra 12 guests expected
24:06for the Greek-themed drinks and music,
24:08can she keep the good reviews coming all night long?
24:18Coming up...
24:19You can't move it electrically
24:22because rodents have gone through the cable.
24:25There's an invasion of critters for Nigel and Fed.
24:28And there's a wasp in this, didn't there?
24:30Oh!
24:31There's a gecko!
24:33And in France...
24:35Oh, no, no!
24:37Are Emily and Dave about to throw in the towel?
24:41I did have a big wobble this morning.
24:43I was thinking,
24:44I can't do this.
24:46This is too much.
24:46It's February in Pelopos in southern Spain
24:59and Nigel and Fede are continuing
25:02to clear out their new property
25:04with help from friend Steve.
25:06What about this one, Steve?
25:09Still too long.
25:11Today's task being the removal of an old stair lift.
25:16It is in the way to get the big furniture down,
25:23like the sofas and the beds,
25:24but the problem we've got is
25:26we can get to all the screws down the staircase,
25:28but the one at the top here,
25:29where the seat is actually encased,
25:32is covering the screws
25:34and we can't move it electrically
25:37because the rodents have gone through the cable.
25:41But after some careful manoeuvring...
25:46So we're using the screwdriver
25:54to move it down the chain
25:56so we can get to the screws at the top
25:58to be able to take it straight off.
26:02They finally have success.
26:06There we go.
26:07It's ready.
26:08Well, I get the grubby end.
26:09Yeah, we thought the furniture was going to be the eye job,
26:14but we've managed now to get that out,
26:17so that's a good thing.
26:17We can quickly get the two sofas and things that we need to
26:20and hopefully they'll disappear in the night.
26:26Two weeks later,
26:27having made steady progress inside,
26:30Nigel and Fede are turning their attention
26:33for the first time to the outside of the property.
26:36If you rub down the ironworks
26:38and then I'll start sanding the doors down.
26:41Along with restoring and repainting the ironwork
26:45and all 28 windows and seven doors,
26:48the pair also plan to repaint the building's vast exterior.
26:52So it's a relief that they've just received
26:54a very welcome £24,000 cash injection.
26:59Last weekend I got a phone call to say
27:01that somebody was interested in buying the murder home.
27:04They confirmed on the Monday that they wanted it,
27:07so I arranged for flights for Wednesday
27:09and I've literally got back yesterday morning
27:11and successfully sold it,
27:13so it gives us a financial input.
27:16We can look at hopefully completing it
27:19by the end of the year without no worries
27:21as long as we keep the purse strings tight.
27:25To get started out here,
27:27they must first remove some old light fittings.
27:31Can you pass me the scissors so I can cut this one off?
27:34Oh, this one's not even attached.
27:35Scissors.
27:37And there's a wasp in this, didn't there?
27:39Look at that.
27:41Oh!
27:42Oh, there's a gecko.
27:45There he is.
27:49Having said a surprise hello
27:50to their new neighbours.
27:53Right.
27:55Job done.
27:56Fede begins sanding the ironwork
27:59whilst Nigel moves on to the doors.
28:03This is our first DIY project,
28:05so every step of the way is learning.
28:08Yeah, it looks totally different, doesn't it?
28:11Yeah, already.
28:13Compared to that one,
28:14when you put them both together.
28:18You don't have to take right down to the bear.
28:20You've only got to take the rusty bits off.
28:25Much better now.
28:26You've got to do a job by the end of the day,
28:28not tomorrow.
28:28Unfortunately, I got the shorter straw.
28:34Nigel is doing an easier job.
28:37I've sanded both doors in the time he's done half a gate.
28:41But which work is better, though?
28:44Exactly.
28:45But Nigel's reward for finishing first
28:50is he gets to make a start on the windows.
28:53I'm taking the mosquito netting off
28:55because it's all damaged.
28:58And what I want to do is get to the ironworks
29:01to be able to paint them.
29:05Not the safest.
29:07I'm going to hold it.
29:10Nigel, that leg is gone.
29:12I knew it had.
29:16I think that ladder needs to go to the doctor's.
29:19Has a broken leg.
29:23As DIY novices,
29:25it's going to be a long road ahead.
29:27But Nigel and Fede are determined
29:29to create the business they've long dreamt of.
29:33We've got no excuses now we've sold them out at home
29:35because we've got funds behind us properly
29:38that can help fund the bigger jobs that we want done.
29:41Yeah, it does motivate us to see already the results
29:45and with just a bit of time you can see a difference.
29:51You know, I think every day that we come now
29:53is going to be a different thing to motivate us to the next day.
29:57Across in south-west France,
30:06with their own mountain of work ahead,
30:09there's just over a week
30:10until Emily and Dave open their pub.
30:12Once we're open, though,
30:17that the kitchen is not my job,
30:19the bar is my job.
30:21The kitchen is not your job?
30:22The kitchen is your job.
30:24I will be out the front mostly,
30:27but I make a better curry than Dave.
30:30He makes a different curry than Dave.
30:31So I'll have to do the curry.
30:33I make a better burger than Dave.
30:35I make a better sandwich than Dave.
30:37So I'll have to do the sandwiches.
30:39So Dave will just do chips.
30:41But, yeah.
30:41Well, I'll just do as I'm told, basically.
30:45While they're slowly making progress cleaning the place up...
30:48I've nearly done the top.
30:50Then I have to start on the side.
30:53This morning has been a huge reality check
30:57that all of the cooking equipment
30:58and even the dishwasher...
31:00Quickly.
31:01Boom!
31:03..will need to be scrubbed and disinfected.
31:09Oh, no.
31:10No!
31:11No!
31:12How can you wash things in that?
31:16This place just goes from bad to worse.
31:18It's not. It's fine.
31:20I think it's like a bird's nest.
31:22Oh, brilliant.
31:23Brilliant.
31:24Testing their resilience as they race to get the pub ready.
31:30We learn more and more every single day.
31:33We've never run a pub before.
31:35And I did have a big wobble this morning.
31:37When I started to get into this, I was thinking,
31:39I can't do this.
31:41This is too much.
31:42You know, Em actually had to say to me,
31:43go and sit down outside, take a little breather,
31:46compose yourself.
31:48We have to remember that the place has been closed
31:50for six months as well.
31:51But, you know, we're making forward movement.
31:54I need a glass of wine.
32:00But that will have to wait until they've managed to fully stock their bar.
32:05Another job on their growing to-do list.
32:07So, it's an absolute mess everywhere at the minute.
32:14That also includes putting their own stamp on the pub interior.
32:19You know, people can come, they can play pool.
32:22We're going to get a dartboard up this side here, yeah.
32:25Because, obviously, a bit of the old arrows.
32:28This could be our disco room as well.
32:31A disco room?
32:32Party, party.
32:33I thought you didn't want a party pub.
32:35I don't.
32:35I'm joking.
32:36This area down here, where it's set up as a restaurant,
32:40we kind of imagine a couple of Chesterfield chairs.
32:42Yeah, it needs to be more cosy.
32:44A low table.
32:45Yeah.
32:46Being in a tourist area, we saw much going on.
32:50I do think that if in summer, when we've got this abundance of people,
32:53if we shoot for the stars, we might just get there.
32:57Yeah.
32:58The couple may be full of ideas
33:00and have already proudly put their name above the bar.
33:04You had me that made for Christmas, didn't you?
33:06Yeah.
33:06So, the duns were established in France in 2025,
33:10so that's taken pride of place up there.
33:13But as they embark on new careers, nerves are beginning to creep in.
33:17Being behind the bar, it makes me feel really small,
33:21like everything's just scary.
33:23There's going to be loads of people just staring at me
33:25and speaking French, and it's a big change.
33:35Coming up...
33:36Hello!
33:37Ooh, where's that?
33:39Not sure where that is.
33:40Emma's mountain location has more of her guests in a spin.
33:44Go there, and then put in the pin,
33:46and then that will take you correct.
33:48And as Nigel and Fede's renovations continue...
33:51I ain't got the battery.
33:53I'm trying to use a drill and I ain't got the battery on it.
33:55..a golden marketing opportunity passes by their front door.
33:59It's up for the village.
34:00Wow!
34:00It's our house.
34:02How cool is that?
34:03In Almeria, after a successful afternoon tea,
34:19Emma's now gearing up for the second part of her new Greek event,
34:23which will see an extra 12 guests arriving soon.
34:27I'm thinking the same dips with the Lankhoftas, perhaps.
34:30Yeah.
34:30Would they go quite nicely?
34:32Yeah, yeah, yeah.
34:32Yeah.
34:33With Hilary continuing to help,
34:36she's also hired fellow British expat Lee
34:38to take charge of the three-course dinner
34:41and local musician Jackie to provide the evening's soundtrack.
34:48So, basically, you'll be set up here.
34:51OK?
34:52Is that all OK for you?
34:53But as he gets ready, Emma's mountain location
34:57has some of her new guests confused.
35:00Hello!
35:01Oh, where's that?
35:03Not sure where that is.
35:04Don't go left there.
35:05That'll take you down Rambladoria.
35:07You don't want to go there.
35:08So, go to the Gasolinera.
35:10Yeah, you want...
35:11Yeah, on the instructions.
35:13If you go there and then put in the pin
35:15and then that will take you correct.
35:18OK.
35:19All right, see you shortly.
35:20All right, bye!
35:21Bye! Bye!
35:24So, Chef Lee is in the thick of it at the moment in the kitchen.
35:27We're expecting another couple of guests in just a few minutes.
35:30They've just rang me for some directions.
35:33We've got other guests that have gone to their rooms
35:35to get ready for this evening's meal.
35:37Hilary is busy laying the tables and making it all look lovely.
35:41And, yeah, we've just got a slight cutlery shortage,
35:43so we're going to sort that one out.
35:47As today's event is a trial,
35:50Emma's learning as she goes.
35:52I'd just do one fork.
35:53That's what they do in Spain.
35:55But it's not yet impacted her guests' experience.
36:00The afternoon tea was excellent.
36:03We've really enjoyed it so far, haven't we?
36:05Oh, yes.
36:05It was a bit tricky to get here,
36:08but nothing that you wouldn't get in Spain anyway.
36:12And all in all, a very good experience
36:14and really looking forward to the Greek food tonight.
36:18Lee is about ten minutes off finishing the food.
36:21I'm going to get everybody to sit at their tables.
36:24So, yeah, drink's going down nicely.
36:26People are mingling, so it's all good.
36:27With her terrace filling up...
36:30Hola, nice to meet you.
36:31Hola.
36:36The evening meal is served.
36:39One cough to two salad.
36:41It's left, so...
36:43You've done this before.
36:46Emma has certainly come good on her promise of a Greek menu and music.
36:51The guitarist has just started performing.
36:54I'm very pleased with the numbers, actually.
36:56They're all tucking in nicely.
36:58There's a few that have arrived just for drinks,
37:00which is good as well.
37:01It's fantastic just to see a crowd on the terrace,
37:04which is exactly what I've aimed for.
37:10As the sun sets over the mountains...
37:13..and the meal wrapping up,
37:15the Greek dancing soon begins.
37:18Emma's remote location now coming into its own,
37:24with no noise limits to worry about.
37:33Allowing everyone the freedom to party the night away.
37:36The following morning,
37:46Emma's eight overnight guests begin to stir.
37:52She's hoping to cure any hangovers
37:54with breakfast and some strong coffee.
37:57It got a little bit rowdy on the terrace, shall we say,
38:01till about 3am last night.
38:04Thankfully, our neighbours are far away,
38:07so they can't hear what's going on.
38:09Had a lot to process after such an epic day.
38:13My brain is very much still whirring,
38:15but on the whole, really happy with how everything went.
38:18As her guests prepare to check out after breakfast,
38:22they too have enjoyed their stay.
38:24Really good all-round package.
38:27Yeah.
38:27And beautiful surroundings too.
38:30The food was amazing, and the whole atmosphere.
38:32Lots of singing, lots of dancing on the terrace.
38:35It's been wonderful.
38:36It's a lovely experience.
38:38I'm not going to Greece again.
38:39I'm coming to Spain to have a Greek night.
38:42All the best.
38:42Take care.
38:44Everyone is leaving with memories made
38:46and new friendships formed.
38:48Well, yeah.
38:49All the best.
38:49Thank you so much.
38:51I'm glad you enjoyed it.
38:52The last guests have checked out,
38:54and they were full of praise and lovely compliments.
38:57I'm a little bit tired from the event,
38:59but, yeah, well worth it.
39:01Well worth it.
39:02And with this successful event under her belt,
39:06she hopes it will signal the start of a busy summer ahead.
39:09Two and a half hours southwest in the village of Polopos,
39:19it's now early March.
39:21Having made a start painting the exterior doors and window frames
39:25of their new B&B,
39:27due to wet weather,
39:29Nigel and Fede have been forced to park exterior jobs.
39:33I ain't got the battery.
39:34I'm trying to use a drill and I ain't got the battery on it.
39:36And turn their attention back inside.
39:40Ta-da!
39:42The pair have begun to breathe new life into the old bar area.
39:48Freddie's treated the beams and painted the ceiling.
39:53We've put panelling them on the walls
39:54and we've painted the front of the bar.
39:59And this afternoon,
40:00they hope to add the final decorative details.
40:03The smaller one
40:04needs to go in the centre up there.
40:07Beautiful.
40:08And then the other four
40:09have to go in the centre of these.
40:12Like that.
40:13Just to give it a finishing touch at the top.
40:19Yay!
40:20It looks good.
40:22Well done.
40:24Very nice.
40:24Look how quickly you've done it.
40:27That's the thing.
40:28Freddie can't see the end picture until it's done.
40:30True.
40:31I think it's difficult for someone to explain exactly the idea.
40:38I have to wait to see the final result.
40:41And the finished look
40:42will have the golden accents running from the bar
40:45across to the bench seating.
40:46It's definitely bringing the colour into the and along the room.
40:52It certainly makes it look that it matches the bar.
40:56So now we'll just get the padded seating ordered
40:59and give it another wipe down once we've painted the walls.
41:02Pretty happy with the result.
41:04It looks really good.
41:04It's one room done out of 25 long term.
41:10Maybe we will open it up as a bar, a public bar.
41:12And, you know, hopefully then bring more custom to the village.
41:18But who knows?
41:19We'll wait and see.
41:20Yeah, so far we are going to focus on opening it as a DMV.
41:24Better breakfast.
41:24Yeah.
41:25And we are going to use the bar at the beginning
41:27like a social place.
41:29And also it can be used, for example,
41:31for guests that they want to have breakfast in this area as well.
41:35We'll see, but definitely we'll make some use for it.
41:41While Nigel and Fede explore their options
41:44to hire in extra help to speed up the renovations,
41:48for now it continues to be just a pair of them.
41:53Working such long hours together,
41:55I tend to whistle and make noises that I don't notice it.
42:01I need him to tell me, so I stop it.
42:04I thought he was going to say,
42:06because we work together more, that he loves me more.
42:09Yeah, every day more and more.
42:14A week later, and with the sun back out,
42:17Nigel and Fede are taking the opportunity
42:19to celebrate a local bike race running through the village.
42:23What a great event.
42:25Yes.
42:26Now that you know how it looks like next year,
42:28you can participate.
42:28LAUGHTER
42:29Busy weekends like this bring people to Pelopos
42:35from across the region.
42:36So once their B&B is open,
42:38it's the kind of event they'll want to capitalise on.
42:41Look, this is the village.
42:44Wow.
42:45But look, it's our house.
42:48How cool is that?
42:50It's good that the villagers come out and support it.
42:52You know, this is only a handful from what I'll be here later.
42:56But, you know, it's right the way from the seafront
42:58all the way up,
42:58so people are supporting them all the way up to the finish.
43:01Fede's brother Luis and sister Arantra
43:04have also made the journey.
43:06For the Pelopos.
43:10And after the race,
43:12they're keen to check out the progress at the B&B.
43:14Oh, my God!
43:20Yeah.
43:21How beautiful.
43:22Come in, have a look.
43:24And welcome to the bar area.
43:27Wow.
43:28Get ready for the surprise.
43:31Oh.
43:32Wow.
43:35Yeah, the bar, it looks so different.
43:38It's like, for me, it's like they change, you know,
43:41they're all funny too,
43:42but it looks quite different.
43:44And, yeah, they did a very good work.
43:47And getting Fede's family's seal of approval
43:50is just the boost they need
43:52to keep going on their renovation marathon.
43:55It's good to have a second opinion
43:57and know that you are doing the right thing.
44:01You know, now the bar's done,
44:03we know that we can move on with other rooms
44:05and I've got their backing of how it's going to turn out.
44:09And it's exciting, really.
44:12It is.
44:14Next time...
44:18It's all turned on, it's ready, it's cold.
44:20Off we go.
44:21..Dave and Emily inch closer to first orders at their new pub.
44:26It's all new to us.
44:27It's trial and error.
44:28In Spain, the stakes remain high for Emma
44:31as she pushes on with new events.
44:34Financially, it was the biggest risk I've ever taken
44:37because I put everything into this.
44:39And a closer look at Nigel and Fede's B&B...
44:42As you can see, it's completely rotten all the way along.
44:45..delays the opening...
44:46We've had rain on and off now like this for two weeks.
44:49..of their new business.
44:51Here.
44:52Here.
44:52Here.
44:52Here.
44:53Here.
44:53Here.
44:54Here.
44:54Here.
44:55Here.
44:55Here.
44:56Here.
44:57Here.
44:57Here.
44:58Here.
44:59Here.
45:00Here.
45:01Here.
45:02Here.
45:03Here.
45:04Here.
45:05Here.
45:06Here.
45:07Here.
45:08Here.
45:09Here.
45:10Here.
45:11Here.
45:12Here.
45:13Here.
45:14Here.
45:15Here.
45:16Here.
45:17Here.
45:18Here.
45:18Here.
45:19Here.
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