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A New Life in the Sun Season 11 Episode 3
A New Life in the Sun
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A New Life in the Sun
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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, it'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...
02:23..and their two children, Willow and Hugo.
02:26It'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.
02:55Thus 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.
03:31Just generally enjoy being in our place.
03:35You've done them all?
03:36Uh-huh.
03:37I'm the boss.
03:38Oh, 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,
03:58very tiring,
03:59mentally 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
04:09of 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
04:21in 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
04:43as part of a free taster menu.
04:47I just feel like I'm missing something
04:49and I can't think what...
04:51Methy.
04:51Methy.
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
04:58a competition between
04:59who's the best
05:00and I'm helping you.
05:01But we are married.
05:03You would have definitely lost,
05:04wouldn't you?
05:06The plan is to have
05:07two different curries to serve,
05:09one prepped by Emily
05:10and the other by Dave.
05:13The pan's not looking big enough.
05:16I've got five kilos of chicken
05:17to 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
05:22to cook anything.
05:26Here goes.
05:28It's scary because I've never made a curry
05:29for so many people.
05:31What if we just do it all wrong?
05:33Once you've put these spices in,
05:35you can't take them back out.
05:36One,
05:37two...
05:39Doing these curries tonight
05:41is definitely a risk for us
05:42because, you know,
05:44it all goes well, brilliant,
05:46but if it doesn't,
05:48we might lose customers forever.
05:50I've no idea how much
05:51I'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
06:02for their own family
06:03and not large groups,
06:05it's not just the spice levels
06:09that they're worried about.
06:10It's really hard to get this just right.
06:13The water levels,
06:15especially in Emily's pan,
06:16seem off.
06:17It'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
06:28and loads and loads.
06:30This doesn't look like my curry.
06:32All this steam,
06:33is it cooking down?
06:35But then my chicken's
06:36going to go tough, innit?
06:38We've never made a bad curry
06:40in our lives.
06:43Till today.
06:47Over 800 miles away
06:58in southern Spain,
07:00it's also a day of celebration
07:01in the mountaintop village
07:03of Polopos,
07:04where its annual wine festival
07:06is in full swing.
07:09Joining the party this year
07:11are its newest residents,
07:13Nigel, originally from Wiltshire,
07:15Hola.
07:15and his Spanish husband,
07:18Fede,
07:18who has family roots here.
07:22A day where the community
07:23comes together
07:24and enjoy and relax themselves.
07:27Seeing as there's a fountain
07:28of red wine,
07:29I think we could have a few.
07:32There is an alcohol-free fountain
07:34as well.
07:37The couple,
07:38who previously ran a pub
07:40in Bath,
07:40have bought a three-storey
07:42former guest house
07:43at the top of the village.
07:44Having been closed
07:46for ten years,
07:47Nigel and Fede
07:48spotted an opportunity
07:50to revive the business.
07:52The property,
07:53we want to bring back
07:54to its former glory,
07:56back up to standard
07:57for the bed and breakfast.
07:58We are both going to be
07:59taking the DIY tasks.
08:03And hopefully,
08:04each room will have
08:04its own stamp on it.
08:06Cheers.
08:06And news of the couple's plans
08:09have become the talk
08:12of the town.
08:13If they have their house,
08:14they will bring us more
08:16tourism.
08:17In addition,
08:18if we can help them,
08:19we will help them.
08:20Both mayors
08:21have welcomed us
08:22to the village
08:23and have offered
08:25any help possible
08:26as long as we don't
08:27ask for cash.
08:28With the whole community
08:32watching on,
08:33the pressure's now
08:35on to deliver.
08:37Hopefully,
08:38we'll make it
08:39a nicer place.
08:41And between us,
08:42you know,
08:42the work's got to be done
08:44and we're looking forward
08:45to the challenge.
08:47It's now late April
08:49and as interest grows
08:50in Nigel and Fede's
08:52new business venture...
08:53This is a rough guide.
08:56..the couple are trying
08:57to keep momentum up
08:58on their B&B renovations.
09:00But with Fede under the weather,
09:02they've had to call in
09:03some extra help.
09:06We've got Steve here
09:07from the UK.
09:08He's going to put in
09:09a load of stud walls
09:10for us to divide it
09:11and make some new rooms.
09:13We've got Brian
09:13downstairs putting
09:15a sink in the bar
09:16and helping me
09:17in the kitchen
09:17do some plumbing work.
09:19So, yeah,
09:19lots going on today.
09:21While Nigel and Fede
09:23are DIY novices,
09:24their friend Steve,
09:25who is visiting for a week,
09:27has a background
09:28in construction.
09:30So it's vital
09:32they make the most
09:32of his skills
09:33while he's here.
09:36This used to be
09:37a former lounge
09:38for guests that stayed
09:39at the former B&B,
09:40but we're going to
09:41turn it into an en-suite
09:43open-plan shower
09:44and toilet
09:45and bedroom
09:46because of the views
09:47outside the doors.
09:49This is going to be
09:50the nicest room,
09:51hopefully.
09:52They're all going to be nice,
09:53but this is a bit more
09:54grandeur to it.
09:56Once the renovations
09:58are complete,
09:59Nigel and Fede
10:00plan to have a total
10:01of five double
10:02en-suite guest rooms.
10:04But to achieve that,
10:06not only did they need
10:07to build new bathrooms,
10:10the property's existing
10:11wash facilities...
10:12Float towels
10:13are the unexpected.
10:15..also need an upgrade
10:17to modern standards.
10:19The level where all
10:20the bathrooms are
10:21in the middle of the house,
10:23Steve's going to come
10:24into each bathroom
10:25and put new doors in
10:26because they've just
10:27used curtains in the past.
10:29So to make it a bit
10:30more private,
10:31we're going to put
10:31new doors in
10:32and box them in
10:33so they've become
10:34an actual room.
10:35So when somebody's
10:36using the bathroom,
10:37it's not fuming
10:39the bedroom.
10:42While Steve's been
10:44able to steam ahead
10:45with the stud walls
10:46for the new en-suite
10:47upstairs...
10:48This is going to be
10:50where the shower
10:51head and taps are.
10:53..when they come
10:54to plotting out
10:54the toilet area,
10:56it's proving
10:57more of a puzzle.
10:59So it's 60
11:00from the front
11:02of the toilet,
11:0324 inches.
11:06So we've opened
11:06and put the toilet
11:07in here,
11:09but we've looked
11:10on the plans
11:11of the dimensions
11:12of the toilet
11:13and it needs
11:14to be slightly bigger,
11:15which then encroaches
11:16on the doors.
11:19If they don't get
11:20their measurements right...
11:2185 to 90
11:24is literally
11:25in line with that wall.
11:27It might not be
11:28much of a comfort break
11:29for their guests.
11:30Fingers crossed
11:32it's right,
11:33otherwise we'd be
11:34taking it back down.
11:38Three and a half
11:39hours later,
11:40with the new walls
11:41up,
11:42it's time to find out.
11:44That's brilliant.
11:45Really good job.
11:47And the toilet
11:48can go in there.
11:50I'm just testing it out.
11:51Plenty of space
11:52either side,
11:54enough for the
11:54system,
11:55and enough leg room
11:56once the door
11:58is on as well,
11:59which is what
11:59I was worried about.
12:01But with so much
12:02left to do
12:03at the B&B,
12:04there's no time
12:05for sitting around.
12:07I'm sure I've put
12:08somebody to be pleased
12:09on her throne.
12:10She's done a good job.
12:15Coming up
12:15is a new
12:16B&B host
12:17in Spain
12:18having second thoughts
12:19about her new business.
12:21Obviously opening
12:22my house
12:22to bed and breakfast
12:23guests,
12:24there's the level
12:24of vulnerability
12:25having strangers
12:26in my home.
12:26And in France,
12:28the weather threatens
12:29to put a dampener
12:30on Emily and Dave's
12:31pub launch.
12:32At this rate,
12:33we'll be inside tonight,
12:35which is not what we want
12:36because there's definitely
12:37not enough room
12:37for everybody in there.
12:39The rain is going
12:40to ruin the night.
12:49Far removed
12:52from the crowded
12:53costas
12:54and tourist bustle,
12:56rural Almeria
12:57in the south
12:57offers something
12:59a little different,
13:00an authentic taste
13:01of Spain's
13:02wilder
13:03and more rugged side.
13:05Come on, then.
13:07Good girl.
13:10Which was a huge part
13:12of the attraction
13:13for Emma
13:13from Leicestershire
13:14who moved
13:15to the region
13:15last year.
13:16Being able
13:19to take advantage
13:20of the wild areas
13:22and the rambler roads
13:23and getting out
13:24and exploring
13:25has been a real bonus
13:27to the house
13:28being where it is.
13:29Having worked
13:30as a dog groomer
13:31in the UK,
13:32over here,
13:33Emma's embarked
13:34on a brand new career
13:35as a bed and breakfast host.
13:38OK, thank you.
13:39You're welcome.
13:41A business she's launched
13:43from her five-bed
13:44traditional Spanish cortillo,
13:46located in the hills
13:47above the village
13:48of Oria.
13:50Obviously opening
13:51my house
13:51to bed and breakfast guests,
13:52there's a level
13:53of vulnerability.
13:54There's certain things
13:55that I've had to adjust to
13:57and obviously
13:58get my head around
13:59is just having strangers
14:00in my home.
14:01Any more tea and coffee?
14:03But they quickly
14:03turn into guests
14:05that have potentially
14:06become friends as well.
14:07The whole experience
14:08has been above
14:09and beyond
14:10what I ever expected.
14:11While Emma's enjoying
14:13her new role,
14:14her remote location
14:15means she can't rely
14:16solely on passing trade,
14:18so has also been
14:19trialling events
14:20to bring in
14:21more guest bookings.
14:23Challenge is obviously
14:24financially.
14:25There's only one income
14:26coming into this household,
14:28so it's all on me.
14:30I've literally put
14:30everything into this,
14:31all my savings.
14:33But at the end of the day,
14:34unless you push yourself
14:35and challenge yourself
14:36and follow your heart,
14:38then I think
14:39that you'll always
14:39have that question
14:41of what if.
14:43It's now August,
14:44a time when temperatures
14:45in Almeria
14:46can reach upwards
14:47of 40 degrees
14:49and Emma's preparing
14:50her B&B
14:51for her next guests.
14:53It's a lovely breeze
14:54in this room.
14:56It makes all the difference.
14:58I'm just going to put this on
14:59and the room is ready.
15:04However,
15:04as interest in her new events
15:06has been lower
15:07during the recent
15:08hotter months,
15:09forcing her to cancel
15:10some of them,
15:11she's decided to try
15:13something new
15:13to guarantee income
15:15over the coming weeks.
15:17I'm just making sure
15:17I've got everything
15:18I need to hit the road.
15:20But it's an idea
15:21that means she has
15:22to temporarily move out.
15:25Today,
15:25major task ahead.
15:27I've got my first family
15:28that's renting the property
15:29in its entirety
15:30for the next two weeks,
15:32which means I have
15:32to pack up everything
15:33that's mine,
15:35that I'm going to need.
15:35Renting the house out
15:37is something
15:37that I'm looking
15:37to do more of
15:38and have a balance
15:39between the day-to-day
15:40bed and breakfast
15:41and being able
15:42to leave the house
15:43in good hands
15:44with people renting it out,
15:46which will enable me
15:47to have that freedom
15:48to travel more,
15:49to visit family
15:50back in the UK more
15:51and also to benefit
15:53from the revenue
15:54that that brings.
15:55But as Emma
15:56spends the morning
15:57prepping the house
15:58and packing up her things
15:59before leaving
16:00for the UK...
16:00Well, I hope
16:04that's everything
16:04because there ain't
16:07no coming back.
16:08She spotted
16:09a plumbing problem
16:10that must be fixed
16:11before her guests arrive.
16:14I've just realised
16:15that the water heater
16:16for the downstairs kitchen
16:17has got a major leak on it.
16:19This is horrendous timing
16:20for something like this
16:21to happen.
16:22So I've called Andy in.
16:24He's the local plumber,
16:25so hopefully
16:25he'll get that sorted soon
16:26because I don't want
16:27to leave them
16:27without hot water
16:28in the kitchen.
16:29To her relief,
16:30half an hour
16:31after arriving,
16:32fellow British expat
16:33Andy has quickly
16:35got a handle
16:35on 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
16:54just in time.
16:55Welcome, welcome.
16:58As guests Wilfred
16:59and Emmanuel
17:00from France
17:01have just arrived.
17:02This is the reception room,
17:04OK?
17:05And through here
17:06we have the lounge area.
17:09The couple have booked
17:10Emma's home
17:11for a holiday
17:11with their family
17:12for the next two weeks.
17:14The pool,
17:15obviously,
17:16you have sun lounges.
17:17I have a pool cleaner
17:18booked to come
17:19once, twice a week,
17:20OK?
17:21To come to clean.
17:22OK, all right?
17:23And with the keys
17:24to her home,
17:25I'm soon handed over.
17:26That is the front door,
17:28OK?
17:29The moment has come
17:30for Emma
17:31to say her goodbyes
17:32to the property
17:32that she's poured
17:34her heart and soul into.
17:36Be good.
17:39Oh!
17:40Oh!
17:43They seem a lovely family,
17:45but obviously
17:45very mixed emotions
17:46because this will be
17:47the longest that I've
17:48sort of walked away
17:49from it, really.
17:49so I've got no qualms
17:51about the family
17:51being there.
17:53I'm genuinely
17:53quite emotional
17:54about the fact
17:54that they're going
17:55to enjoy it
17:56as much as what I have.
17:58While it's a wrench
17:59to bid farewell,
18:00the income
18:01from the booking
18:02will allow Emma
18:03to continue growing
18:04her business
18:05on her return
18:06from the UK.
18:06Back in the Dordogne,
18:18the pressure continues
18:19to mount for Emily
18:20and Dave
18:20in the run-up
18:21to their pub relaunch.
18:23Really nervous.
18:26Don't know if we've
18:27done everything.
18:27Don't know if we've
18:28got everything.
18:29I feel like we're
18:30clean and tidy.
18:31We've got the gazebo
18:32ready for when
18:33the ban comes later.
18:35They're turning up
18:35around 5.30.
18:37Doors open at 5.00.
18:39Kids finish school
18:40at 4.30.
18:41I don't even know
18:42what time it is now,
18:43but it feels like
18:44we've got a lot to do.
18:48We need to iron
18:49our uniform.
18:51I need to have a shower.
18:52I need to have a shave.
18:53I need to look
18:54somewhere nearer.
18:55We haven't got enough
18:55time in the day
18:56for all this.
18:59Adding to their worries
19:00is that Emily's
19:01chicken curry
19:02is still on the
19:03watery side.
19:05I don't know
19:06what I'm doing.
19:07Leaving it to simmer
19:08for even longer,
19:10she heads outside
19:11to try and tick
19:12another job off
19:12their to-do list.
19:15But the weather's
19:16also taken a turn.
19:19I'm trying to
19:20clean the tables.
19:22But it's raining
19:23and pointless.
19:26It's wet through.
19:29At this rate,
19:30we'll be inside tonight,
19:31which is not what we want
19:33because there's definitely
19:34not enough room
19:35for everybody in there.
19:37Especially not if we get
19:38like 100 people,
19:39which people keep saying
19:40we're going to.
19:41I think it only seats 30.
19:43This is just a waste of time.
19:46The rain is going
19:46to ruin the night.
19:49Unfortunately,
19:5030 minutes later,
19:51there isn't good news
19:52from the kitchen either.
19:56It's just taking forever
19:57to reduce down.
20:00You're not happy
20:00with the flavour of yours,
20:02are you?
20:03No.
20:05I mean,
20:05it has got flavour,
20:06it's just,
20:07it's got a watery flavour
20:09as well.
20:09The problem is
20:11we've never used
20:11French chicken breast
20:13from that supply before,
20:15so we work to know
20:15how much water
20:16is going to come out of it.
20:19With time ticking
20:20and focus needed elsewhere,
20:22a decision is made
20:29to take Emily's curry
20:30off the opening night
20:31taster menu.
20:34It's a sloppy mess.
20:35I'm not giving them
20:36on our first night
20:38something that's not
20:40what we expected.
20:41We don't get the flavours there
20:43because we've put it in.
20:44Oh, man.
20:45It's just the amount of water
20:47that was in the chicken.
20:49Terrible.
20:49We don't know
20:52what we're doing
20:52because we've never
20:53run a bar before.
20:55Don't know why
20:56we ever thought
20:56it was a good idea.
21:00With a large crowd
21:01of locals
21:01and fellow
21:02British expats
21:03expected,
21:04fortunately,
21:06they've been able
21:07to rope in friends
21:08Lisa and Valerie
21:09from the village
21:10to lend a hand.
21:13If they can let them in.
21:16Allé,
21:17mon petit kitty,
21:19on vient te vacciner.
21:19Mouah!
21:21Bonjour!
21:22How are you?
21:23Ça va?
21:25Oui.
21:26Ready?
21:28Maybe.
21:29As Valerie
21:30has experience
21:31running her own bar
21:33in the past...
21:34Ça va?
21:35Oui, et vous?
21:36Oui.
21:37Emily and Dave
21:38are hoping
21:39to lean into
21:39her experience.
21:42She's great.
21:43She'll help us
21:44do whatever.
21:45She'll be behind the bar.
21:46She can clean the table.
21:48She can glass
21:49collect for us.
21:51She's going to be
21:51a real help
21:52for us,
21:52I think,
21:53tonight.
21:54They work hard
21:55because I know
21:56the place before.
21:57I can't recognise it.
21:59It's just now
22:00fresh and
22:02welcoming.
22:04They're ready,
22:04but it's a big
22:06thing to do,
22:08a party
22:08the first day.
22:11I think
22:11they are crazy
22:12to do that
22:13because they are
22:14not prepared
22:15to work
22:16with so many people.
22:19Now,
22:1930 years,
22:21I ran
22:21pubs
22:22and restaurants.
22:24I never,
22:25never did
22:26something like that
22:27because people
22:28expect the best
22:31the first day.
22:34It's what we've
22:34been working for,
22:35so fingers crossed
22:36it's going to be good
22:37and not too stressful.
22:39Oh,
22:39it's going to be
22:39stressful,
22:40all right.
22:41No,
22:42it's scary.
22:42I think I'm just
22:43going to hide upstairs.
22:44You can't do that.
22:45Valerie will do it
22:45for me tonight
22:46and I'll just,
22:47I'll run away.
22:48No,
22:48no,
22:49no.
22:51Coming up...
22:52They've cemented
22:53over the pipe
22:54by looks on it.
22:54There are plumbing
22:55problems for Nigel
22:56and Fede.
22:57We were thinking
22:58of having to get
22:59permission to dig
22:59all this road up here.
23:01And changes
23:02are also in the pipeline.
23:04It's a concrete
23:05block building,
23:07an empty shell,
23:07basically.
23:08At Emma's B&B.
23:10Being in the UK,
23:11it's given me
23:11a few weeks
23:12of reflection
23:12and deciding
23:14what's best to do
23:15for the season.
23:15In Pelopos
23:27in southern Spain,
23:28it's now early May.
23:30And with Fede
23:31feeling better,
23:32he's been able
23:33to rejoin Nigel
23:34in their effort
23:35to breathe new life
23:36into a former guest house
23:37in the village.
23:39Now I do feel
23:40like a professional painter.
23:42His job this morning
23:44is to continue
23:45painting the window frames.
23:47I lost count
23:48of how many windows
23:49we've got
23:50to paint,
23:53but loads, loads.
23:57While the property's
23:59exterior walls
24:00also need
24:01a fresh lick of paint.
24:03Before they tackle that,
24:04Nigel's been retiling
24:06one of their
24:06entrance porches.
24:10As making a good
24:11first impression
24:12when future guests
24:13arrive
24:14will be crucial.
24:16It's definitely better
24:17than what was up there
24:17before and a lot safer
24:19and less weight up there.
24:20I think it looks alright.
24:22Meanwhile,
24:23inside,
24:24after working
24:25on the guest en suites,
24:26their friend Steve,
24:28who has a background
24:28in construction,
24:30has now been tasked
24:31with rejigging
24:34the internal layout
24:35of Nigel
24:36and Fede's
24:36own living quarters
24:37on the top floor.
24:38Steve's going to do
24:42the hallway
24:43for the bathroom
24:45partition,
24:46one of the bigger
24:47bedrooms off,
24:48and then he's going
24:49to hopefully
24:50do the hallway door
24:52that leads
24:53from the staircase
24:54up stairs,
24:56and then I'll probably
24:58be left to hang
24:59the doors.
24:59But we'll see.
25:00Even though the guest
25:02accommodation
25:03is their priority
25:04to be able
25:05to start earning,
25:06as DIY is all new
25:08to Nigel
25:09and Fede,
25:10they need to make
25:10the most of Steve's
25:11expertise.
25:13It's been a long week
25:14for Steve.
25:15He's got his last
25:16full day here
25:16with us today.
25:17It's important
25:18that Steve is here
25:19to do as much
25:20as possible
25:21of the technical
25:22stuff that we are
25:23not professionals.
25:25As Steve works
25:26for Mates Rates,
25:28it also helps
25:29Nigel and Fede's
25:30renovation budget,
25:31freeing up funds
25:32to be able
25:33to rehire
25:34local builder
25:35Brian,
25:36who is back
25:38on site today,
25:39fitting a splashback
25:40in the B&B's
25:41new kitchen,
25:42with help
25:43from his apprentice,
25:44Nigel.
25:46I'm just waiting
25:47for my old parade.
25:48OK, Bodger,
25:49Scarper's coming.
25:50LAUGHTER
25:50Yes,
25:55Brian became
25:57Bodger
25:57and I became
25:58Scarper.
25:59Now, Bodger,
26:00you Scarper.
26:01It's just getting
26:02around the electrics
26:03and the plugs.
26:04Hopefully,
26:05this will be done
26:05today,
26:06maybe,
26:07hopefully,
26:08this morning.
26:10With interest
26:12growing locally
26:12in their new business,
26:14keeping the renovations
26:16on track
26:16is important,
26:18especially as
26:18they've now got
26:19a potential guest
26:20booking on the horizon.
26:22Somebody popped
26:23by recently
26:24and organises
26:26the freestyle
26:28downhill skating
26:29on rollerblades
26:30and skateboards
26:31that happens
26:33every year
26:34here in Peloppa.
26:35And so,
26:35he's approached us
26:37and asked us
26:37if we would be
26:38a property
26:39for their boot camp
26:40and their training camp.
26:41So, hopefully,
26:42that's a positive
26:43for us.
26:44The group's
26:45next meet-up
26:46is in October,
26:47but Nigel
26:48and Fede
26:49have a lot
26:49to do
26:50before they
26:50can accept
26:51the reservation.
26:52Can you do it
26:54up to the line?
26:55Yeah.
26:56It's level.
26:58Yeah.
26:59You all right?
27:01Yeah.
27:04Nice to meet you.
27:05Oh!
27:06Can you come here on?
27:08Brian.
27:10The village
27:11will be talking.
27:12While the kitchen's
27:17seeing swift progress...
27:18It's good
27:19because it covers
27:20a wide space
27:21of wall
27:21in one fell swoop.
27:24Outside,
27:25they've discovered
27:26an issue
27:27which could throw
27:28a spanner
27:28in the works
27:29for the rest
27:30of the renovation.
27:31All the other
27:32bathrooms are that side.
27:33That's it, yeah.
27:33And make it easier
27:34if we could just
27:35come out
27:35and down into there.
27:36It'd be nice,
27:36wouldn't it, that?
27:37They've cemented
27:38over the pipe
27:38by a look on it.
27:40As the property
27:41currently has
27:42one main sewage pipe,
27:44plumbing in
27:44their new en suite
27:45isn't going to be
27:46as easy
27:47as they'd hoped.
27:49Because all the
27:50other bathrooms
27:50are on the other
27:51side of the house,
27:52they all run
27:52into the same
27:53waste system.
27:54We were thinking
27:54of having to get
27:55permission to dig
27:56all this road up here,
27:58but there might be
27:59a solution of
28:00knocking into
28:01another pipe instead,
28:03so that could
28:04save us money and time.
28:07Four weeks later,
28:09though, and after
28:09further investigation,
28:11it's not good news.
28:13They've no choice
28:14but to dig up the road.
28:17We will have to
28:18open somewhere
28:19around here
28:19to connect
28:20the switch pipes
28:21and it will go
28:22all the way down
28:25till that exit over there.
28:27In order to have
28:28the new bathroom,
28:30this has to be done.
28:32The extra works
28:33required are a major
28:35blow,
28:35as they're likely
28:36to run into
28:37hundreds of euros
28:38and push their
28:39schedule back,
28:40which could put
28:41their potential
28:42October booking
28:43on the line.
28:52120 miles northeast
28:54in the hills
28:55above the village
28:56of Aurea,
28:57it's now September.
28:59Back to reality.
29:00And Emma's
29:01reopened her B&B
29:02after an extended
29:03trip to the UK.
29:05Because I had
29:06the three weeks
29:07off and it really
29:08was restful,
29:09I was pleased
29:10to get back on it
29:10to be honest.
29:11I can't sit down
29:11for too long.
29:13So, yeah,
29:13I'm really happy
29:14to be back
29:15where I need to be,
29:16back hostessing.
29:17It's great,
29:17I love it.
29:18While it was emotional
29:20renting out
29:21her entire property
29:22for the first time
29:23last month...
29:24It gets so dusty
29:26and I've had
29:27quite a lot of dust
29:27lately.
29:28The two-week
29:29booking proved
29:30to be a good earner
29:31and has now got
29:32Emma rethinking
29:33parts of her
29:34business plan.
29:37The French family
29:38rented the whole house
29:39for their vacation
29:40whilst I was gone
29:41and I came back
29:42and everything was fine
29:43which, yeah,
29:45turned out to be
29:45a really positive
29:46experience,
29:47they were really
29:47respectful and
29:48they said that
29:49they had a fantastic
29:50time and left
29:51a great review.
29:52Because it was
29:53so successful
29:53renting with the
29:54family this time,
29:56I think it's worth
29:57doing that again.
29:58To make that possible
30:01without having to
30:02also vacate
30:03her own home
30:03each time,
30:05Emma's come up
30:05with a new idea
30:06to expand.
30:08This is the top
30:09covered terrace
30:10and access
30:11currently to the
30:13annex is here,
30:14up here.
30:16Attached to her
30:17B&B is an
30:1880 square metre
30:19annex,
30:20currently unrenovated
30:21and used for storage,
30:23but there's plenty
30:24of potential for it
30:25to be turned into
30:26extra guest accommodation.
30:27It's a concrete
30:31block building,
30:33it's an empty
30:34shell,
30:34basically.
30:35I'm going to start
30:36with this end,
30:37that's the idea.
30:38So,
30:39obviously,
30:40doors and windows
30:41are in place here
30:41already,
30:42so it'd be great
30:42to work with those
30:43and take full
30:45advantage of
30:47the beautiful
30:49mountain view.
30:50The peace and
30:51serenity on this
30:52side,
30:53and this just
30:54lends itself to
30:55being a terraced
30:56area.
30:58Along with building
30:59a new outside
31:00space to soak up
31:01the afternoon sun,
31:03inside,
31:03Emma hopes to
31:04split the annex
31:05in two to create
31:07a pair of one-bedroom
31:08self-catered
31:09apartments,
31:10each with their
31:11own bathroom
31:11and small kitchen.
31:14The bare bones
31:15of the work
31:16has been done
31:16by the previous
31:17owner,
31:17which is great.
31:19Obviously,
31:19I think they had
31:20different ideas
31:21than what I've got
31:22in terms of
31:23usability,
31:24but I may as well
31:25just take full
31:25advantage of that
31:26really and work
31:26with what I have
31:27rather than,
31:28you know,
31:28start all over
31:29again.
31:30It will also
31:31help her budget
31:32as the renovations
31:33to complete both
31:35units are going
31:35to run into
31:36thousands of euros,
31:38which is why
31:38she's planning to
31:39work in two stages,
31:41hoping to have
31:42the first apartment
31:43open for next
31:44season.
31:44There's obviously
31:47a lot of
31:48unnecessary
31:49stuff in here.
31:51I need to sort
31:51of basically
31:52sort through
31:52what's worth
31:53keeping and
31:53what isn't.
31:54The great thing
31:55is about only
31:56doing half of
31:56the annex at
31:57the moment,
31:58what I do want
31:59to keep can be
31:59stored at the
32:00back of the
32:00annex.
32:02That's going to
32:02be the first
32:03task, really,
32:03is clearing
32:04all of this.
32:06The clearance
32:07will be a big
32:08job, but may
32:09help her save
32:10even more money.
32:12So we have
32:13random tile.
32:16Hanging on to
32:17those.
32:18What else do
32:19we have?
32:19Wood.
32:20Loads of
32:20different paints
32:21and wood
32:22stains and
32:22whatnot.
32:23Breeze blocks.
32:24How many
32:24breeze blocks
32:25do you want?
32:26Obviously, if
32:27you want to
32:27build a wall,
32:28you're going to
32:29need a breeze
32:29block.
32:30So, yeah,
32:31I've saved a
32:33few of those.
32:34I mean, they're
32:34only about 90
32:35cents each, but
32:35you know, I
32:36like to save
32:37where I can.
32:40A lot of it
32:41was already here,
32:42actually, but you
32:43learn quite
32:43quickly over
32:44here not to
32:44throw anything
32:45away because you
32:46just never know
32:47when you're going
32:47to need it.
32:49Every euro
32:50will be crucial
32:51because Emma
32:52has decided she
32:53won't be offering
32:54her events during
32:55the renovations.
32:57The B&B will
32:58have to provide
32:59all her income
33:00from now on.
33:01Being in the
33:02UK, obviously,
33:03it's given me a
33:03few weeks of
33:04reflection and
33:05deciding what's
33:07best to do for
33:08the season as
33:08well.
33:09And I think
33:10events-wise,
33:11it's best to do
33:11those in
33:12spring and
33:13heading into
33:13early summer.
33:15And the height
33:15of summer is
33:15just too hot.
33:16So that's been
33:18a learning curve
33:18as well.
33:19So I've decided
33:20to park the
33:21events for now
33:21and also shift
33:23focus and try
33:24and juggle the
33:25bed and breakfast
33:25element with the
33:26renovation.
33:27And that's how
33:28it needs to be
33:28for now.
33:31Coming up...
33:33Emily.
33:33Emily.
33:34Dave and Emily
33:37are given the
33:37run-around as
33:38they open the
33:39doors to their
33:40new pub.
33:41It's busy and
33:42it's hard work.
33:44And in Spain,
33:45Emma's business
33:45plans also ramp up
33:47a gear.
33:48Me being me,
33:49putting a bit of
33:49pressure on myself.
33:50I've already
33:51advertised it and
33:52I've actually taken
33:52a booking on it
33:53already.
33:53It's early June
34:05in the Dordogne
34:07and the rural
34:08village of
34:08Santestef is about
34:10to have its local
34:11watering hole
34:12reopen its doors.
34:14J'adore.
34:15Ready?
34:15You are perfect,
34:16beautiful together.
34:18Voilà.
34:19Now with first-time
34:20landlords Emily
34:21and Dave at its
34:23helm, along with
34:24some help from
34:25local friends.
34:27While the pub is
34:28customer-ready,
34:29the weather has
34:30taken a turn.
34:33It's just a
34:34shower.
34:37It's clear behind.
34:38Yeah.
34:39Look, it's so clear.
34:40The son's going to
34:41put his hat on first.
34:43Not good.
34:47An hour later,
34:48after a dash to
34:49collect their kids
34:50from school...
34:51Oh, that weather
34:52is horrible.
34:54To their relief,
34:55the skies brighten.
34:57Just in time for
34:59the milestone moment
35:00of their first
35:01customers arriving.
35:06Meaning that after a
35:07month of prep and
35:09nerves, it's finally
35:10time to put their
35:11new bar skills to
35:13the test.
35:13a small caravan.
35:15A small caravan and a
35:16half...
35:17Two-fifth, then?
35:18Or a half.
35:19Half.
35:20And with Willow and
35:22Hugo on welcoming
35:23duties, the pub begins
35:26to fill up.
35:29Emily.
35:30Emily.
35:31Yeah.
35:31Nice to meet you.
35:32Nice to meet you.
35:33While Emily and Dave
35:35start getting to know
35:36the locals, as brand-new
35:38pub landlords, it's a steep
35:40learning curve.
35:43We've chosen where
35:44everything's going to go,
35:45but yet we don't know
35:45where anything is.
35:46Yeah, that's a problem.
35:49Do you need a tonic?
35:50Yes, please.
35:51Do you want to learn it?
35:54Do you try to teach me?
35:56Oh, dear.
35:58Just get you a glass.
36:00Er, where are they?
36:03After sinking a huge
36:04chunk of their savings
36:06into their new business.
36:07Two-fifty for the wine.
36:10While it's a relief to get
36:12some cash in the till,
36:13the rush is keeping them
36:14on 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
36:25the pub's former landlady,
36:26Amanda, also in attendance,
36:28she's hopped behind the bar
36:30to lend a hand.
36:33I don't know if I'm coming,
36:34if I'm going, what I'm serving.
36:36I don't know anything.
36:37It's busy and it's hard work.
36:40I don't know how we're
36:40going to make the curries.
36:41I don't know how we're
36:42going to get them warmed up
36:43because there's not enough people.
36:47Oh, no.
36:49How many glasses for you, Rosa?
36:51How many glasses?
36:55Too bad.
36:56Do you want to go ahead
36:56and put it in the till?
36:57She's going to go back on.
36:59OK.
37:00Cheers!
37:03Pretty busy.
37:04As 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
37:18on 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.
37:26Yeah.
37:27Two eyes.
37:29Anything else?
37:30So many.
37:31Five.
37:31Sunk.
37:32The 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.
37:49But 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?
38:13As the sun sets,
38:16Dave's spinach and chicken curry
38:18is ready to serve
38:19during their interval.
38:22A big round of applause for the food.
38:24Yay!
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.
38:37Good.
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.
38:56A 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.
39:08Back in southern Spain,
39:20after deciding to press pause
39:22on hosting more of her own events
39:24until next season,
39:29B&B owner Emma
39:30has kick-started her renovation plans.
39:34Wow.
39:34It's looking good already.
39:35Yeah, really pleased with that.
39:37Amazing.
39:37As she's relying solely on the income
39:40from her B&B over the coming months,
39:43before starting the annex conversion,
39:45she's tasked her building team
39:47to carry out some essential maintenance
39:49to the communal guest facilities.
39:51Today, we are concentrating on the pool area,
39:55so smartening up that area with some gravel,
39:58trimming back these overgrown brushland
40:00down the bottom there.
40:02And if everything goes well
40:03and they're happy with me
40:03and I'm happy with them,
40:05then I shall get them on board
40:06to start working on the annex.
40:08Guys, did you want a tea or coffee?
40:10I'll have a coffee, please.
40:11Yeah.
40:11Two coffees.
40:12Three coffees.
40:13Yeah?
40:13Yeah, OK.
40:14Todo con leche, ¿sí?
40:16Tres coffees.
40:20Starting with some of the smaller jobs
40:22around her property
40:23also gives Emma the opportunity...
40:26This is on the list of things to do.
40:28..to fine-tune her plans for the annex
40:30with builder Steve.
40:33Start at this thing,
40:33because I think it lends itself
40:34to be a more rentable property
40:36than at the other end of the annex.
40:38Lends about some decking as well.
40:39Exactly, yeah.
40:40Yeah, pack out the terrace area
40:42and do some decking,
40:44if you think that's best.
40:45Yeah.
40:46I've done a little floor plan,
40:47actually, as well.
40:48OK.
40:49So that might help.
40:50With the annex conversion
40:52added to Steve's build list,
40:54which he hopes to start soon...
40:56Sheets.
40:58Bankets.
40:59Emma's taking every B&B booking
41:01she can to help pay for the works.
41:05Guests checked out early this morning,
41:07so we're going to turn the room around.
41:08I don't actually have a technique
41:10other than to not get tangled up in it myself.
41:14While she may be relatively new to hosting,
41:17in the 11 months she's now been open,
41:20she's come a long way.
41:21People do remind me
41:23that I've done quite a lot
41:24in a short space of time,
41:25and sometimes I need to remind myself of that
41:28and perhaps enjoy that
41:30and enjoy the process a bit more
41:31than it being, right, OK,
41:32what phase can we get to next?
41:35I'm determined to do that more
41:37with this phase of the renovation.
41:38I'm not putting any pressure on myself.
41:40I'm just going to see what can be done
41:42for X amount of money
41:44and then go with it, work with it.
41:47All the rooms are ready to go.
41:49Three o'clock check-in, basically.
41:50I get a lot of last-minute bookings,
41:52so effectively anybody could turn up
41:54on the doorstep at three o'clock onwards.
41:56So, yeah, always ready to go.
41:58Next lot of washing.
41:59Hey, Phyllis.
42:00Come on, baby.
42:06The following month,
42:07in and around a steady flow of guests' days,
42:10Emma's been working to sort through the annex
42:13with help from friend Adam,
42:14who's over from the UK.
42:16Yeah, you need to skip.
42:18I know I do.
42:19That's an air filter from something.
42:20It'll be a swimming pool.
42:22The clearance is now a top priority,
42:24as her builders have confirmed
42:26they can start the conversion work next week.
42:29That thing helped build the house
42:3120 years ago.
42:34Despite her intention
42:36to take the renovations in her stride,
42:39Emma's innate business ambition
42:41has other ideas.
42:44Me 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
42:50on it already as well.
42:51So, yeah, just applied a little bit of pressure there,
42:53but I'm sure it'll be fine.
42:54It's really exciting, yeah.
42:56I can't wait to see it change shape
42:57and turn it around really quickly,
42:59which I know they will,
43:00and they'll do a great job as well.
43:03Emma's drive to push her new business forward
43:06has been evident all summer long
43:08in the varying ideas that she's trialled
43:10to bring in guest bookings.
43:1211 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
43:19as to the events I want to do going forward
43:21and in terms of what I want to see the business doing for me
43:25in the future.
43:27It's been really enjoyable.
43:29I love doing it.
43:31Also, being able to share this corner of Spain
43:34that she now calls home with visiting friends and family...
43:38Oh, yes!
43:40Going 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
43:59where it's like, how did I get here?
44:01It's an amazing experience.
44:03It's given me way, way more than I ever, ever anticipated,
44:06and I can only ever see that getting better and improving,
44:09so it's great.
44:11I'm just happy to be here.
44:12Next time...
44:18Ready for another day in the sunny Dardyne?
44:20..after their launch,
44:21can Dave and Emily keep the tills ringing?
44:24I'm just making a little sign with our opening times,
44:27then 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.
44:35Looks like it we've just had an earthquake.
44:38And after winning the keys to a French B&B
44:41on a TV game show...
44:43What?
44:45..a couple from Belfast
44:46claim their life-changing prize.
44:49Do you feel like it's real?
44:50I've got you.
44:51I don't, I just still feel like it's real in someone else's house.
44:54MUSIC PLAYS
45:11.
45:21.
45:22.
45:24.
45:24.
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