- 5 weeks ago
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00:00Alps. All across Europe, brave Brits are chasing new beginnings.
00:04Let's get this show on the road, huh?
00:06I mean, just look at this backdrop here.
00:08Essex was nothing like this.
00:10The stakes are high.
00:12This is definitely a gamble. I put everything in.
00:14All my life savings.
00:16We've got a lot riding on this.
00:17Our futures, our children's futures.
00:19We have to make some money.
00:20As they launch B&Bs...
00:22Service.
00:23...and pubs in France...
00:25We're very new at this.
00:26Wow. Good job the wines, Chi.
00:29..to wellness retreats and holiday parks in Bulgaria.
00:33It's not big enough.
00:34We measured it. I don't understand.
00:36Ha!
00:37It's a journey into the unknown.
00:39Oh, that's cool.
00:41Boo!
00:42But we're joining them for the ride.
00:46As they tee off...
00:47Ooh!
00:48..their new lives in the sun.
00:50I just walk around with a smile on my face all the time.
00:53Let's like to work!
00:55Today...
00:56Really nervous.
00:58It's opening day at a couple's new pub in France.
01:01I don't know if I'm coming, if I'm going, what I'm serving.
01:04But will their gamble on a fresh start for their family pay off?
01:08We've put everything in.
01:10Everything that we've got.
01:11Blood, sweat and tears.
01:13In Spain...
01:14Well, I hope that's everything.
01:17Because...
01:18There ain't no coming back.
01:20Emotions run high.
01:22Whoa!
01:23As a B&B owner makes big changes to her business.
01:27There's only one income coming into this household, so it's all on me.
01:31And has the renovation of a Spanish guest house...
01:35Nice to meet you!
01:36Oh!
01:37...hit a sticking point.
01:39Fingers crossed it's right, otherwise we'd be taking it back down.
01:43The Dordogne is where France slows down, a place of vineyards, castles and long summer evenings.
02:02Each year, thousands of Brits flock here for holidays.
02:07But there are also a brave batch, so won over by the region, that they gamble everything to make it their new home.
02:14Are the market still on?
02:18We're just a little bit later than we would normally be.
02:21Like Dave and Emily from Huddersfield and their two children, Willow and Hugo.
02:26It's the tradition, isn't it, that we'll do our bit of shopping, get our baguettes and then we stop and have a...
02:32...a little drink in the local bar.
02:34Yeah.
02:35And then you can just sit and watch the world go by, do a bit of people watching.
02:39Yeah.
02:42We've really put ourselves on the line, haven't we?
02:45We've left all of our family, all of our friends and we've got our kids.
02:50Emotionally, we've put everything in. Everything that we've got.
02:54Blood, sweat and tears.
02:56Thus far, it's good, yeah?
02:59Yeah, it's good!
03:01But to pay for their new lives here, for the past month, former car sales manager Dave and travel agent Emily...
03:10We've got to do them from the inside.
03:12...have been working around the clock to get their new pub and restaurant in the village of Santa Steph ready to open.
03:20They're not perfect, but you can see out of them now.
03:22Much better.
03:24We've taken over a pub and we want it to be a hub for people to come, meet the friends, meet us, just generally enjoy being in our place.
03:35You've done them all?
03:36Uh-huh.
03:37And the boss.
03:38Oh, Em's the boss.
03:39And the boss, absolutely.
03:40And I enjoy that because the responsibility is less than I've had in the past.
03:46So I'm very happy for Em to be the boss.
03:49Regardless of who's in charge though, it's a brand new career path for both of them.
03:55It's very stressful.
03:57Very tiring.
03:58Yeah.
03:59Mentally draining.
04:00Yeah.
04:01Physically draining.
04:02Physically draining.
04:03It's just all...
04:04Everything's just so new and we're unsure about everything.
04:07We haven't got the leisure of being able to say it didn't work.
04:12That can't happen.
04:14It has to work.
04:16It's now early June and the heat's ramping up in the kitchen for Dave and Emily's new pub.
04:24Make sure you get it right.
04:26Hey, you can't put that much chilli in.
04:28Will that be good though, do you think?
04:30I...
04:31Yeah, I don't know.
04:33It's finally their official launch day, but before they open their doors for the first time later this afternoon,
04:40they need to cook up the curries that'll be served as part of a free taster menu.
04:45I just feel like I'm missing something and I can't think what?
04:51Methy.
04:52Methy.
04:53Hey, do you know what?
04:55It's a good job I'm here really, isn't it?
04:57This is supposed to be a competition between who's is the best and I'm helping you.
05:02But we are married.
05:03You would have definitely lost, wouldn't you?
05:06The plan is to have two different curries to serve, one prepped by Emily and the other by Dave.
05:13The pan's not looking big enough.
05:15I've got five kilos of chicken to go in it, so I'm a little bit worried now that I haven't quite got enough space.
05:21Never used a commercial kitchen to cook anything.
05:25Here goes.
05:27It's scary because I've never made a curry for so many people.
05:31What if we just do it all wrong?
05:33Once you've put these spices in, you can't take them back out.
05:36One, two...
05:40Doing these curries tonight is definitely a risk for us because, you know, if it all goes well, brilliant.
05:46But if it doesn't, we might lose customers forever.
05:50I have no idea how much I've just put in there.
05:53Oh, dear.
05:56And as the morning goes on...
05:58Did you turn this down?
05:59Yeah.
06:00...with only experience of cooking for their own family and not large groups,
06:07it's not just the spice levels that they're worried about.
06:10It's really hard to get this stuff right.
06:13The water levels, especially in Emily's pan, seem off.
06:18It's watery now.
06:20Why is it so watery?
06:22The chicken will have water in, won't it?
06:26Yeah, it needs to reduce loads and loads and loads.
06:30This doesn't look like my curry.
06:32All this steam, is it cooking down?
06:35But then my chicken's going to go tough, innit?
06:38We've never made a bad curry in our lives.
06:42Till today.
06:57Over 800 miles away in southern Spain,
07:00it's also a day of celebration in the mountaintop village of Polopos,
07:05where its annual wine festival is in full swing.
07:10Joining the party this year are its newest residents, Nigel, originally from Wiltshire...
07:15Hola.
07:16...and his Spanish husband, Fede, who has family roots here.
07:22A day where the community comes together and enjoy and relax themselves.
07:27Seeing as there's a fountain of red wine, I think we could have a few.
07:31There is an alcohol-free fountain as well.
07:34The couple who previously ran a pub in Bath have bought a three-storey former guest house
07:43at the top of the village.
07:44Having been closed for ten years,
07:47Nigel and Fede spotted an opportunity to revive the business.
07:51The property we want to bring back to its former glory,
07:55back up to standard fill, the bed and breakfast.
07:58We are both going to be taking the DIY tasks.
08:02And hopefully, each room will have its own stamp on it.
08:05Cheers.
08:06And news of the couple's plans have become the talk of the town.
08:21Both mayors have welcomed us to the village and have offered any help possible,
08:26as long as we don't ask for cash.
08:28With the whole community watching on, the pressure's now on to deliver.
08:38Hopefully, we'll make it a nicer place.
08:41And between us, you know, the work's got to be done,
08:44and we're looking forward to the challenge.
08:47It's now late April,
08:49and as interest grows in Nigel and Fede's new business venture...
08:53This is a rough guide.
08:56The couple are trying to keep momentum up on their B&B renovations,
09:00but with Fede under the weather,
09:02they've had to call in some extra help.
09:06We've got Steve here from the UK.
09:08He's going to put in a load of stud walls for us
09:11to divide up and make some new rooms.
09:13We've got Brian downstairs putting a sink in the bar
09:16and helping me in the kitchen do some plumbing work.
09:18So, yeah, lots going on today.
09:20While Nigel and Fede are DIY novices,
09:24their friend Steve, who is visiting for a week,
09:27has a background in construction.
09:29So it's vital they make the most of his skills while he's here.
09:35This used to be a former lounge for guests
09:39that stayed at the former B&B,
09:41but we're going to turn it into an ensuite, open-plan shower
09:45and toilet and bedroom because of the views outside the doors.
09:49So this is going to be the nicest room, hopefully.
09:52They're all going to be nice,
09:53but this is a bit more grandeur to it.
09:56Once the renovations are complete,
09:58Nigel and Fede plan to have a total of five double en-suite guest rooms.
10:03But to achieve that,
10:05not only did they need to build new bathrooms,
10:08the property's existing wash facilities...
10:12Float tails are the unexpected.
10:14..also need an upgrade to modern standards.
10:18The level where all the bathrooms are in the middle of the house,
10:22Steve's going to come into each bathroom and put new doors in
10:25because they've just used curtains in the past.
10:28So to make it a bit more private,
10:30we're going to put new doors in and box them in
10:33so they become a natural room.
10:35So when somebody's using the bathroom,
10:37it's not fuming the bedroom.
10:40While Steve's been able to steam ahead
10:45with the stud walls for the new en-suite upstairs...
10:48This is going to be where the shower head and taps are.
10:52When they come to plotting out the toilet area,
10:56it's proving more of a puzzle.
10:59So it's 60 from the front of the toilet, 24 inches.
11:05So we've opened and put the toilet in here,
11:08but we've looked on the plans of the dimensions of the toilet
11:13and it needs to be slightly bigger,
11:15which then encroaches on the doors.
11:18If they don't get their measurements right...
11:2185 to 90 is literally...
11:25..in line with that wall.
11:27It might not be much of a comfort break for their guests.
11:31Fingers crossed it's right,
11:33otherwise we'd be taking it back down.
11:39Three and a half hours later, with the new walls up,
11:42it's time to find out.
11:44That's brilliant.
11:45Really good job.
11:47And the toilet can go in there.
11:49I'm just testing it out.
11:50Plenty of space either side.
11:52Enough for the system and enough leg room.
11:56And once the door's on as well,
11:58which is what I was worried about.
12:00But with so much left to do at the B&B,
12:04there's no time for sitting around.
12:06I'm sure I've put somebody to be pleased on that throne.
12:10She's done a good job.
12:15Coming up is a new B&B host in Spain
12:18having second thoughts about her new business.
12:21Obviously opening my house to bed and breakfast guests,
12:23there's the level of vulnerability,
12:25having strangers in my home.
12:26And in France, the weather threatens to put a dampener
12:30on Emily and Dave's pub launch.
12:32At this rate, we'll be inside tonight,
12:34which is not what we want because there's definitely
12:37not enough room for everybody in there.
12:39The rain is going to ruin the night.
12:51Far removed from the crowded costas and tourist bustle,
12:55rural Almería in the south offers something a little different,
13:00an authentic taste of Spain's wilder and more rugged side.
13:04Come on, then.
13:07Good girl.
13:09Which was a huge part of the attraction for Emma from Leicestershire
13:14who moved to the region last year.
13:16Being able to take advantage of the wild areas and the Rambler roads
13:23and getting out and exploring has been a real bonus
13:27to the house being where it is.
13:29Having worked as a dog groomer in the UK,
13:32over here Emma's embarked on a brand new career
13:35as a bed and breakfast host.
13:37OK, thank you.
13:39You're welcome.
13:40A business she's launched from her five-bed traditional Spanish cortillo
13:46located in the hills above the village of Oria.
13:49Obviously opening my house to bed and breakfast guests,
13:52there's a level of vulnerability.
13:53There's certain things that I've had to adjust to
13:56and obviously get my head around is just having strangers in my home.
14:01Any more tea and coffee?
14:02But they quickly turn into guests that have potentially become friends as well.
14:07The whole experience has been above and beyond what I ever expected.
14:10While Emma's enjoying her new role,
14:14her remote location means she can't rely solely on passing trade,
14:18so has also been trialling events to bring in more guest bookings.
14:23Challenges, obviously, financially.
14:25There's only one income coming into this household, so it's all on me.
14:29I've literally put everything into this, all my savings.
14:32But at the end of the day, unless you push yourself and challenge yourself
14:36and follow your heart, then I think that you'll always have that question of what if.
14:41It's now August, a time when temperatures in Almeria can reach upwards of 40 degrees
14:48and Emma's preparing her B&B for her next guests.
14:52It's a lovely breeze in this room.
14:55It makes all the difference.
14:58I'm just going to put this on and the room is ready.
15:03However, as interest in her new events has been lower during the recent hotter months,
15:09forcing her to cancel some of them,
15:11she's decided to try something new to guarantee income over the coming weeks.
15:16I'm just making sure I've got everything I need to hit the road.
15:19But it's an idea that means she has to temporarily move out.
15:25Today, major task ahead.
15:27I've got my first family that's renting the property in its entirety
15:30for the next two weeks,
15:32which means I have to pack up everything that's mine, that I'm going to need.
15:36Renting the house out is something that I'm looking to do more of
15:38and have a balance between the day-to-day bed and breakfast
15:41and being able to leave the house in good hands with people renting it out,
15:46which will enable me to have that freedom to travel more,
15:50to visit family back in the UK more
15:52and also to benefit from the revenue that that brings.
15:55But as Emma spends the morning prepping the house
15:58and packing up her things before leaving for the UK...
16:03Well, I hope that's everything,
16:05because there ain't no coming back.
16:08..she spotted a plumbing problem that must be fixed before her guests arrive.
16:13I've just realised that the water heater for the downstairs kitchen
16:17has got a major leak on it.
16:18This is horrendous timing for something like this to happen.
16:21So, I've called Andy in.
16:23He's the local plumber.
16:24So, hopefully, he'll get that sorted soon,
16:26because I don't want to leave them without hot water in the kitchen.
16:28To her relief, half an hour after arriving,
16:31fellow British expat Andy has quickly got a handle on the plumbing problem.
16:36How's it going, Hand?
16:40It's not leaking.
16:42Whey!
16:43What was the issue again?
16:45Just the pressure valve.
16:46Oh, right.
16:47Wicked.
16:48As long as it's all sorted.
16:49That's the main thing.
16:51No worries.
16:52Much appreciated.
16:53And it's been fixed just in time.
16:56Welcome, welcome.
16:58As guests Wilfred and Emmanuel from France have just arrived.
17:03This is the reception room, OK?
17:05And through here, we have the lounge area.
17:09The couple have booked Emma's home for a holiday with their family
17:12for the next two weeks.
17:14The pool, obviously, you have sun lounges.
17:17I have a pool cleaner booked to come once, twice a week, OK?
17:21To come to clean.
17:22All right?
17:23And with the keys to her home soon handed over...
17:27That is the front door, OK?
17:29The moment has come for Emma to say her goodbyes to the property.
17:33..that she's poured her heart and soul into.
17:36Be good.
17:43Seem a lovely family, but obviously very mixed emotions,
17:46because this will be the longest that I've sort of walked away from it,
17:49really, so I've got no qualms about the family being there.
17:53I'm genuinely quite emotional about the fact that they're going to enjoy it
17:56as much as what I have.
17:58While it's a wrench to bid farewell,
18:00the income from the booking will allow Emma to continue growing her business
18:05on her return from the UK.
18:16Back in the Dordogne, the pressure continues to mount for Emily and Dave
18:20in the run-up to their pub relaunch.
18:22Really nervous.
18:25Don't know if we've done everything.
18:27Don't know if we've got everything.
18:28I feel like we're clean and tidy.
18:31We've got the gazebo ready for when the ban comes later.
18:34They're turning up around 5.30.
18:36Doors open at 5.
18:38Kids finish school at 4.30.
18:40I don't even know what time it is now, but it feels like we've got a lot to do.
18:48We need to iron our uniform.
18:51I need to have a shower.
18:52I need to have a shave.
18:53I need to look somewhere near a spectacle.
18:55We haven't got enough time in the day for all this.
18:59Adding to their worries is that Emily's chicken curry is still on the watery side.
19:04I don't know what I'm doing.
19:06Leaving it to simmer for even longer,
19:09she heads outside to try and tick another job off their to-do list.
19:15But the weather's also taken a turn.
19:19I'm trying to clean the tables, but it's raining and pointless.
19:24It's just wet through.
19:29At this rate, we'll be inside tonight,
19:31which is not what we want,
19:33because there's definitely not enough room for everybody in there.
19:37Especially not if we get, like, 100 people,
19:39which people keep saying we're going to.
19:41I think it only seats 30.
19:43This is just a waste of time.
19:45The rain is going to ruin the night.
19:49Unfortunately, 30 minutes later,
19:51there isn't good news from the kitchen, either.
19:56It's just taking forever to reduce down.
19:59You're not happy with the flavour of yours, are you?
20:02No.
20:05I mean, it has got flavour.
20:06It's just...
20:07It's got a watery flavour as well.
20:10Problem is, we've never used French chicken breast
20:12from that supply before,
20:14so we weren't to know how much water's going to come out of it.
20:18With time ticking and focus needed elsewhere...
20:27..a decision is made to take Emily's curry
20:30off the opening night taster menu.
20:34It's a sloppy mess.
20:35I'm not giving them, on our first night,
20:38something that's not what we expected.
20:40We don't let the flavour's there, because we've put it in.
20:43Oh, my...
20:45It's just the amount of water that was in the chicken.
20:49Terrible.
20:51We don't know what we're doing,
20:52cos we've never run a bar before.
20:55Don't know why we ever thought it was a good idea.
20:57With a large crowd of locals and fellow British expats expected...
21:04..fortunately, they've been able to rope in friends
21:07Lisa and Valerie from the village to lend a hand...
21:13..if they can let them in.
21:16Allez, mon petit kitty, on vient te vacciner!
21:22Bonjour, il est où?
21:24Ça va?
21:25Où est?
21:26Ready?
21:28Maybe.
21:30As Valerie has experience running her own bar in the past...
21:34Ça va?
21:35Oui, évidemment!
21:37..Emily and Dave are hoping to lean into her experience.
21:42She's great, she'll help us do whatever.
21:45She'll be behind the bar, she can clean the table,
21:48she can glass collect for us.
21:51She's going to be a real help for us, I think, tonight.
21:53They work hard, because I know the place before, I can't recognize it.
22:00It's just now, fresh and welcoming.
22:04They're ready, but it's a big thing to do, a party the first day.
22:09I think they are crazy to do that, because they are not prepared to work with so many people.
22:17Now, for 30 years, I ran pubs and restaurants, I never, never did something like that, because people expect the best the first day.
22:31It's the first day.
22:34It's what we've been working for, so fingers crossed it's going to be good, and not too stressful.
22:39Oh, it's going to be stressful, all right.
22:41No, it's scary.
22:43I think I'm just going to hide upstairs.
22:44You can't do that.
22:45Valerie will do it for me tonight, and I'll just, I'll run away.
22:51Coming up...
22:52They've cemented over the pipe by a look.
22:54There are plumbing problems for Nigel and Feday.
22:57We were thinking of having to get permission to dig all this road up here.
23:01And changes are also in the pipeline.
23:03It's a concrete block building, an empty shell, basically.
23:08At Emma's B&B.
23:10Being in the UK, it's given me a few weeks of reflection and deciding what's best to do for the season.
23:15In Pelopos, in southern Spain, it's now early May.
23:30And with Feday feeling better, he's been able to rejoin Nigel in their effort to breed new life into a former guest house in the village.
23:39Now I do feel like a professional painter.
23:42His job this morning is to continue painting the window frames.
23:47I lost count of how many windows we go to paint, but loads, loads.
23:58While the property's exterior walls also need a fresh lick of paint.
24:03Before they tackle that, Nigel's been re-tiling one of their entrance porches.
24:07As making a good first impression when future guests arrive will be crucial.
24:15It's definitely better than what was up there before and a lot safer and less weight up there.
24:20I think it looks alright.
24:21Meanwhile inside, after working on the guest en-suites, their friend Steve, who has a background in construction, has now been tasked...
24:32..with re-jigging the internal layout of Nigel and Feday's own living quarters on the top floor.
24:38Steve's gonna do the hallway for the bathroom partition, one of the bigger bedrooms off.
24:48And then he's gonna hopefully do the hallway door that leads from the staircase upstairs.
24:55And then I'll probably be left to hang the doors. But we'll see.
24:59Even though the guest accommodation is their priority to be able to start earning, as DIY is all new to Nigel and Feday, they need to make the most of Steve's expertise.
25:13It's been a long week for Steve. He's got his last whole day here with us today.
25:16It's important that Steve is here to do as much as possible of the technical stuff that we are not professionals.
25:25As Steve works for Mates Rates, it also helps Nigel and Feday's renovation budget, freeing up funds to be able to rehire local builder Brian.
25:37Who's back on site today, fitting a splash back in the B&B's new kitchen, with help from his apprentice Nigel.
25:44I'm just waiting for my helper here.
25:48OK, Bodger, Scarper's coming.
25:54Yes, Brian became Bodge and I became Scarper.
25:59Now, Bodge, you Scarper.
26:01It's just getting around the electrics and the plugs. Hopefully this will be done today, maybe. Hopefully. This morning.
26:08With interest growing locally in their new business, keeping the renovations on track is important, especially as they've now got a potential guest booking on the horizon.
26:21Somebody popped by recently and organises the freestyle downhill skating on rollerblades and skateboards that happens every year here in Peloppa.
26:35And so he's approached us and asked us if we would be a property for their boot camp and their training camp. So hopefully that's a positive for us.
26:43The group's next meet-up is in October, but Nigel and Fede have a lot to do before they can accept the reservation.
26:52Can you do it up the line?
26:54Yeah, it's level.
26:56It's level.
27:01You all right?
27:02Yeah.
27:04Nice to meet you.
27:09Brian, the village will be talking.
27:15While the kitchen's seeing swift progress...
27:19It's good because it covers a wide space of wall in one fell swoop.
27:24Outside, they've discovered an issue which could throw a spanner in the works for the rest of the renovation.
27:31All the other bathrooms are that side.
27:33That's it, yeah.
27:34It'd make it easier if we could just come out and down into there.
27:36It'd be nice, wouldn't it, that?
27:38They've fermented over the pipe by a look on it.
27:40As the property currently has one main sewage pipe, plumbing in their new en-suite isn't going to be as easy as they'd hoped.
27:47Because all the other bathrooms are on the other side of the house, they all run into the same waste system.
27:54We were thinking of having to get permission to dig all this road up here, but there might be a solution of knocking into another pipe instead.
28:03So that could save us money and time.
28:07Four weeks later, though, and after further investigation, it's not good news.
28:12They've no choice but to dig up the road.
28:16We will have to open somewhere around here to connect the switch pipes and it will go all the way down till that exit over there.
28:27In order to have the new bathroom, this has to be done.
28:31The extra works required are a major blow, as they're likely to run into hundreds of euros and push their schedule back, which could put their potential October booking on the line.
28:52120 miles northeast in the hills above the village of Aurea, it's now September.
28:58Back to reality.
29:00And Emma's reopened her B&B after an extended trip to the UK.
29:05Because I had the three weeks off and it really was restful, I was pleased to get back on it, to be honest.
29:11I can't sit down for too long. So, yeah, I'm really happy to be back where I need to be, back hostessing.
29:17It's great, I love it.
29:19While it was emotional renting out her entire property for the first time last month...
29:24It gets so dusty. We've had quite a lot of dust lately.
29:28..the two-week booking proved to be a good earner and has now got Emma rethinking parts of her business plan.
29:34The French family rented the whole house for their vacation whilst I was gone and I came back and everything was fine, which, yeah, turned out to be a really positive experience.
29:46They were really respectful and they said that they had a fantastic time and left a great review.
29:51Because it was so successful renting with the family this time, I think it's worth doing that again.
30:00To make that possible without having to also vacate her own home each time, Emma's come up with a new idea to expand.
30:07This is the top covered terrace and access currently to the annex is here, up here.
30:15Attached to her B&B is an 80 square metre annex, currently unrenovated and used for storage,
30:23but there's plenty of potential for it to be turned into extra guest accommodation.
30:27It's a concrete block building. It's an empty shell, basically. I'm going to start with this end. That's the idea.
30:38So, obviously, doors and windows are in place here already, so it'd be great to work with those and take full advantage of the beautiful mountain view.
30:49The peace and serenity on this side, and this just lends itself to being a terraced area.
30:58Along with building a new outside space to soak up the afternoon sun,
31:03inside, Emma hopes to split the annex in two to create a pair of one-bedroom self-catered apartments,
31:10each with their own bathroom and small kitchen.
31:14The bare bones of the work has been done by the previous owner, which is great.
31:18Obviously, I think they had different ideas than what I've got in terms of usability,
31:24but I may as well just take full advantage of that, really, and work with what I have rather than, you know, start all over again.
31:30It will also help her budget, as the renovations to complete both units are going to run into thousands of euros,
31:38which is why she's planning to work in two stages, hoping to have the first apartment open for next season.
31:45There's obviously a lot of unnecessary stuff in here.
31:51I need to sort of basically sort through what's worth keeping and what isn't.
31:55The great thing is about only doing half of the annex at the moment,
31:58what I do want to keep can be stored at the back of the annex.
32:01That's going to be the first task, really, is clearing all of this.
32:04The clearance will be a big job, but may help her save even more money.
32:11So, we have random tiles.
32:16Hanging on to those.
32:18What else do we have? Wood.
32:20Loads of different paints and wood stains and whatnot.
32:23Breeze blocks. How many breeze blocks do you want?
32:26Obviously, if you want to build a wall, you're going to need a breeze block.
32:29So, yeah, I've saved a few of those. I mean, they're only about 90 cents each, but, you know, I like to save where I can.
32:41A lot of it was already here, actually, but you learn quickly over here not to throw anything away because you just never know when you're going to need it.
32:48Every euro will be crucial because Emma has decided she won't be offering her events during the renovations.
32:56The B&B will have to provide all her income from now on.
33:01Being in the UK, obviously, it's given me a few weeks of reflection and deciding what's best to do for the season as well.
33:08And I think, events-wise, it's best to do those in spring and heading into early summer.
33:14And the height of summer is just too hot. So, that's been a learning curve as well.
33:19So, decided to park the events for now and also shift focus and try and juggle the bed and breakfast element with the renovation.
33:27And that's how it needs to be for now.
33:31Coming up...
33:33Emily. Emily. Yeah. Nice to meet you.
33:35Dave and Emily are given the run around as they open the doors to their new pub.
33:41It's busy and it's hard work.
33:44And in Spain, Emma's business plans also ramp up a gear.
33:48Me being me, putting a bit of pressure on myself. I've already advertised it and I've actually taken a booking on it already.
33:53It's early June in the Dordogne and the rural village of San Testef is about to have its local watering hole reopen its doors.
34:12Ready, you are perfect, beautiful together.
34:18Voila.
34:20Now with first-time landlords Emily and Dave at its helm, along with some help from local friends.
34:25While the pub is customer-ready, the weather has taken a turn.
34:31Hi. It's just a shower.
34:34No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
34:37It's clear behind? Yeah.
34:39Yeah. Doc, it's so clear.
34:40The sun's going to put his hat on for us.
34:43Not good!
34:44An hour later, after a dash to collect their kids from school.
34:51Oh, that weather is horrible.
34:54To their relief, the skies brighten.
34:57Just in time for the milestone moment of their first customers arriving.
35:06Meaning that after a month of prep and nerves, it's finally time to put their new bar skills to the test.
35:14And with Willow and Hugo on welcoming duties, the pub begins to fill up.
35:29Emily.
35:31Yeah. Nice to meet you.
35:33While Emily and Dave start getting to know the locals,
35:37as brand-new pub landlords, it's a steep learning curve.
35:41We've chosen where everything's going to go, but yet we don't know where anything is.
35:46Yeah, that's cool.
35:48Do you need a tonic?
35:50Yes, please.
35:52No.
35:54Do you try to teach me?
35:56Oh, dear.
35:58Just get your glass.
36:00Er, where are they?
36:01After sinking a huge chunk of their savings into their new business.
36:07$2.50 for the wine, thank you.
36:10While it's a relief to get some cash in the till, the rush is keeping them on their toes.
36:16Thank you very much. Have a nice evening. See you later.
36:19Oh, good.
36:21Bonkers at the minute. Bonkers.
36:23So much so that with the pub's former landlady Amanda also in attendance,
36:29she's hopped behind the bar to lend a hand.
36:31I don't know if I'm coming, if I'm going, what I'm serving, I don't know anything.
36:37It's busy, and it's hard work.
36:40I don't know how we're going to make the curries,
36:41I don't know how we're going to get them warmed up, because there's not enough people.
36:45How many glasses for you, Rosa? How many glasses?
36:54Two, Bob.
36:56Do you want to go ahead and put it in your tail?
36:59OK.
37:01Cheers!
37:03Pretty busy.
37:05As the evening goes on, their car park begins to overflow,
37:10and the terrace is packed out, ready for the band they've booked.
37:16Meaning there's little let-up on the bar,
37:19and they've still no plans as to how they'll serve Dave's curry.
37:23This is just crazy.
37:25Come on.
37:27Two eyes.
37:29Anything else?
37:31Five. Sunk.
37:33The party atmosphere, though, is what they'd hoped for.
37:41It's how a pub should be.
37:43Never seen so many people here.
37:45Fantastic.
37:46Absolutely brilliant.
37:48Best night ever.
37:50But having worked hard in the kitchen, and with just a few hours of their launch night left,
37:56they're determined to come good on their promise of free curry for their first customers.
38:00It's literally just been drink after drink. We've used every single glass in the bar, over and over and over again. Bonkers. Absolutely bonkers. But it's what we came for, yeah?
38:14As the sun sets, Dave's spinach and chicken curry is ready to serve. During their interval.
38:23Give me a round of applause for the food.
38:24The band are the first to tuck in.
38:29Curry? It's right. Could be hotter.
38:32If it's a curry, they could all be hotter.
38:35Very nice. Yeah, honestly, very, very tasty.
38:37Good.
38:39While it's not been an easy evening, with support from their friends, Dave and Emily have survived their first shift as publicans.
38:46Just being a whirlwind. It's definitely been successful.
38:53We've pretty much sold all of our beer. A box and a half of wine. A box and a half of each wine. Everything's going.
39:01We've had 155 people here. We've got a terrace full of happy people. And we're brand new to this, you know? Imagine what we could achieve.
39:07Back in southern Spain, after deciding to press pause on hosting more of her own events until next season,
39:28B&B owner Emma has kick-started her renovation plans.
39:33Wow, it's looking good already. Yeah, really pleased with that.
39:37Amazing.
39:38As she's relying solely on the income from her B&B over the coming months,
39:43before starting the annex conversion, she's tasked her building team to carry out some essential maintenance to the communal guest facilities.
39:52Today, we are concentrating on the pool area, so smartening up that area with some gravel,
39:58trimming back these overgrown brushland down the bottom there.
40:01And if everything goes well and they're happy with me and I'm happy with them, then I shall get them on board to start working on the annex.
40:08Guys, did you want a tea or coffee?
40:10I'll have a coffee, please.
40:11Yeah. Two coffees. Three coffees. Yeah? Okay.
40:14Todo con leche, si? Tres coffees.
40:20Starting with some of the smaller jobs around her property also gives Emma the opportunity...
40:26This is on the list of things to do.
40:28..to fine-tune her plans for the annex with builder Steve.
40:32Start at this then, cos I think it lends itself to be a more rentable property than at the other end of the annex.
40:38Lends about some decking as well. Exactly, yeah.
40:39Yeah, pack out the terrace area and do some decking, if you think that's best, yeah.
40:46I've done a little floor plan, actually, as well, so that might help.
40:51With the annex conversion added to Steve's build list, which he hopes to start soon...
40:56Sheets, blankets...
40:59Emma's taking every B&B booking she can to help pay for the works.
41:04Guests checked out early this morning, so we're going to turn the room around.
41:08Don't actually have a technique other than to not get tangled up in it myself.
41:14While she may be relatively new to hosting, in the 11 months she's now been open, she's come a long way.
41:22People do remind me that I've done quite a lot in a short space of time
41:26and sometimes I need to remind myself of that and perhaps enjoy that
41:30and enjoy the process a bit more than it being, right, okay, what phase can we get to next?
41:35I'm determined to do that more with this phase of the renovation.
41:38I'm not putting any pressure on myself, I'm just going to see what can be done for X amount of money
41:44and then go with it, work with it.
41:46All the rooms are ready to go. Three o'clock check-in, basically.
41:51I get a lot of last-minute bookings, so effectively anybody could turn up on the doorstep at three o'clock onwards.
41:56So, yeah, always ready to go.
41:58Next lot of washing! Hey, Phyllis!
42:00Come on, baby.
42:05The following month, in and around a steady flow of guest stays, Emma's been working to sort through the annex
42:13with help from friend Adam, who's over from the UK.
42:16Yeah, you need to skip.
42:18I know I do.
42:19That's an air filter from something.
42:21It'll be a swimming pool.
42:22The clearance is now a top priority, as her builders have confirmed they can start the conversion work next week.
42:30That thing helped build the house 20 years ago.
42:34Despite her intention to take the renovations in her stride, Emma's innate business ambition has other ideas.
42:43Me being me, putting a bit of pressure on myself.
42:46I've already advertised it for next year.
42:48So, and I've actually taken a booking on it already as well.
42:51So, yeah, just applied a little bit of pressure there, but I'm sure it'll be fine.
42:54It's really exciting, yeah.
42:55I can't wait to see it change shape and turn it around really quickly, which I know they will.
43:00And they'll do a great job as well.
43:02Emma's drive to push her new business forward has been evident all summer long
43:07in the varying ideas that she's trialed to bring in guest bookings.
43:1311 months into business.
43:14I'm really pleased with how this season's gone.
43:17I have more of a clarity in my head now as to the events I want to do going forward
43:22and in terms of what I want to see the business doing for me in the future.
43:28It's been really enjoyable. I love doing it.
43:31Also being able to share this corner of Spain that she now calls home
43:35with visiting friends and family...
43:38Oh, yes. Going to get some nice food.
43:41..is a dream made possible through all her hard work.
43:45I have no regrets at all.
43:47There's not a day where I even have a wobble, to be fair,
43:50and wonder, what are you doing, Emma?
43:52You know, I mean, I feel so, so grateful to be here.
43:57I have many pinch-myself moments where it's like, how did I get here?
44:00It's an amazing experience. It's given me way, way more than I ever, ever anticipated,
44:06and I can only ever see that getting better and improving, so it's great.
44:10I'm just happy to be here.
44:11I'm just happy to be here.
44:16Next time...
44:18Ready for another day in the sunny Dardyne?
44:21After their launch, can Dave and Emily keep the tills ringing?
44:25I'm just making a little sign with our opening times,
44:28then we're going to go into the lake and put it up.
44:30Nigel and Fede's renovations hit a hurdle.
44:33Slightly bigger hole than we expected.
44:35It looks like we've just had an earthquake.
44:38And after winning the keys to a French B&B on a TV game show...
44:43What?
44:45..a couple from Belfast claim their life-changing prize.
44:49Do you think it's real?
44:51I've got you.
44:52I just don't feel like we're in someone else's house.
44:54That's a busy chef.
44:56I've got you!
44:58We're looking in the same way,
45:00we're looking in a littleincidium.
45:02I've got you no one.
45:04It's a great idea.
45:06I'll get you guys close the day.
45:08I'm just kidding.
45:10We're looking at the same time.
45:12I've got you.
45:14We're looking after we get there.
45:16I'm just kidding.
45:18If you've got some stuff,
45:21you can just break it down.
45:22You
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