- 2 days ago
- #realityinsighthub
A New Life in the Sun Season 11 Episode 3
A New Life in the Sun
#RealityInsightHub
🎞 Please subscribe to our official channel to watch the full movie for free, as soon as possible. ❤️Reality Insight Hub❤️
👉 Official Channel: />👉 THANK YOU ⭐❤️❤️❤️⭐
A New Life in the Sun
#RealityInsightHub
🎞 Please subscribe to our official channel to watch the full movie for free, as soon as possible. ❤️Reality Insight Hub❤️
👉 Official Channel: />👉 THANK YOU ⭐❤️❤️❤️⭐
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00...helps. 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 need 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.
00:28...to wellness retreats and holiday parks in Bulgaria.
00:33It's not big enough. We measured it. I don't understand.
00:36It'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...
00:47Oh!
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 learn, Barbara!
00:55Today...
00:56Really nervous.
00:57It'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.
01:12Blood, sweat and tears.
01:13In Spain...
01:14Well, I hope that's everything.
01:17Because there ain't no coming back.
01:19Emotions run high.
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...
01:34Nice to meet you.
01:37...hit a sticking point.
01:38Fingers crossed, uh...
01:40It's right, otherwise we'd be taking it back down.
01:42The Dordogne is where France slows down.
01:58A 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...
02:11..that they gamble everything to make it their new home.
02:16Are the market still on?
02:19We're just a little bit later than we would normally be.
02:21Like Dave and Emily from Huddersfield...
02:24..and their two children, Willow and Hugo.
02:27It's the tradition, isn't it, that we'll do a bit of shopping,
02:30get however it gets, and then we stop and have a little drink...
02:33..in the local bar.
02:34Yeah.
02:35And then you can just sit and watch the world go by,
02:38do 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...
02:47..and we've got our kids.
02:50Emotionally, we've put everything in.
02:53Everything that we've got.
02:54Blood, sweat and tears.
02:57Thus far, it's good, yeah?
03:00Yeah, it's good.
03:02But to pay for their new lives here,
03:05for the past month, former car sales manager Dave
03:08and travel agent Emily...
03:10We've got to do them from the inside.
03:12..have been working around the clock
03:14to get their new pub and restaurant
03:15in the village of Santa Steph ready to open.
03:20They're not perfect, but you can see out of them now.
03:22Much better.
03:23We've taken over a pub, and we want it to be a hub for people
03:27to come, meet the friends, meet us...
03:31..just generally enjoy being in our place.
03:35You've done them all?
03:36Uh-huh.
03:37I'm the boss.
03:37Oh, Em's the boss.
03:38I'm the boss, absolutely.
03:40And I enjoy that, because the responsibility
03:43is 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,
03:51it's a brand-new career path for both of them.
03:55It's very stressful, very tiring...
03:59Yeah. ..mentally draining.
04:01Yeah.
04:02Physically draining.
04:02Physically draining.
04:03It's just all...
04:04Everything's just so new,
04:05and we're unsure about everything.
04:07We haven't got the leisure of being able to say
04:11it didn't work.
04:13That can't happen.
04:14It has to work.
04:18It's now early June,
04:20and the heat's ramping up in the kitchen
04:22for Dave and Emily's new pub.
04:25Make 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...
04:30Yeah, I don't know.
04:34It's finally their official launch day,
04:36but before they open their doors
04:38for the first time later this afternoon,
04:40they need to cook up the curries
04:42that'll be served as part of a free taster menu.
04:47I just feel like I'm missing something,
04:49and I can't think what...
04:51Messe.
04:51Messe.
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
04:59between who's the best, and I'm helping you.
05:01But we are married.
05:02You would have definitely lost, wouldn't you?
05:06The plan is to have two different curries to serve,
05:09one 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,
05:18so I'm a little bit worried now,
05:19but I haven't quite got enough space.
05:21Never used a commercial kitchen to cook anything.
05:24Here goes.
05:28It's scary, because I've never made a curries for so many people.
05:31What if we just do it all wrong?
05:33Once you've put these vices in,
05:35you can't take them back out.
05:36One, two...
05:38Doing these curries tonight is definitely a risk for us,
05:43because, you know, it all goes well, brilliant.
05:46But if it doesn't, we might lose customers forever.
05:50I've no idea how much I've just put in there.
05:53Oh, dear.
05:53And as the morning goes on...
05:58Did you turn this down?
05:59Yeah.
06:00..with only experience of cooking for their own family
06:03and not large groups,
06:05it's not just the spice levels that they're worried about.
06:10It's really hard to get this just 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.
06:43Till today.
06:51Over 800 miles away in southern Spain,
06:59it's also a day of celebration
07:01in the mountaintop village of Polopos,
07:04where its annual wine festival is in full swing.
07:09Joining the party this year are its newest residents,
07:13Nigel, originally from Wiltshire,
07:15and his Spanish husband, Fede, who has family roots here.
07:22A day where the community comes together
07:24and enjoy and relax themselves.
07:27Seeing as there's a fountain of red wine,
07:29I think we could have a few.
07:32There is an alcohol-free fountain as well.
07:34The couple, who previously ran a pub in Bath,
07:40have bought a three-storey former guest house
07:43at the top of the village.
07:45Having been closed for ten years,
07:47Nigel and Fede spotted an opportunity
07:50to revive the business.
07:51The property we want to bring back
07:54to its former glory,
07:56back up to standard for the bed and breakfast.
07:58We are both going to be taking the DIY tasks.
08:03And hopefully each room will have its own stamp on it.
08:06Cheers.
08:07And news of the couple's plans...
08:09Bienvenido!
08:11..have become the talk of the town.
08:13If they have their house, they'll bring us more tourism.
08:17In addition, if we can help them, we'll help them.
08:20Both mayors have welcomed us to the village
08:23and have offered any help possible,
08:26as long as we don't ask for cash.
08:30With the whole community watching on,
08:33the pressure's now on to deliver.
08:37Hopefully 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.
08:56..the couple are trying to keep momentum up
08:58on 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
09:10to divide up and make some new rooms.
09:12We've got Brian downstairs putting a sink in the bar
09:16and helping me in the kitchen do some plumbing work.
09:19So, yeah, lots going on today.
09:21While Nigel and Fede are DIY novices,
09:24their friend Steve, who is visiting for a week,
09:27has a background in construction.
09:30So it's vital they make the most of his skills while he's here.
09:34This used to be a former lounge for guests
09:39that stayed at the former B&B,
09:40but we're going to turn it into an en-suite open plan
09:44shower and toilet and bedroom
09:46because of the views outside the doors.
09:49This 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
10:01of five double en-suite guest rooms.
10:04But to achieve that,
10:06not only did they need to build new bathrooms,
10:10the property's existing wash facilities...
10:12Float towels are the unexpected.
10:15..also need an upgrade to modern standards.
10:19The level where all the bathrooms are in the middle of the house,
10:23Steve's going to come into each bathroom
10:25and put new doors in
10:26because they've just used curtains in the past.
10:29So to make it a bit more private,
10:31we're going to put new doors in
10:32and box them in
10:33so they become an actual room.
10:35So when somebody's using the bathroom,
10:37it's not fuming the bedroom.
10:42While 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.
10:53..when they come to plotting out the toilet area...
10:56..it's proving more of a puzzle.
10:59So it's 60 from the front of the toilet, 24 inches.
11:06So we've got to put the toilet in here,
11:09but 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.
11:19If they don't get their measurements right...
11:21..85 to 90 is literally in line with that wall.
11:27..it 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.
11:34Three 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.
11:50I'm just testing it out.
11:51Plenty of space either side.
11:53Enough for the system and enough leg room.
11:57And once the door's on as well,
11:59which 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.
12:07I'm sure I've put somebody to be pleased on her 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,
12:24there's the level of vulnerability, having 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
12:36because there's definitely not enough room for everybody in there.
12:39The rain is going to ruin the night.
12:41Far removed from the crowded costas and tourist bustle,
12:56rural Almería in the south offers something a little different,
13:00an authentic taste of Spain's wilder and more rugged side.
13:05Come 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.
13:19Being able to take advantage of the wild areas
13:22and the rambler roads and getting out and exploring
13:25has been a real bonus to 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.
13:42A business she's launched from her five-bed traditional Spanish cortillo
13:46located in the hills above the village of Oria.
13:50Obviously opening my house to bed and breakfast guests,
13:52there's a level of vulnerability.
13:54There's certain things that I've had to adjust to
13:57and obviously get my head around is just having strangers in my home.
14:00Any more tea and coffee?
14:03But 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.
14:11While 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.
14:22Challenges, obviously, financially.
14:25There's only one income coming into this household, so it's all on me.
14:30I've literally put everything into this, all my savings.
14:33But at the end of the day,
14:34unless you push yourself and challenge yourself and follow your heart,
14:38then 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,
14:49and Emma's preparing her B&B for her next guests.
14:53It's a lovely breeze in this room.
14:56It makes all the difference.
14:58I'm just going to put this on.
15:01And the room is ready.
15:02However, 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.
15:17I'm just making sure I've got everything I need to hit the road.
15:20But 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 for the next two weeks,
15:31which 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,
15:49to visit family back in the UK more
15:51and 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...
16:00Well, I hope that's everything, because there ain't no coming back.
16:08..she spotted a plumbing problem that must be fixed before her guests arrive.
16:14I've just realised that the water heater for the downstairs kitchen
16:17has got a major leak on it.
16:19This is horrendous timing for something like this to happen.
16:22So I've called Andy in.
16:24He's the local plumber, so hopefully he'll get that sorted soon,
16:26because I don't want to leave them without hot water in the kitchen.
16:29To her relief, half an hour after arriving,
16:32fellow British expat Andy has quickly got a handle on the plumbing problem.
16:38How's it going, And?
16:40It's not leaking.
16:41Hooray!
16:43What was the issue again?
16:45Just the pressure valve.
16:46Oh, right.
16:47Wicked.
16:47As long as it's all sorted.
16:49That's the main thing.
16:50No worries.
16:51Much appreciated.
16:52And it's been fixed just in time.
16:56Welcome, welcome.
16:58As guests Wilfred and Emmanuel from France have just arrived.
17:02This 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...
17:26That is the front door, OK?
17:29..the moment has come for Emma to say her goodbyes to the property
17:32that she's poured her heart and soul into.
17:36Be good.
17:38They seem a lovely family, but obviously very mixed emotions
17:46because this will be the longest that I've sort of walked away from it, really.
17:49So 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.
18:08Back in the Dordogne, the pressure continues to mount for Emily and Dave
18:20in the run-up to their pub relaunch.
18:23I'm really nervous, don't know if we've done everything, don't know if we've got everything.
18:28I feel like we're clean and tidy.
18:30We've got the gazebo ready for when the ban comes later, they're turning up around 5.30.
18:36The door's open at 5, kids finish school at 4.30.
18:41I don't even know what time it is now, but it feels like we've got a lot to do.
18:46We need to iron our uniform.
18:51I need to have a shower, I need to have a shave, I 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.
19:05I don't know what I'm doing.
19:06Leaving it to simmer for even longer, she 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.
19:26It's wet through.
19:29At this rate, we'll be inside tonight, which 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, which people keep saying we're going to.
19:41I think it only seats 30.
19:43This is just a waste of time.
19:46The rain is going to ruin the night.
19:49Unfortunately, 30 minutes later, there isn't good news from the kitchen either.
19:56It's just taking forever to reduce down.
20:00You're not happy with the flavour of yours, are you?
20:03No.
20:03I mean, it has got flavour, it's just...
20:07It's got a watery flavour as well.
20:10Problem is, we've never used French chicken breast from that supply before,
20:14so we work to know how much water's going to come out of it.
20:19With time ticking and focus needed elsewhere...
20:22..a decision is made to take Emily's curry off the opening night taster menu.
20:32It's a sloppy mess.
20:34It's a sloppy mess.
20:35I'm not giving them, on our first night, something that's not what we expected.
20:41We don't get the flavours there because we've put it in.
20:44Oh, man.
20:45It's just the amount of water that was in the ticking.
20:49Terrible.
20:49We don't know what we're doing because we've never run a bar before.
20:55Don't know why we ever thought it was a good idea.
20:57Yeah.
20:58We're here.
21:00With a large crowd of locals and fellow British expats expected...
21:04..fortunately, they've been able to rope in friends Lisa and Valerie
21:09from the village to lend a hand...
21:12..if they can let them in.
21:15As Valerie has experience running her own bar in the past...
21:34Emily and Dave are hoping to lean into her experience.
21:40She's great. She'll help us do whatever.
21:45She'll be behind the bar.
21:47She 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.
21:54We work hard because I know the place before.
21:57I can't recognise it.
21:59It's just now fresh and welcoming.
22:03They're ready, but it's a big thing to do, a party the first day.
22:11I think they are crazy to do that because they are not prepared...
22:16..to work with so many people.
22:19Now, 30 years, I run pubs and restaurants.
22:24I never, never did something like that because people expect the best the first day.
22:33It's what we've been working for, so fingers crossed it's going to be good
22:37and not too stressful.
22:39Oh, it's going to be stressful, all right.
22:41No, it's scary.
22:42I 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 looks on it.
22:54..there are plumbing problems for Nigel and Fede.
22:57We were thinking of having to get permission to dig all this road up here.
23:01And changes are also in the pipeline.
23:04It'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
23:12and deciding what's best to do for the season.
23:15In Pelopos, in southern Spain, it's now early May.
23:30And with Fede feeling better, he's been able to rejoin Nigel
23:34in their effort to breathe new life into a former guesthouse 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've got to paint, but loads, loads.
23:57While the property's exterior walls also need a fresh lick of paint.
24:03Before they tackle that,
24:04Nigel's been retiling one of their entrance porches.
24:07As making a good first impression when future guests arrive will be crucial.
24:16It's definitely better than what was up there before
24:18and a lot safer and less weight up there.
24:20I think it looks all right.
24:22Meanwhile inside, after working on the guest en-suites,
24:26their friend Steve, who has a background in construction,
24:30has now been tasked...
24:31..with rejigging the internal layout of Nigel and Fede's own living quarters
24:37on the top floor.
24:41Steve's going to do the hallway for the bathroom partition,
24:46one of the bigger bedrooms off,
24:48and then he's going to hopefully do the hallway door
24:52that leads from the staircase upstairs,
24:55and then I'll probably be left to hang the doors.
24:59But we'll see.
25:01Even though the guest accommodation is their priority
25:04to be able to start earning,
25:06as DIY is all new to Nigel and Fede,
25:10they need to make the most of Steve's expertise.
25:13It's been a long week for Steve.
25:15He's got his last full day here with us today.
25:17It's important that Steve is here to do as much as possible
25:21of the technical stuff that we are not professionals.
25:25As Steve works for Mates Rates,
25:28it also helps Nigel and Fede's renovation budget,
25:31freeing up funds to be able to rehire local builder Brian,
25:37who's back on site today,
25:39fitting a splashback in the B&B's new kitchen,
25:42with help from his apprentice, Nigel.
25:46I'm just waiting for my old parade.
25:48OK, Bodger, scarper's coming.
25:51LAUGHTER
25:52Yesterday, Brian became Bodger and I became the scarper.
25:59Now, Bodger, you scarper.
26:01It's just getting round the electrics and the plugs.
26:04Hopefully this will be done today, maybe, hopefully.
26:08This morning.
26:10With interest growing locally in their new business,
26:14keeping the renovations on track is important,
26:17especially as they've now got a potential guest booking on the horizon.
26:22Somebody popped by recently
26:24and organises the freestyle downhill skating
26:29on rollerblades and skateboards
26:31that happens every year here in Pelopolis.
26:35And so he's approached us and asked us if we would be a property
26:39for their boot camp and their training camp.
26:41So hopefully that's a positive for us.
26:44The group's next meet-up is in October.
26:47But Nigel and Fede have a lot to do
26:50before they can accept the reservation.
26:52Did you hear me up to the line?
26:55Yeah.
26:56It's level.
26:58Yeah, I'm good.
26:59You all right?
27:01Yeah.
27:02Nice to meet you.
27:06Are you coming up?
27:08Brian.
27:10The village will be talking.
27:13LAUGHTER
27:13While the kitchen's seeing swift progress...
27:18It's good because it covers a wide space of wall
27:21in one fell swoop.
27:24Outside, they've discovered an issue
27:27which could throw a spanner in the works
27:29for the rest of the renovation.
27:31All the other bathrooms are that side.
27:33That's it, yeah.
27:33And make it easier if we could just come out and down into there.
27:36It'd be nice, wouldn't it, that?
27:37They've cemented over the pipe by a look on it.
27:39As the property currently has one main sewage pipe,
27:44plumbing in their new en-suite
27:45isn't going to be as easy as they'd hoped.
27:49Because all the other bathrooms are on the other side of the house,
27:52they all run into the same waste system.
27:54We were thinking of having to get permission
27:56to dig all this road up here,
27:58but there might be a solution
28:00of knocking into another pipe instead,
28:03so that could save us money and time.
28:07Four weeks later, though,
28:09and after further investigation,
28:11it's not good news.
28:13They've no choice but to dig up the road.
28:17We will have to open somewhere around here
28:19to connect the switch pipes,
28:21and it will go all the way down
28:25till that exit over there.
28:27In order to have the new bathroom,
28:30this has to be done.
28:32The extra works required are a major blow,
28:35as they're likely to run into hundreds of euros
28:38and push their schedule back,
28:40which could put their potential October booking on the line.
28:43120 miles north-east in the hills above the village of Aurea,
28:57it's now September.
28:59Back to reality.
29:00And Emma's reopened her B&B
29:02after an extended trip to the UK.
29:04Because I had the three weeks off and it really was restful,
29:09I was pleased to get back on it, to be honest.
29:11I can't sit down for too long.
29:12So, yeah, I'm really happy to be back where I need to be,
29:16back hostessing.
29:17It's great. I love it.
29:19While it was emotional renting out her entire property
29:22for the first time last month...
29:24The French family rented the whole house for their vacation
29:40whilst I was gone,
29:41and I came back and everything was fine,
29:44which, yeah, turned out to be a really positive experience.
29:47They were really respectful
29:48and they said that they had a fantastic time
29:50and left a great review.
29:52Because it was so successful, renting with the family this time,
29:56I think it's worth doing that again.
29:59To make that possible
30:01without having to also vacate her own home each time,
30:05Emma's come up with a new idea to expand.
30:08This is the top-covered terrace
30:10and access currently to the annex is here, up here.
30:15Attached to her B&B is an 80-square-metre annex,
30:20currently unrenovated and used for storage,
30:23but there's plenty of potential
30:24for it to be turned into extra guest accommodation.
30:30It's a concrete block building.
30:33It's an empty shell, basically.
30:35I'm going to start with this end.
30:37That's the idea.
30:38So, obviously, doors and windows are in place here already,
30:42so it'd be great to work with those
30:43and take full advantage
30:45of the beautiful mountain view.
30:50The peace and serenity on this side,
30:53and this just lends itself to being a terraced area.
30:58Along with building a new outside space
31:00to soak up the afternoon sun,
31:03inside, Emma hopes to split the annex in two
31:06to create a pair of one-bedroom self-catered apartments,
31:10each with their own bathroom and small kitchen.
31:12The bare bones of the work has been done
31:16by the previous owner, which is great.
31:19Obviously, I think they had different ideas
31:21than what I've got in terms of usability,
31:24but I may as well just take full advantage of that, really,
31:26and work with what I have,
31:27rather than, you know, start all over again.
31:30It will also help her budget,
31:32as the renovations to complete both units
31:35are going to run into thousands of euros,
31:38which is why she's planning to work in two stages,
31:41hoping to have the first apartment open for next season.
31:44There's obviously a lot of unnecessary stuff in here.
31:51I need to sort of basically sort through
31:52what's worth keeping and what isn't.
31:54The 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.
32:02That's going to be the first task, really,
32:03is clearing all of this.
32:06The clearance will be a big job,
32:09but may help her save even more money.
32:12So we have random tile.
32:16Hanging on to those.
32:18What else do we have?
32:19Wood.
32:20Loads of different paints and wood stains and whatnot.
32:23Breeze blocks.
32:24How many breeze blocks do you want?
32:26Obviously, if you want to build a wall,
32:28you're going to need a breeze block.
32:30So, yeah, I've saved a few of those.
32:34I mean, they're only about 90 cents each,
32:35but, you know, I like to save where I can.
32:41A lot of it was already here, actually,
32:42but you learn quickly over here not to throw anything away
32:45because you just never know when you're going to need it.
32:49Every euro will be crucial
32:51because Emma has decided she won't be offering her events
32:54during the renovations.
32:56The B&B will have to provide all her income from now on.
33:01Being in the UK, obviously,
33:03it's given me a few weeks of reflection
33:05and deciding what's best to do for the season as well.
33:09And I think events-wise,
33:11it's best to do those in spring
33:12and heading into early summer.
33:14And the height of summer is just too hot.
33:16So that's been a learning curve as well.
33:19So I've decided to park the events for now
33:21and also shift focus
33:23and try and juggle the bed and breakfast element
33:26with the renovation,
33:27and that's how it needs to be for now.
33:31Coming up...
33:33Emily.
33:33Emily.
33:34Yeah. Nice to meet you.
33:36Dave and Emily are given the run-around
33:38as they open the doors to their new pub.
33:41It's busy and it's hard work.
33:43And in Spain,
33:45Emma's business plans also ramp up a gear.
33:47Me being me, putting a bit of pressure on myself.
33:50I've already advertised it
33:51and I've actually taken a booking on it already.
34:04It's early June in the Dordogne
34:07and the rural village of Santestef
34:09is about to have its local watering hole reopen its doors.
34:14J'adore.
34:14Ready, you are perfect, beautiful together.
34:18Voilà.
34:19Now with first-time landlords,
34:21Emily and Dave at its helm,
34:23along with some help from local friends.
34:27While the pub is customer-ready,
34:29the weather has taken a turn.
34:33It's just a shower.
34:35Oui.
34:35No, no, no, no.
34:37It's clear behind.
34:38Yeah.
34:39Look, it's so clear.
34:40The sun's going to put his hat on for us.
34:43Not good.
34:47An hour later,
34:48after 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
35:00of their first customers arriving.
35:02Meaning that after a month of prep and nerves,
35:09it's finally time to put their new bar skills to the test.
35:14A small caraphone, a half.
35:17Two-fifth there.
35:18Or a half.
35:19Half one.
35:20Half.
35:20And with Willow and Hugo on welcoming duties,
35:23the pub begins to fill up.
35:29Emily.
35:30Emily.
35:31Yeah.
35:31Nice to meet you.
35:33While Emily and Dave start getting to know the locals,
35:37as brand-new pub landlords,
35:39it's a steep learning curve.
35:43We've chosen where everything's going to go,
35:45but yet we don't know where anything is.
35:46Yeah, that's the problem.
35:49Do you need a tonic?
35:50Yes, please.
35:51Do you need a tonic?
35:51No.
35:52No.
35:52Do you try to tease me?
35:56Oh, dear.
35:58Just get your glass.
36:00Er, where are they?
36:03After sinking a huge chunk of their savings
36:06into their new business...
36:07Two-fifty for the wine, thank you.
36:10..while it's a relief to get some cash in the till,
36:13the rush is keeping them on their toes.
36:16Thank you very much.
36:17Have a nice evening.
36:18See you later.
36:19Oh, good.
36:21Bonkers at the minute.
36:22Bonkers.
36:23So much so that with the pub's former landlady, Amanda,
36:27also in attendance,
36:28she's hopped behind the bar to lend a hand.
36:33I don't know if I'm coming, if I'm going,
36:35what 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,
36:43because there's not enough people.
36:45I don't know.
36:47How many glasses for you, Rosa?
36:51How many glasses?
36:52Two bucks.
36:54Two bucks.
36:56Do you want to go ahead and put it in the till?
36:57She's going to go back on.
36:59OK.
37:00Cheers!
37:02Pretty busy.
37:03As the evening goes on,
37:06their car park begins to overflow
37:08and the terrace is packed out,
37:11ready for the band they've booked.
37:16Meaning there's little let-up on the bar
37:19and they've still no plans
37:21as to how they'll serve Dave's curry.
37:23This is just crazy.
37:26Come on.
37:27Two eyes.
37:29Anything else?
37:30How many?
37:30Five.
37:31Sink.
37:33The party atmosphere, though,
37:34is what they'd hoped for.
37:41It's how appropriate you'd be.
37:43Never seen so many people yet.
37:45Fantastic.
37:46Absolutely brilliant.
37:48Best night ever.
37:50But having worked hard in the kitchen
37:52and with just a few hours
37:54of their launch night left,
37:55they're determined to come good
37:57on their promise of free curry
37:59for their first customers.
38:01It's literally just been drink after drink.
38:04We've used every single glass in the bar
38:06over and over and over again.
38:09Bonkers.
38:09Absolutely bonkers.
38:11But it's what we came for, yeah?
38:14As the sun sets,
38:16Dave's spinach and chicken curry
38:18is ready to serve
38:19during their interval.
38:22Three grand applause for the food.
38:26The band are the first to tuck in.
38:29Curry?
38:30Right.
38:31Could be hotter.
38:32If it's a curry,
38:33they could all be hotter.
38:34Very nice.
38:35Yeah, honestly,
38:36very, very tasty.
38:38Good.
38:38While it's not been an easy evening,
38:41with support from their friends,
38:43Dave and Emily have survived
38:44their first shift as publicans.
38:49It's been a whirlwind.
38:51It's definitely been successful.
38:53We've pretty much sold
38:54all of our beer.
38:55A box and a half of wine.
38:58A box and a half of each wine.
38:59Everything's going.
39:00We've had 155 people here.
39:02We've got a terrace full of happy people.
39:04And we're brand new to this, you know.
39:06Imagine what we could achieve.
39:07Back in southern Spain,
39:20after deciding to press pause
39:22on hosting more of her own events
39:24until next season,
39:25B&B owner Emma
39:30has kick-started
39:31her renovation plans.
39:34Wow.
39:34It's looking good already.
39:35Yeah.
39:36Really pleased with that.
39:37Amazing.
39:38As she's relying solely
39:39on the income
39:40from her B&B
39:41over the coming months,
39:43before starting
39:44the annex conversion,
39:45she's tasked
39:46her building team
39:47to carry out
39:48some essential maintenance
39:49to the communal
39:50guest facilities.
39:53Today,
39:53we are concentrating
39:54on the pool area.
39:55So, smartening up
39:56that area
39:57with some gravel,
39:58trimming back
39:59these overgrown
39:59brushland
40:00down the bottom there.
40:01And if everything
40:02goes well
40:03and they're happy
40:03with me
40:03and I'm happy
40:04with them,
40:05then I shall
40:05get them on board
40:06to start working
40:07on the annex.
40:08Guys,
40:09did you want
40:09a tea or coffee?
40:10I'll have a coffee, please.
40:11Yeah.
40:11Two coffees.
40:12Three coffees.
40:13Yeah?
40:13OK.
40:14Todo con leche.
40:15Si?
40:16Tres cabez.
40:20Starting with
40:21some of the smaller
40:22jobs around her property
40:23also gives Emma
40:24the opportunity
40:25This is on the list
40:26of things to do.
40:28To fine-tune her plans
40:30for the annex
40:30with builder Steve.
40:33Start at this thing
40:33because I think
40:34it lends itself
40:34to be a more rentable
40:36property than
40:37at the other end
40:37of the annex.
40:38Lends about
40:38some decking as well.
40:39Exactly, yeah.
40:40Pack out the terrace area
40:42and do some decking
40:43if you think that's best.
40:45Yeah.
40:46I've done a little floor plan
40:47actually as well.
40:48We could.
40:49So that might help.
40:50With the annex conversion
40:52added to Steve's build list
40:53which he hopes
40:54to start soon
40:55Sheets.
40:58Bankets.
40:59Emma's taking
40:59every B&B booking
41:01she can
41:01to help pay for the works.
41:03Guests checked out
41:06early this morning
41:06so I'm going to
41:07turn the room around
41:08don't actually have
41:09a technique
41:10other than to not
41:11get tangled up
41:12in it myself.
41:14While she may be
41:15relatively new
41:16to hosting
41:16in the 11 months
41:18she's now been open
41:19she's come a long way.
41:21People do remind me
41:23that I've done
41:23quite a lot
41:24in a short space of time
41:25and sometimes
41:26I need to
41:27remind myself of that
41:28and perhaps enjoy that
41:30and enjoy the process
41:30a bit more
41:31than it being
41:32right okay
41:32what phase
41:33can we get to next?
41:35I'm determined
41:36to do that more
41:37with this phase
41:37of the renovation
41:38I'm not putting
41:39any pressure on myself
41:40I'm just going to see
41:41what can be done
41:42for X amount of money
41:44and then
41:44go with it
41:45work with it.
41:47All the rooms
41:47are ready to go
41:493 o'clock check-in
41:50basically
41:50I get a lot of
41:51last minute bookings
41:52so effectively
41:53anybody could turn up
41:54on the doorstep
41:54at 3 o'clock onwards
41:56so yeah
41:57always ready to go.
41:58Next lot of washing
41:59hey Phyllis
42:00come on baby.
42:05The following month
42:07in and around
42:08a steady flow
42:09of guest stays
42:10Emma's been working
42:11to sort through
42:12the annex
42:13with help from
42:13friend Adam
42:14who's over
42:15from the UK.
42:16Yeah you need to skip.
42:18I know I do.
42:19That's an air filter
42:19from something.
42:20It'll be a swimming pool.
42:22The clearance is now
42:23a top priority
42:24as her builders
42:25have confirmed
42:26they can start
42:27the conversion work
42:28next week.
42:29That thing
42:30helped build the house
42:3120 years ago.
42:34Despite her intention
42:36to take the renovations
42:37in her stride
42:38Emma's innate
42:40business ambition
42:41has other ideas.
42:43Me being me
42:44putting a bit of pressure
42:45on myself.
42:46I've already advertised
42:46I've already advertised
42:47it for next year
42:47and I've actually
42:49taken a booking
42:50on it already
42:50as well
42:51so yeah
42:51just applied
42:52a little bit
42:52of pressure there
42:53but I'm sure
42:53it'll be fine.
42:54It's really exciting
42:55yeah I can't wait
42:56to see it change shape
42:57and turn it around
42:58really quickly
42:59which I know they will
42:59and they'll do
43:00a great job as well.
43:01Emma's drive
43:04to push her new
43:05business forward
43:06has been evident
43:06all summer long
43:08in the varying ideas
43:09that she's trialed
43:10to bring in guest bookings.
43:1211 months into business
43:14I'm really pleased
43:15with how this season's gone.
43:17I have more of a clarity
43:18in my head now
43:19as to the events
43:20I want to do going forward
43:21and in terms of what
43:23I want to see the business
43:24doing for me
43:25in the future.
43:27It's been really enjoyable
43:29I love doing it.
43:31Also being able
43:32to share this corner
43:34of Spain
43:34that she now calls home
43:36with visiting friends
43:37and family
43:38is a dream made possible
43:43through all her hard work.
43:45I have no regrets at all
43:47there's not a day
43:48where I even have a wobble
43:49to be fair
43:50and wonder
43:50what are you doing Emma?
43:52You know
43:52I mean I feel
43:53so so grateful
43:54to be here.
43:57I have many
43:58pinch myself moments
43:59where it's like
44:00how did I get here?
44:01It's an amazing experience
44:03it's given me
44:03way way more
44:04than I ever
44:05ever anticipated
44:06and I can only
44:07ever see that
44:07getting better
44:08and improving
44:09so it's great.
44:10I'm just happy
44:11to be here.
44:17Next time
44:18Ready for another day
44:19in the sunny Dardyne?
44:20After their launch
44:21can Dave and Emily
44:22keep the tills ringing?
44:24I'm just making
44:25a little sign
44:26with our opening times
44:27then we're going to go
44:28into the lake
44:28and put it up.
44:30Nigel and Fede's
44:31renovations
44:32hit a hurdle.
44:33Slightly bigger hole
44:34than we expected.
44:35Looks like it
44:36we've just had on there
44:37quite.
44:38And after winning
44:39the keys to a
44:40French B&B
44:41on a TV game show
44:42a couple from
44:46Belfast
44:46claim their
44:47life-changing prize.
44:49Do you feel
44:49like it's real?
44:50I've got you.
44:51I just don't feel
44:52like we're in
44:53someone else's
44:53house.
44:54MUSIC
44:55Onions
44:56and
44:56on
44:57Fede
44:58in
44:59a
44:59Trcent
45:01name
45:03In
45:03a
45:04st
Be the first to comment