- 5 days 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 Almería.
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.
11:38Oh!
11:45120 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
13:14made us realise that, 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.
14:00And Nigel and Fede are kick-starting their B&B renovations.
14:04I 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 occupant's possessions,
14:18which have been left behind.
14:21Some tinsel.
14:22Help others.
14:24Pink make the boys wink.
14:26Maybe I'll do it to you.
14:31Mr. Pink.
14:37It's like a Pandora's box.
14:39So here we are just...
14:40..discovering new things.
14:43And we'll try to make use...
14:45Look.
14:48Make use of it.
14:49The 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?
14:59Oh, that's brave of you.
15:02I thought I'd left my bar days behind me,
15:04but who knows?
15:06You know, could have a fun few evenings here.
15:08Oh, it looks like somebody's left something behind already.
15:13Oh, my God.
15:16Alongside the clear-out,
15:17Nigel's also in the process of selling a motorhome
15:20back 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,
15:37so every penny counts.
15:39And, 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
16:01across the channel.
16:02It's a little bit dirtier than we thought
16:04it was going to be, to say the least.
16:06All I'm doing is swishing round muck.
16:08And will the long trip to Emma's rural location
16:11pay off for her guests?
16:14With the events here,
16:15there'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,
16:34it's now May,
16:35and having said goodbye to the UK for good,
16:38Dave and Emily have been getting their family
16:40settled 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,
16:53this 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...
17:06So, 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
17:16because 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,
17:30and it's comfortable for the kids.
17:33Yeah, they're fine out there.
17:33They have no problem.
17:34Yeah, they've got what they need.
17:35It was a big shock and a big change,
17:37and very, very daunting,
17:39but the amount of work we've done in three weeks,
17:42we know now that we can do it
17:44with 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.
18:05And 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.
18:22No.
18:24Having set their opening day for just over a week's time, though...
18:28I'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.
18:39Today we're getting our heads round cleaning a professional kitchen
18:45for the very first time.
18:46And it's a little bit dirtier than we thought it was going to be,
18:51to say the least.
18:52I'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.
19:06All 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.
19:12Is 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.
19:42Across in southern Spain, having already opened for business,
19:55today is the trial of Emma's new Greek extravaganza event.
20:01Once her guests have managed to navigate their way to 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.
20:23Having 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.
20:33So where is it you've come from today?
20:36Hueco la Vera.
20:37Hueco la Vera.
20:38Oh, fantastic.
20:39Yes, love it there.
20:40Right, I shall show you your room.
20:43OK, thank you.
20:44This one is the Granada room, and it has the best views of the mountains.
20:51Breakfast in bed, though.
20:53Well, you know, it can be arranged.
20:57It's absolutely gorgeous.
20:58Oh, thank you very much.
21:00And it's not long before more guests are here to check in.
21:04You're in the ensuite room, which 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,
21:16the 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,
21:28or Greek-inspired, shall we say.
21:29So we have little shot pots of creamy rice pudding,
21:34a syrup sponge cake,
21:37flatbreads with coronation chicken and feta salad and pesto.
21:43Yep.
21:44Scones are a classic, no-brainer, jam and cream.
21:49So, 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.
22:09I'm going to take these out first.
22:13Now to negotiate the curtain.
22:18It's all going to be fine.
22:22Her selection of sweet and savoury treats
22:25are getting the thumbs up.
22:26Are you OK for drinks?
22:31Yes.
22:32Yep, fantastic.
22:33Enjoy.
22:34Through the curtain again.
22:40And would you like tea or coffee
22:42with your afternoon tea?
22:43Can I have a coffee, please?
22:44Absolutely.
22:46One tea, one coffee.
22:47Wonderful.
22:49Hi, guys.
22:50Hello.
22:50How are you doing?
22:51Hi, thank you.
22:52And you, too.
22:55After her final customers arrive...
22:57Here 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?
23:13Wonderful.
23:14Because if today goes well,
23:17she hopes her Greek-themed event
23:18will be a regular
23:20in the Kortiho'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
23:29on the details on the table,
23:31which is always good.
23:31So, yeah, all good.
23:32With the event halfway through,
23:37Emma must now prepare
23:38for the evening's activities.
23:42There 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
23:57to 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
24:05expected for the Greek-themed drinks and music,
24:08can she keep the good reviews
24:10coming all night long?
24:18Coming up...
24:20You can't move it electrically
24:22because rodents have gone through the cable.
24:25There's an invasion of critters
24:26for Nigel and Fed.
24:27And there's a wasp nest in there.
24:30Oh!
24:31There's a gecko.
24:33And in France...
24:36Oh, no, no!
24:38Are 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 Palopos 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.
25:10Today's task being the removal of an old stair lift.
25:20It 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.
25:40But after some careful manoeuvring...
25:52So we're using the screwdriver
25:53to 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. It's ready.
26:08Oh, I get the grubby end.
26:10Yeah, we thought the furniture
26:13was 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
26:20that 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
26:34to the outside of the property.
26:36If you rub down the ironworks
26:38and then I'll start sanding the doors down,
26:40along 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.
26:53So it's a relief that they've just received
26:54a very welcome £24,000 cash injection.
26:58Last 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.
27:23To 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 nest in there.
27:39Look at that.
27:39Oh, there's a gecko.
27:45There he is.
27:49Having said a surprise hello to their new neighbours.
27:53Right.
27:54Job 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.
28:09Yeah, 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.
28:28Yeah.
28:30Unfortunately,
28:32I got the shorter straw.
28:34Nigel is doing an easier job.
28:37I've sanded both doors
28:39in the time he's done half a gate.
28:41But which work is better, though?
28:44Exactly.
28:48But 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
28:57and what I want to do
28:59is get to the ironworks
29:01to be able to paint them.
29:04It's not the safest.
29:08For me to hold it,
29:10Nigel, that leg is gone.
29:15I knew it, Ad.
29:16I think that ladder needs to go to the doctor's.
29:19It has a broken leg.
29:20As DIY novices,
29:25it's going to be a long road ahead,
29:27but Nigel and Fede
29:28are determined to create the business
29:31they've long dreamt of.
29:33We've got no excuses now
29:34we've sold them out at home
29:35because we've got funds behind us properly
29:38that can help fund
29:39the bigger jobs that we want done.
29:41Yeah, it does motivate us
29:44to see already the results
29:45and with just a bit of time
29:49you can see a difference.
29:51You know, I think every day that we come now
29:53is going to be a different thing
29:55to 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
30:47cleaning the place up...
30:48I've nearly done the top.
30:50Then I have to start on the side.
30:54This 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, no!
31:10How 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. Brilliant.
31:24Testing their resilience
31:25as they race to get the pub ready.
31:27We 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,
31:38I 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,
31:45take a little breather,
31:46compose yourself.
31:47We have to remember
31:49that the place has been closed
31:50for six months as well.
31:52You know,
31:53we're making forward movement.
31:57I need a glass of wine.
32:00But that will have to wait
32:02until they've managed
32:03to fully stock their bar.
32:05Another job
32:06on their growing to-do list.
32:07So, it's an absolute mess
32:11everywhere at the minute.
32:13That also includes
32:15putting their own stamp
32:16on the pub interior.
32:19You know, people can come,
32:20they can play pool.
32:22We're going to get a dartboard up
32:23this side here, yeah,
32:25because obviously
32:26a 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.
32:34I don't.
32:35I'm joking.
32:36This area down here
32:37where it's set up as a restaurant,
32:40we kind of imagine
32:41a couple of Chesterfield chairs.
32:42Yeah, it needs to be more cosy.
32:44A low table.
32:46Being in a tourist area
32:48with so much going on.
32:50I do think that
32:51if in summer
32:52when we've got
32:52this abundance of people,
32:53if we shoot for the stars,
32:56we might just get there.
32:57Yeah.
32:58The couple may be full of ideas
33:00and have already proudly
33:02put their name above the bar.
33:04You had me that made
33:05for Christmas, didn't you?
33:05Yeah.
33:06So the Dunes
33:07were established in France
33:09in 2025,
33:10so that's taken
33:11pride of place up there.
33:13But as they embark
33:14on new careers,
33:16nerves are beginning
33:17to creep in.
33:18Being behind the bar
33:19it makes me feel really small,
33:21like everything's just
33:22scary.
33:23There's going to be
33:24loads of people
33:24just staring at me
33:25and speaking French
33:26and it's a big change.
33:28coming up...
33:35Coming up...
33:36Hello.
33:37Oh, where's that?
33:39Not sure where that is.
33:40Emma's mountain location
33:41has more of her guests
33:43in a spin.
33:44Go there
33:45and then put in the pin
33:46and then that will
33:47take you correct.
33:48And as Nigel
33:49and Fede's
33:50renovations continue...
33:51I ain't got the battery.
33:52I'm trying to use
33:53a drill
33:53and I ain't got
33:54the battery on it.
33:55A golden marketing
33:56opportunity
33:57passes by their front door.
33:59It's up to the village.
34:00Wow.
34:01It's our house.
34:02How cool is that?
34:03In Almeria,
34:17after a successful
34:18afternoon tea,
34:19Emma's now gearing up
34:21for the second part
34:22of her new Greek event,
34:23which will see
34:24an extra 12 guests
34:25arriving soon.
34:27I'm thinking the same dips
34:29with the Lankhoftas,
34:30perhaps.
34:30Yeah.
34:31Would they go quite nicely?
34:32Yeah, yeah, yeah.
34:32Yeah.
34:33With Hilary
34:34continuing to help,
34:36she's also hired
34:37fellow British expat
34:38Lee to take charge
34:39of the three-course dinner
34:41and local musician
34:43Jackie to provide
34:44the evening's soundtrack.
34:48So, basically,
34:49you'll be set up here.
34:51OK?
34:52Is that all OK for you?
34:54But as he gets ready,
34:55Emma's mountain location
34:57has some of her
34:58new 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
35:06Rambladoria.
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
35:14and then put in the pin
35:15and then that will
35:16take you correct.
35:18OK.
35:19All right, see you shortly.
35:20All right, bye.
35:21Bye.
35:22So, Chef Lee
35:25is in the thick of it
35:26at the moment
35:26in the kitchen.
35:27We're expecting
35:28another couple of guests
35:29in just a few minutes.
35:30They've just rang me
35:31for some directions.
35:33We've got other guests
35:34that have gone to their rooms
35:35to get ready
35:35for this evening's meal.
35:37Hillary is busy
35:38laying the tables
35:39and making it all look lovely.
35:41And, yeah,
35:41we've just got
35:42a slight cutlery shortage,
35:43so we're going to
35:44sort that one out.
35:45As today's event
35:49is a trial,
35:50Emma's learning
35:50as she goes.
35:52I'd just do one fork.
35:53That's what they do in Spain.
35:55But it's not yet
35:56impacted her guests' experience.
36:00The afternoon tea
36:01was excellent.
36:03We've really enjoyed it
36:04so far, haven't we?
36:05I have, yes.
36:06It was a bit tricky
36:07to get here,
36:08but nothing that
36:09you wouldn't get
36:10in Spain anyway.
36:12And all in all,
36:13a very good experience
36:14and really looking forward
36:15to the Greek food
36:16tonight.
36:18Lee is about
36:19ten minutes off
36:20finishing the food.
36:21I'm going to get everybody
36:22to sit at their tables.
36:24So, yeah,
36:24drink's going down nicely.
36:26People are mingling,
36:27so it's all good.
36:28With her terrace
36:29filling up...
36:30Hola, nice to meet you.
36:31Hola.
36:36The evening meal
36:37is served.
36:39I won't cough
36:40to two salad.
36:41That's what's left, so...
36:43That's what I've been.
36:43You've done this before.
36:46Emma has certainly
36:48come good on her promise
36:49of a Greek menu
36:50and music.
36:51The guitarist
36:52has just started
36:53performing.
36:54I'm very pleased
36:54with the numbers, actually.
36:56They're all tucking in
36:57nicely.
36:58There's a few
36:58that have arrived
36:59just for drinks,
37:00which is good as well.
37:01It's fantastic
37:02just to see a crowd
37:03on the terrace,
37:04which is exactly
37:05what I've aimed for.
37:06As the sun sets
37:11over the mountains
37:12and the meal
37:15wrapping up,
37:16the Greek dancing
37:17soon begins.
37:21Emma's remote location
37:22now coming into its own
37:24with no noise limits
37:25to worry about.
37:26allowing everyone
37:34the freedom
37:34to party
37:35the night away.
37:36The following morning,
37:46Emma's eight overnight
37:47guests begin to stir.
37:52She's hoping to cure
37:54any hangovers
37:54with breakfast
37:55and some strong coffee.
37:57It got a little bit
37:59rowdy on the terrace,
38:00shall we say,
38:01until about 3am
38:03last night.
38:05Thankfully,
38:05our neighbours
38:05are far away
38:06so they can't hear
38:07what's going on.
38:09Had a lot to process
38:10after such an epic day.
38:13My brain is very much
38:14still whirring,
38:15but on the whole,
38:16really happy
38:16with how everything went.
38:18As her guests
38:19prepare to check out
38:20after breakfast,
38:22they too have enjoyed
38:23their stay.
38:24Really good
38:25all-round package.
38:26Yeah.
38:27In beautiful surroundings too.
38:30The food was amazing
38:31and the whole atmosphere.
38:33Lots of singing,
38:33lots of dancing
38:34on 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
38:40to have a Greek night.
38:42All the best.
38:42Take care.
38:44Everyone is leaving
38:45with memories made
38:46and new friendships formed.
38:48All the best.
38:49Thank you so much.
38:51I'm glad you enjoyed it.
38:52The last guests
38:53have checked out
38:54and they were full of praise
38:56and lovely compliments.
38:57I'm a little bit tired
38:58from the event,
38:59but yeah,
39:00well worth it.
39:01Well worth it.
39:02And with this successful event
39:04under her belt,
39:06she hopes it will signal
39:07the start of a busy summer ahead.
39:09two and a half hours southwest
39:17in the village of Polopos,
39:19it's now early March.
39:22Having made a start
39:23painting the exterior doors
39:24and window frames
39:25of their new B&B,
39:27due to wet weather,
39:29Nigel and Fede
39:30have been forced
39:30to park exterior jobs.
39:32I ain't got the battery.
39:34I'm trying to use a drill
39:35and I ain't got the battery on it.
39:36And turn their attention
39:38back inside.
39:40Ta-da!
39:42The pair have begun
39:44to breathe new life
39:45into the old bar area.
39:48Freddy's treated the beams
39:51and painted the ceiling.
39:53We've put panelling
39:53on the walls
39:54and we've painted
39:55the front of the bar.
39:56And this afternoon,
40:00they hope to add
40:01the final decorative details.
40:03The smaller one
40:04needs to go
40:05in the centre up there.
40:07Beautiful.
40:08And then the other four
40:09have to go
40:10in the centre of these.
40:12Like that.
40:13Just to give it
40:14a finishing touch
40:15at the top.
40:19Yay!
40:20It looks good.
40:22Well done.
40:24Very nice.
40:24Look how quickly
40:25you've done it.
40:27That's the thing.
40:28Freddy can't see
40:29the end picture
40:29until it's done.
40:31True.
40:31I think it's difficult
40:34for someone
40:35to explain
40:36exactly the idea.
40:38I have to wait
40:39to see the final result.
40:41And the finished look
40:42will have the golden accents
40:44running from the bar
40:45across to the bench seating.
40:48It's definitely
40:50bringing the colour
40:51into the...
40:52and along the room
40:52so it makes it look
40:54that it matches the bar.
40:56So now we'll just get
40:57the padded seating
40:58ordered and give it
41:00another wipe down
41:00once we've painted the walls.
41:02Pretty happy with the result.
41:04Looks really good.
41:05It's one room done
41:06out of 25.
41:09Long term maybe
41:10we will open it up
41:11as a bar,
41:12a public bar
41:12and, you know,
41:15hopefully then bring
41:16more custom
41:16to the village.
41:18But who knows?
41:20Yeah, so far
41:21we are going to focus
41:22on opening it
41:22as a DMV.
41:24Yeah.
41:24and we are going to use
41:26the bar at the beginning
41:27like a social place
41:29and also it can be used
41:30for example
41:31for guests
41:33that they want
41:33to have breakfast
41:34in this area as well.
41:35Yeah.
41:36We'll see
41:37but definitely
41:38we'll make it
41:38some use for it.
41:41While Nigel
41:42and Fede
41:43explore their options
41:44to hire in
41:45extra help
41:46to speed up
41:46the renovations,
41:47for now
41:48it continues
41:49to be just
41:50a pair of them.
41:53Working
41:53such long hours
41:54together
41:55I tend to whistle
41:56and make noises
41:57that I
41:59don't notice it.
42:01I need him
42:02to tell me
42:02so I stop it.
42:04I thought he was
42:05going to say
42:05because we work
42:07together more
42:08that he loves me more.
42:09Yeah.
42:09Every day
42:10more and more.
42:14A week later
42:15and with the sun
42:16back out
42:17Nigel and Fede
42:18are taking
42:18the opportunity
42:19to celebrate
42:20a local bike race
42:21running through
42:22the village.
42:23What a great event.
42:25Yes.
42:26Now that you know
42:26how it looks like
42:27next year
42:28you can participate.
42:31Busy weekends
42:32like this
42:33bring people
42:34to Pelopos
42:35from across
42:35the region
42:36so once
42:37their B&B
42:38is open
42:38it's the kind
42:39of event
42:39they'll want
42:40to capitalise on.
42:41Look
42:42this is the village.
42:44Wow.
42:45But look
42:45it's our hikes.
42:47How cool is that?
42:50It's good
42:50that the villagers
42:51come out
42:51and support it
42:52you know
42:52this is only
42:53a handful
42:54from what
42:54I'll be here
42:55later
42:55but you know
42:56it's right
42:57the way
42:57from the seafront
42:58all the way up
42:58so people
42:59are supporting
42:59them all the way
43:00up to the finish.
43:01Fede's brother
43:02Luis
43:03and sister
43:04Arantra
43:04have also
43:05made the journey.
43:06For the
43:07fiesta
43:07of Pelopos.
43:08and after the race
43:12they're keen to
43:13check out the
43:13progress
43:14at the B&B
43:14Oh my god
43:18How beautiful
43:21come in
43:23have a look
43:23and welcome
43:24to the bar area
43:26Wow
43:27get ready
43:28for the surprise
43:29Oh
43:31Wow
43:33Yeah
43:36the bar
43:36it looks so
43:37different
43:38it's like
43:38for me
43:40it's like
43:40they change
43:41you know
43:41they're all funny
43:42too
43:42but it look
43:43quite different
43:44and yeah
43:45they did
43:46very good work
43:47and getting
43:48Fede's family's
43:49seal of approval
43:50is just the boost
43:51they need
43:52to keep going
43:53on their
43:53renovation marathon
43:55It's good
43:56to have a
43:57second opinion
43:57and know
43:58that you are
43:59doing the
44:00right thing
44:01You know
44:02now the bar
44:03is done
44:03we know
44:04that we can
44:04move on
44:05with other rooms
44:05and I've got
44:06their backing
44:07of how it's
44:08going to turn out
44:09and it's exciting
44:11really
44:11It is
44:12Next time
44:18It's all turned on
44:19it's ready
44:19it's cold
44:20Off we go
44:21Dave and Emily
44:22inch closer
44:23to first orders
44:24at their new pub
44:26It's all new to us
44:27It's trial and error
44:28In Spain
44:29the stakes remain
44:30high for Emma
44:31as she pushes
44:32on with new events
44:33Financially
44:35it was the biggest
44:35risk I've ever taken
44:37because I put
44:37everything into this
44:38And a closer look
44:40at Nigel
44:40and Fede's B&B
44:42As you can see
44:43it's completely rotten
44:44all the way along
44:45Delays the opening
44:46We've had rain
44:47on and off now
44:48like this
44:48for two weeks
44:49Of their new business
44:51Here
44:52It's been a night
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