- 6 days ago
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:01From the glistening waters of the Med to the mountainous Alps,
00:05all across Europe, brave Brits are chasing new beginnings.
00:09Let's get this show on the road, huh?
00:11I mean, just look at this backdrop here.
00:13Essex was nothing like this.
00:15The stakes are high.
00:17This is definitely a gamble. I put everything in. All my life savings.
00:21We've got a lot riding on this.
00:22Our futures, our children's futures.
00:24We need to make some money.
00:25As they launch B&Bs and pubs in France.
00:30We're very new at this.
00:31Wow. Good job the wines, Chi.
00:34To wellness retreats and holiday parks in Bulgaria.
00:38It's not big enough. We measured it. I don't understand.
00:41It's a journey into the unknown.
00:44That's cool.
00:46Boo!
00:48But we're joining them for the ride.
00:51As they tee off their new lives in the sun.
00:55I just walk around with a smile on my face all the time.
00:58Let's Lancashire!
01:00Today...
01:02I've got 20 doors to sand and stain, so...
01:06An outdoor sports enthusiast from Lancashire
01:09is carving out a brand new life in Bulgaria.
01:12Ideally, hoping none of the guests get splinters.
01:15But can she go the distance?
01:17We're going to gather everybody and then just make them run up a big hill.
01:21We then run down straight to the wine bar.
01:23There's a lot to learn for novice hosts in France.
01:27First time we've gone from a twin to a double.
01:29Oh, no, I've taken the skirt with me.
01:32Every day's a school day.
01:34With guests on their way and a chateau to renovate,
01:37can they pull it off?
01:38I don't know what the time is, but we've still got quite a lot of things to do.
01:41Still got the pressure. Pressure's on.
01:43And a creative couple from Scotland...
01:46It's like a jigsaw, isn't it?
01:48..are painting themselves into a corner.
01:51Nine easels.
01:52There shouldn't be. There should be 12.
01:54Can they make the numbers work for their new business?
01:57Excuse me while I go and panic.
01:59Kevin?
02:00Oh, God.
02:10Cradled in the shadow of Bulgaria's Pirin Mountains,
02:14Bansko imbues visitors with fresh air, freedom and adventurous spirit.
02:19Alpine meadows and lush forests rub shoulders with rugged mountainous terrain,
02:25a playground for those looking for year-round adventure.
02:30We're not too far from Greece, which is very nice,
02:33hence we've got the sunshine.
02:35We've got a ski resort just above us on the mountain,
02:39and we get to enjoy snow in the winter
02:42and lovely sunshine in the summer.
02:45It was the outdoor lifestyle that persuaded Victoria,
02:48a yoga teacher and keen skier from Lancashire,
02:51to make it her home.
02:53There's so much space, there's so much nature.
02:57It's just, it's a really, really beautiful, beautiful country.
03:01And there's just something quite magical about it,
03:03you do fall in love with the place.
03:06In 2012, Victoria bought the shell of an empty apartment block,
03:10with grand plans to one day turn it into a chalet-style hotel,
03:15offering yoga and activity holidays.
03:18So we paid less than £100,000 for the house, which, you know,
03:24and the location that it's in, the place that it's in,
03:27and the size of it is really quite amazing.
03:30Yeah, it's an amazing price.
03:32It's April, and with four guest bedrooms finished,
03:36but another five to complete,
03:38Victoria's dad Richard has returned from the UK once again to help.
03:42We're trying to get sort of a rustic look in the bedroom,
03:46so we've made a sliding door for the en-suite toilet,
03:53putting sliding doors on the wardrobe to match the doors,
03:58and hopefully to drag it all together, in theory.
04:03In order to ready the hotel and herself to host guests,
04:08Victoria's taking language lessons to better her communication skills
04:13and ensure she can successfully run her business.
04:17I'm committed now to two Bulgarian lessons a week,
04:20and I've been practising my Bulgarian on my builders,
04:23but it is still quite challenging.
04:26With English not universally spoken in the resort,
04:31Victoria has engaged language tutor Desi to coach her through it.
04:36But with the native language one of the most complex to learn,
04:47getting to grips with the Slavic tongue is not simple.
04:51Just say .
04:53Just say it.
04:54.
04:55.
04:56.
04:57.
04:58.
04:59.
05:00.
05:01.
05:02.
05:03.
05:04I'll come back to that.
05:06That's my next homework.
05:08Absolutely.
05:11While the language will take time,
05:13the renovations are on a tighter deadline.
05:15Victoria's hoping to be fully open in just over seven months
05:19to capitalise on the lucrative winter season.
05:22But even the small jobs take time on a bigger scale.
05:26I've got about 20 doors to sand and stain,
05:32so, yeah, keep me busy for a while.
05:37I'm just ideally hoping none of the guests get splinters.
05:40These doors came from England,
05:42because they don't actually, like, mass-produced doors,
05:46wooden doors in Bulgaria,
05:48so they're really expensive to get made.
05:50Having Dad Richard on site has been invaluable for Victoria,
05:54even if he's not keen to join her in pursuit of Bansko's
05:57many leisure options.
05:59My idea of relaxing and Victoria's idea of relaxing
06:02are two totally different things.
06:05Victoria's idea of relaxing is going on a, you know,
06:08well, I'm saying a five-mile run.
06:11She'd do a lot more.
06:13Not my idea of fun.
06:16But their views are aligned
06:18when it comes to the chalet-style interiors of the guest rooms.
06:22And having carefully crafted the bespoke wardrobe door,
06:26it's time to hang it up
06:27so the room is inching closer to completion.
06:30A moment, please.
06:32All right.
06:33Ooh.
06:34Ooh.
06:35Ooh, yeah.
06:36That's good.
06:37I'm going to give him five stars for that one.
06:39Nice bit of craftsmanship, I think.
06:41It's definitely deserving of a five-star tea break
06:45at the end of a long day.
06:47Do you want a big slice?
06:48No.
06:49There you go.
06:51That looks good.
06:52Lovely.
06:53Now, don't expect to get this sort of treatment every day.
06:56No, I know that, Victoria.
06:58Yeah, yeah.
07:06Gascony, a sun-drenched corner of south-west France,
07:10where rolling hills meet vineyards and villages
07:13steeped in history.
07:15Famous for its rich flavours and generous spirit,
07:18it's a region ripe with possibilities.
07:23Well done, Marlo.
07:24Whoo!
07:25Whoo!
07:26It was here that childhood sweethearts Adrian and Serena
07:29from London decided to raise their young family
07:32and found a property fit for a fairy tale.
07:35We have around four hectares.
07:39We have the main house, which is the chateau.
07:42We have the small cottage, which is a two-bedroom cottage.
07:45We have several barns, a garage.
07:48And then on the other side, we also live on site as a family.
07:52I feel like that.
07:53I mean, it's crazy.
07:54The amount of space...
07:55I think that's all.
07:56The couple intend to let the finished cottage to holidaymakers,
08:01and pooling their skills in event management,
08:04host weddings and events at the chateau.
08:07But the ancient building requires substantial renovation.
08:10I'm massively underestimating a lot of things, right?
08:13Yeah, definitely.
08:14Like, just upkeeping the grounds, there's so much work involved.
08:17Whereas we were like...
08:19Didn't even think about that when we moved here.
08:21Time is the biggest one.
08:22Yeah.
08:23It will just eat away very quickly.
08:26Yeah.
08:27We'll have a few late nights, I'm sure, to get it done, but...
08:31It's July, and since marketing their little cottage to guests,
08:36they've taken a steady stream of bookings throughout the summer,
08:39and they've quickly had to adapt to their duties as hosts.
08:43We have a pretty pressured day.
08:46We're doing a first changeover
08:48where we've had guest checkout this morning
08:49and new guests checking in this afternoon,
08:52and they've also travelled quite far,
08:54so they've asked if they could check in a bit earlier.
08:56So, putting ourselves under a little bit more pressure,
08:58which we love.
08:59And, yeah, we're going to changeover.
09:01It's also Saturday, so the kids are off, which is fabulous.
09:05So, it's all going on today.
09:06The couple depend on the success of the rental business
09:11to further the renovations,
09:13so it's important every review is positive.
09:16First time we've gone from a twin to a double.
09:19Every day is a school day.
09:21Oh, no, I've taken the...
09:24No, don't take the skirt with you.
09:26Take the skirt with me.
09:27For Adrian, it's a steep learning curve.
09:30I can't get no...
09:32Honestly, I've been doing this by myself.
09:35I'm not sure if you're a hindrance or a help at this point.
09:38But with a little teamwork,
09:40the room is quickly turned around and presentable.
09:43Cool.
09:44New to hosting guests,
09:46the couple are still getting to grips
09:48with the work that goes on behind the scenes,
09:50and laundry is definitely more labour-intensive than anticipated.
09:54The ironing takes a lot of time, and I absolutely hate it, to be perfectly honest.
10:01But that's only because we haven't really invested in any proper equipment yet,
10:05because we're not 100% sure what we need.
10:07In an ideal world, we'd like to just send it off somewhere.
10:10But obviously, we're not in that luxurious position to be able to do that.
10:13With the early check-in request, it'll be a struggle to stay on schedule.
10:18I don't know what the time is, but we've still got quite a lot of things to do.
10:22Still got the pressure. Pressure's on, let's just say.
10:25With jobs inside the cottage ticked off, they can turn their attention to the grounds.
10:30Yeah, so that's inside done.
10:32We've got two hours.
10:33We need to do a bit of stuff on the grounds,
10:37reset water because it's been extremely hot,
10:40and make sure the pool's all...
10:44With a hot, dry summer underway, Adrian and Otis are doing their best
10:49to keep the chateau grounds looking green.
10:51Do you want to help me do this?
10:53Because it's just in water.
10:55While Mummy and Marlo concentrate on finishing touches for the cottage.
10:59This is called juggling with a toddler.
11:03The well-established Chateau Garden has been offering up its blooms to greet guests.
11:09I mean, normally we have quite a few more,
11:11but it's been so hot this June that it's been a bit of a struggle to keep the garden alive.
11:16With the whole family pitching in, they're just about ready.
11:20I think we're there.
11:22I'm going to do a final check.
11:25But yeah, and then we can sigh.
11:27And then I go to a four-year-old's birthday party.
11:29It's exactly what I feel like doing right now.
11:33With Serena otherwise engaged, Adrian is going solo to greet their guests,
11:39Louise and Will, and Jania and Chris from the UK, who have booked a week's stay.
11:45Hi, I'm Adrian. Nice to meet you.
11:47Nice to meet you. Welcome.
11:48This is stunning.
11:49Yeah, thanks.
11:50And feedback couldn't be better.
11:52First impressions are amazing.
11:54It's really cool when you come down the driveway and suddenly it appears,
11:57because before it's quite hidden.
11:59The surroundings are amazing.
12:00You have a vineyard right down there.
12:02The view from up here just looked amazing.
12:05With good reviews essential to build their business,
12:08can they keep the bookings coming in and bring the chateau back to life?
12:16Coming up...
12:17It's like an obstacle course, isn't it?
12:20For a mobile art group, space could be the toughest subject yet.
12:24All the ladies are thinking on their feet today.
12:26I'm just bumbling along as usual.
12:28Can they pull off a masterclass on a whole new scale?
12:32The room's quite smooth, but we'll manage it.
12:35And Victoria's on a deadline to make her hotel presentable.
12:39This area still looks like a bit of a disaster zone.
12:42But with guests due, can she get the basics right?
12:46Walked out of the bathroom and just suddenly thought that, yeah,
12:48you might be getting to know the neighbours a little bit better than you needed to do.
12:54For centuries, Normandy in northern France has been the muse for many painters.
13:07From Monet to Hockney, the greats have flocked here, brush in hand.
13:12And now, so has artist Kev and his wife, Toni.
13:18We wanted a quieter life.
13:21A house with some land.
13:23We just couldn't afford that in the UK.
13:26So we've now got a little rustic house, a lot of land, no neighbours.
13:32That's quite light.
13:35What could be more wonderful than that?
13:40After snapping up this three bed farmhouse in the tiny village of Millie for just 22,000 euros,
13:46these former bike shop owners needed a new way to fund their fresh start.
13:51So they went back to the drawing board and came up with a plan.
13:55Was Tony's idea to start this off?
13:58Kevin's passion for his artwork, I felt that he could pass on to other people.
14:04So we just advertised painting classes and we had quite a few people apply and we had nowhere to start off to paint.
14:13So we quickly turned the chicken shed into a studio overnight.
14:18Their homemade studio may have found instant success.
14:23You want a sort of a shape, just to get the centre in.
14:27New venues aren't enough to keep their French dream afloat.
14:30So this year growing the business and finding new venues for their classes isn't just a goal, it's a necessity.
14:39New venues are difficult. They're a challenge.
14:42Finding a suitable place to set up.
14:45And then obviously the price.
14:47Because we don't work on a very high mark-up price, we have to keep it within budget.
14:56It's May.
14:57So much slicker this time.
14:58And Kev and Tony have found another new venue to help grow their art group.
15:03It's a new bar in Saint-Servére in Calvados.
15:07We haven't been here before.
15:08But it looks very nice.
15:10And there's a little room upstairs who's going to be doing art in with ten of us today.
15:15Or is it eleven?
15:17That's the boss.
15:1922 miles away from their home in Millie, they've booked this venue blind.
15:24It's like an obstacle course isn't it?
15:27And they'll need to get creative to make the space work.
15:31Well the room's quite small so it's going to be a bit of a maze to get them in.
15:38But we'll manage it, don't worry.
15:42And as they start to set up their studio.
15:45It's just trouble when you...
15:47It seems the size isn't the only issue.
15:50They're a bit low, aren't they?
15:54When it's a new place and you haven't actually seen it, you don't really know what you're going to walk into.
15:59So...
16:01With the layout a bit of a puzzle...
16:04It's like a jigsaw, isn't it?
16:06...Tony and her friend Lesley-Anne, who's here to lend a hand...
16:10That chair goes to that easel.
16:12...do their best to squeeze everything in.
16:15The ladies are thinking on their feet today.
16:17Right.
16:19Can you sit there?
16:20I'm just bumbling along this easel.
16:24Mind that person's head.
16:26But just when they think they've cracked it...
16:29Is there no more easels or anything anywhere?
16:31Are we showing an easel?
16:33There shouldn't be, there should be 12.
16:35Let me check up here.
16:37It seems they might have an even bigger problem than the little room.
16:41Seven, eight, nine. Still nine.
16:44Nine easels.
16:46And after another quick count-up, they're still missing an essential piece of kit.
16:51Seems to be we're short of an easel.
16:55We counted everything out last night when we packed the car.
16:59And we were pretty sure we had everything, but we seem to be short of an easel.
17:04And first impressions matter, especially when repeat customers are the key to keeping their business afloat.
17:10I suppose there's anywhere in Sansevier we could buy an easel.
17:13No. No? Right, okay.
17:15With customers due any moment, there's really only one option left.
17:21Well, excuse me while I go and panic.
17:24Kevin?
17:26God.
17:31Back in Bulgaria, Victoria's taken a big step, or steps, towards kitting out her Alpine hotel.
17:38This feels like quite a big achievement.
17:42We've got a brand new spiral staircase, custom made by my dad.
17:48Luckily it all worked. He designed it out.
17:50And at one point we weren't sure if his angles were right, but he's done it.
17:53He's done a good job.
17:55And obviously I'm really pleased because I've got a custom made spiral staircase.
17:58Previously only accessible by ladder, the new staircase leads to a storage room in the loft.
18:06A vital space when holiday makers will be making the most of the area's many outdoor pursuits.
18:12One of the problems with living in a mountain resort is that you end up doing all the sports.
18:19So, as well as having all the padded jackets and duvets and woolly blankets, you also have all your skis, your snowboards, your mountain bikes, your hiking gear.
18:30There's also a paddle board knocking around.
18:31So, yeah, as much storage space as I can get, I'm having it.
18:36As spring brings a fresh influx of tourists to the resort, Victoria hopes to be able to welcome guests before the season is out.
18:46And having left the five bedrooms on the upper floor until last, there's finally some progress to be seen.
18:52Staring at bare concrete for quite a few months now.
18:57So, we've, the builders have just been doing a brilliant job of getting all the tiling done up here.
19:04So, it finally feels like I've got actual proper bathrooms on the way, which is fantastic.
19:10The Bulgarian traditional bathroom is a wet room, but I'm adding a bit more bathroom furniture to sort of contain the water.
19:17So, in here, there'll be a proper shower cubicle, so you won't have water quite everywhere.
19:25While there's progress with the plumbing, the communal areas are nowhere near guest ready.
19:33This area still looks like a bit of a disaster zone, but it's the next area that we're going to get started on.
19:40This is the lounge, and I'm just looking at bringing some sofas out from the UK.
19:47Just because the choice of sofas is, there's just more to choose from in the UK, so I can get some really nice sofas.
19:54So, hopefully, soon, this will look like a nice, cosy, inviting lounge.
20:00The bar might be starting to take shape.
20:03So, I think that will really make a difference and really make it feel like things are coming together.
20:07While the builders are taking on some of the heavy-duty work on the top floor, Dad Richard is helping with final touches on the nearly guest-ready first floor,
20:18where Victoria's hoping heavy curtains will keep out the chill during Bansko's biting winters.
20:24Yeah, they look good, don't they?
20:25Curtain poles have actually got a double rail on them, because I was in here and I walked out of the bathroom and just suddenly thought that, yeah, you might be getting to know the neighbours a little bit better than you needed to do if you don't have a little bit of extra cover.
20:38So, we've got a few more curtains to put up, but not far to go.
20:46While the resort is well known for its winter activities, summer is also popular with tourists wanting to take advantage of the many hiking trails and festivals.
20:56And Victoria is already thinking of expanding her hospitality empire.
21:02This lovely field is my next, hopefully, my next project.
21:07It's in such a lovely location, so what my idea is, is to sort of get it sort of fenced off, get some nice trees up here for a bit of shade for summer,
21:18and then to put on a couple of glamping units, some sort of nice little wooden huts, maybe get a pond in the middle.
21:25And so, you know, people are hiking, mountain biking can come and enjoy this area.
21:30And you can get straight into the mountains from here, we're right at the base of the mountain, so it's a really nice spot.
21:38Six kilometres outside of town, the off-grid location will definitely bring some challenges, but today's visit brings positive news.
21:48So, this is new, even though it doesn't really look like it's that new.
21:52It's really interesting though, because it's not far from the field, and obviously one of my neighbours has tapped into a water supply.
22:01So I might have to do a bit of investigative work to find out who's this is, and if I can have some of it as well.
22:08With so much still to do at the hotel, Victoria will need to concentrate on bricks and mortar before she can turn her hand to canvas and cabins.
22:17Coming up...
22:23Ready? One, two, three, up.
22:26Renovations on a grand scale are a challenge for Adrian and Serena.
22:30So do you need me to come up?
22:32Not at the moment.
22:34But is there light at the end of the tunnel?
22:36Well, it looks great, apart from the one that doesn't work.
22:39And it's a squash and a squeeze at Kev and Tony's art class.
22:43Excuse my bum and excuse me this way, I just, I don't know what's best really.
22:47Can Kev adapt his style to the space?
22:50Normally I would stop every ten minutes and I'd come round, but I can't do that here, so I have to keep painting.
22:56In Gascony, it's mid-July, and as the little cottage continues to pull in guests, Adrian and Serena are reinvesting their earnings straight into the renovation of their chateau.
23:16They're hoping to be able to open a couple of rooms before the summer season is out, but they're running out of time.
23:23Loads of dirty work happened before, so I've got to sand, take off all the old varnish and sand it back, pick up any bits of paint that we've dropped anywhere.
23:33This is just to get a real nice smooth service, and then I can clean it and then I can finish the floor and get it done.
23:38So this is really kind of the main last finishing bit, which should be good.
23:44With a property of such a vast scale, any job takes time, and after a week of hard graft, the floor in what will be their breakfast room is finally finished.
23:55I'm really, really happy with how it's come up. You've still got the history of the floor, which is really nice to still have the imperfections, and I think for a property like this, it really adds to the character of the room, which is nice.
24:10For Serena, it's time to get stuck into dressing the space.
24:14This is the exciting part, really, where we can start to see it come together.
24:19And she can finally bring out the bargains they've bought for the breakfast room.
24:22Yeah, I picked this up really cheap, actually, from a local kind of brocante secondhand shop.
24:28It was in a really terrible state, so I had to clean it down.
24:31It was all really dusty in the back of some, you know, back room.
24:35But actually, the colour came up really nicely.
24:38So, yeah, I'm really pleased with it, because I think it was not expensive at all.
24:42You know, probably like 20, 30 euros.
24:45And let's hope it actually works.
24:48For most, hanging a ceiling light is an easy task.
24:52But bringing chandeliers to a chateau is not quite as straightforward.
24:57We need to get a piece of wire that's going to attach this and hold the weight of the light, because it's fairly heavy.
25:05And obviously, attaching it to the ceiling is going to, that's not going to be secure enough.
25:09And realise that it's going to be easier to get the light up without the glass, which we should have thought about.
25:15But I was getting too impatient, clearly.
25:19With the ceiling four metres high, it's down to Adrian to scale the scaffold to the centre of the room.
25:25So, do you need me to come up, or you...?
25:28Er, not at the moment.
25:29After a bit of wrangling at height...
25:32Yeah, that's good.
25:34..Adrien and Serena can let there be light.
25:36Almost.
25:38One's not working.
25:39No, it's not. Oh, yeah.
25:41If it's the bulb, I don't have another one.
25:42Try again.
25:44Oh, it's the bulb.
25:47We'll have to do what we have to do. It's fine.
25:50With no spare bulbs in the house, it's a job for another day, with plenty more to be getting on with.
25:57Well, it looks great, apart from the one that doesn't work.
26:00With eight rooms in the chateau all in need of fixtures and fittings, finding ways to keep the cost down is essential, especially on larger items.
26:10So, we got this at the local charity shop.
26:15Absolute... Yeah, I was super happy with the find.
26:18145 euros?
26:20140.
26:22For such a, yeah, nice old piece.
26:25And it's the perfect size for there.
26:27So, it's been sitting in the garage, but when you see the piece, you've got to get it.
26:31They've got to tread carefully to make sure the heavy sideboard doesn't damage their newly finished floors.
26:37Which way am I pulling it?
26:38Towards you.
26:39Three, one, two, three, up.
26:42That was easier than I thought. Are you all right?
26:45Yeah.
26:47It's like the perfect piece for that space.
26:50While their two-bedroom cottage is self-catering, when the chateau opens its doors to guests, they'll be laying on food.
26:57So, for breakfast in here, the plan is to serve it from the buffet. So, guests will sit on a long table here and then can help themselves, yeah, to the food that's going to be laid out.
27:10Yeah.
27:11For now, accessories are on the menu.
27:13And Serena has been painstakingly refurbishing old lampshades with fabric to create bespoke designs.
27:22Let's see.
27:23Let's see if it works.
27:25At least one lighting project has been a success.
27:28Sweet!
27:29That looks great.
27:30Really good.
27:31Cool.
27:32Should we bring the big table in there?
27:33Yeah.
27:34Yeah.
27:35The pièce de résistance of the breakfast room is a large flea market find from an unlikely source, a mess hall back in Blighty.
27:44It's from the air force. The markings at the bottom of the table have the old British crown.
27:51Now it's ended up in a chateau in France. It's come all the way from the UK, ended up here, and it's having its second life.
27:58With a long way to go before their table can host guests and the summer season slipping away, they'll need to keep to their schedule with military precision.
28:15Over in Normandy, at Kevin Tony's first art class in the village of Saint-Servé,
28:21Kevin?
28:22Tony solved the mystery of the missing easels.
28:25Oh, they're outside, aren't they?
28:26All outside.
28:27I left the easels outside.
28:29Oh.
28:30But the impromptu hunt has eaten into their precious prep time.
28:34The slickness that we thought we had hasn't sort of materialised, has it?
28:38No.
28:39No.
28:40Because the easels are out in the street.
28:41Which is probably my fault.
28:42Yes.
28:43That's all we've got to put, Kevin.
28:44Yeah.
28:45First blunder of the day, leaving the easels outside.
28:50And it's not just the easels that have turned up, the customers have too.
28:54We need to hurry up because they've started arriving now.
28:57Yeah.
28:58Okay.
28:59It's going to be very squashy in here, isn't it?
29:01Mm-hm.
29:02Sorry.
29:04It's a little concerning how we're going to get everybody in.
29:06What I'm going to do now is I'm going to go downstairs and say hi to everyone and just apologise for a bit of a delay.
29:11So far, it's not been the smooth start they were hoping for.
29:18Hello.
29:19Find a spot in there.
29:20There we go.
29:21And as their new students squeeze into the space, they're hoping there won't be any more hiccups today.
29:28Right.
29:29We're going to be using acrylic paints today.
29:31These are water-based.
29:32And we're going to be mixing paint on the canvas.
29:35The idea is just to make it very simple, very straightforward.
29:38And you're all going to walk away with a picture that you can show to friends.
29:43We hope.
29:44Or not.
29:45Or not, yes.
29:47The set up may have been stressful, but a very relaxed and confident Kev isn't showing it.
29:54It doesn't matter if it's not ruler straight. I'll just roughly put that in like that.
29:59So there we go. We've got a horizon in that, like that.
30:02And while the room may be a little confined...
30:06Excuse my bum and excuse this way. I just, I don't know what's best, really.
30:11That was embarrassing.
30:14It isn't stifling anyone's creativity.
30:17I'm really enjoying the painting by watching.
30:21I'm really finding I'm better at it than I thought I could be.
30:28But the lack of space is cramping Kev's style.
30:32It's very squeezed up and tight and I can't move around everybody.
30:35Normally I would stop every ten minutes and I'd come around and say...
30:40But I can't do that here. It's impossible. So I have to keep painting.
30:44I think they would produce better paintings if I could suggest a couple of things
30:47and actually take the brush off them and say, do this, do that.
30:51But it's impossible. So we have to go with what we've got at the moment and how it is.
30:57But that lady there, she's having a great time.
31:00I'm hoping some of the others are.
31:03We've had a few little trees and hedgerows.
31:06Kev might be his own harshest critic, wishing he'd been able to be a bit more hands-on.
31:11But this group of novice painters couldn't be happier.
31:16I really enjoy it.
31:18His tea time is good. It's good.
31:20And it's been easy to follow what he's asking us to do.
31:26The feedback's glowing, but the real test is whether those kind words turn into repeat bookings.
31:32So does anybody want to come back? Or do it again?
31:37Yeah, Mona wants to come to Millie. Julie wants to come here.
31:42I'm coming in.
31:44Surely I'm going to come back.
31:46It's an encouraging response and hopefully enough to make the class in Sansa Vey a regular returning fixture.
31:54Very good. Happy, happy, happy.
31:56Just clean all the tables up and get rid of everything and we'll be away.
32:02I think that went okay.
32:04The ladies have been telling me how much they enjoyed it.
32:07And quite a few of them want to come back.
32:10One wants to come down to Millie, to our place.
32:13So I think that was pretty successful.
32:16With a good turnout for the class, it's been a profitable morning's work.
32:19But they'll need to keep booking new venues and filling classes to bring in enough income to balance the books.
32:27We have three venues. It'd be nice to add another one.
32:30And keep them going.
32:37Coming up...
32:39Oh, brilliant!
32:41Victoria's testing out trail routes that could put potential guests through their paces.
32:45I was actually looking to see if I could put a bit of zigzagging at the bottom.
32:51But no, I think it's just a vertical uphill.
32:54And Kev's canvas isn't going to plan.
32:57Oh, Lord.
32:59We're the best thing for it.
33:01Can he make his business stand out amongst the competition?
33:05I am a little nervous.
33:07Just made my plan up now on the hoof.
33:09Can't move.
33:21In Bulgaria, it's June.
33:23And as summer approaches, Victoria has made great progress inside the hotel.
33:27Yeah, we've got a bit of noise coming from upstairs.
33:31We've got lots going on at the moment.
33:33And the builders have now got the wooden floors down, which is really good.
33:38So it's looking like a proper space upstairs instead of a building site.
33:43And they're getting ready to start painting the walls now.
33:46So, yeah, getting closer.
33:47Two years into the build, the top floor that will house five out of the nine ensuite bedrooms is finally starting to take shape.
33:59It's looking fantastic.
34:01So everything's lovely and clean.
34:03And we've got rid of a lot of the dust.
34:05So all of a sudden, it's just coming together and starting to look like a really welcoming space, which is lovely.
34:12So I'm really pleased with the floor.
34:14That was quite a big job.
34:16And they've been putting all the skirting board in and it's just all the little finishing touches now.
34:23As well as the finished floor, the wet room style bathrooms are edging closer to completion.
34:29We've still put the glass sort of section in here for the shower, but it's really close.
34:35Everything else is really ready in here.
34:36So I'm really pleased with how the bathrooms have turned out.
34:40They're lovely.
34:42Originally a concrete shell, Victoria is well on her way to transforming the cold industrial building into a warm and welcoming space.
34:51This will be the upstairs sort of lounge area, quite chilled out.
34:54And there's obviously a lot of wood because the ceiling has all wood on it as well.
34:59But I think it just works really well because it's a nice big space, so it doesn't feel too closed in with all the wood.
35:06While the interiors of the hotel will cater for keeping guests cosy in the freezing winter months, there's plenty in Bansko to enjoy during the summer.
35:16And having put down roots here, Victoria is working hard to establish herself within the local community.
35:23This evening we have the second iteration of our Bansko Run Club.
35:29At the moment we're trying to make this every week, so we're just doing a 5k every week.
35:33We're going to sort of meet a little bit higher up, gather everybody and then just make them run up a big hill.
35:40And then we'll take them through the forest a little bit where it's a bit cooler.
35:44And then the best bit, after we've trekked up the hill, we then run down straight to the wine bar.
35:50She's set up the club with the help of fellow expat Becky.
35:54Hi! How are you? I'm good!
35:57Got your T-shirt? I'm quite excited about this.
36:00Well, I am too.
36:02And they're taking it very seriously with some official merchandise.
36:06Oh, brilliant! I thought it was all right.
36:09It's really good. It's really good.
36:11Well, I'm looking forward to writing this, didn't you?
36:13Yeah, it's a bit fixed.
36:15Yeah, that's going to be fair. I'm going to have a trying-on session in a minute.
36:18When she opens her doors to guests, offering activities and retreats will be an essential part of her business.
36:26So tonight's route has been meticulously planned, and it's not for the faint of heart.
36:31I was actually looking to see if I could put a bit of zigzagging at the bottom so it's not just a vertical uphill.
36:38But no, I think it's just a vertical uphill.
36:40It's not too bad. The ascent isn't too bad, but I suppose for a 5km, there's, I don't know, there's probably 150 metres up.
36:49And it's only a 5km, so it's fairly...
36:52And it's all at the beginning, obviously, because we're running up a hill.
36:57With their willing volunteers gathered, Becky makes sure they're fully briefed and know what they're getting themselves into.
37:03This part is going to be a little bit of a slog.
37:06It's uphill.
37:07So we can jog slash walk.
37:08Yeah.
37:09And then there's a nice loop and we get up there and then we'll...
37:11And then it's downhill.
37:12With no-one backing out of the climb...
37:15Right, Victoria will lead.
37:16Everybody ready?
37:19They're off to take on the mountain.
37:24Victoria's soon putting them through their paces, and after enjoying time in the beautiful Pirin National Park...
37:32Success!
37:33Woo!
37:35Yay!
37:37Everyone makes it back down the mountain.
37:40Cheers!
37:42Cheers!
37:43And it's time for some well-earned refreshments.
37:46Everyone had a great run and everyone's really enjoyed themselves.
37:48They're all very happy to be in the bar now, I think.
37:52With Run Club a success, Victoria can add it to the activities she hopes to offer her guests when her hotel is up and running.
37:59Over in northern France, Kev and Tony are finding new ways to bring their art classes to the masses.
38:11Today, Kev and three of his students are taking part in an art competition, which offers a chance to showcase their talents, promote the business and maybe even take home a prize.
38:23Here I am at Dinard, on the north coast of Brittany, in France.
38:30Absolutely stunning.
38:32And this is where we're going to be painting today.
38:34Big competition.
38:35I am a little nervous, I shouldn't be, but it's French. France is known for its artists, so I'm not expecting to get anywhere.
38:48Dinard is a charming and elegant coastal town and its timeless beauty has long attracted artists, including Picasso and other greats.
38:57A sea-filled swimming pool.
39:00Now Kev and his students just need to find the perfect spot to capture it on canvas.
39:09Kev's student, Raymond, already has a plan for his painting.
39:12I've been going to classes with Kevin since September now and he does this thing called Follow Me. Follow Me is where Kev will just illustrate a painting from start to finish and we just try and follow what he's doing.
39:29So, I'm going to paint Kev. I'm going to follow him.
39:32He loves me. Can you imagine if that wins?
39:36But Kev's decided to hedge his bets.
39:39I'm going to aim to do two paintings and choose one for the actual competition, but I don't know if time's on my side. Maybe I'll do a little one first, see how I get on with that, and then I'll do a bigger one.
39:53I've just made my plan up now on the hoof.
39:56First, Kev gets his business cards on display.
39:59Couple of different designs there.
40:02Have to clip them down.
40:05Before putting brush to canvas.
40:08Today, I'm just, I'm going as how I'm feeling it. I'm feeling orangey and luminous.
40:14I could do with the rubber right now.
40:19The house is there.
40:21I just go straight in with the paintbrush.
40:23So, it's easy to get stuff wrong.
40:25So, I'm going to have to alter that.
40:27Alter that there.
40:29As Kev's painting begins to take shape, it's already catching the eye of a few admirers.
40:35It's not finished.
40:38Yes, I like the colours.
40:40Oh, thank you.
40:42It's nice. Thank you very much.
40:44And as the promenade fills up with fellow painters and the general public...
40:47Millie art group who songs on Normandy.
40:50Oh, where's he?
40:51Oh, yeah.
40:53Kev's also drumming up some interest in his classes.
40:57She's interested in the art group, but she lives here, so...
41:00The networking was kind of working there, but...
41:03It's just the distance.
41:04Several hours in, while passers-by are full of praise for Kev's painting, he can only see its flaws.
41:17It's horrible. I've screwed up with this black brolly, which is over there.
41:20I'm wishing I hadn't put it in now. I'm quite annoyed with myself. I need to do something with it.
41:25He tries a splash of colour to improve the brolly's appearance.
41:29My other one might be terrible, so I need this to be kind of okay.
41:34We'll call it Umbrella Gate.
41:36But fears he's over-egged the pudding.
41:38It looks a little bit like, when I was a kid, fab lollipops.
41:42So I think I've screwed it up as much as I can, so that'll have to do, I think.
41:47Unhappy with his first piece...
41:49Oh, wow. We're the best thing for it.
41:53He'll now need to be swift to get his second finished in time.
41:58I took quite a while to work out where I wanted to be with the first one, but this one I'm just going,
42:04let's just do it.
42:05And Kev's opted for a more abstract style for round two.
42:10I've just gone full-on Technicolor here.
42:13I'm just going with what colour I want to put on.
42:16As the other artists begin to hand their work in, Kev's still working on his second piece.
42:22But he has just had some good news. He's made a sale.
42:27I've been lucky enough to sell that little one while I've been here.
42:32I can still go into the competition.
42:33Yeah, I'm kind of torn which one to hand in, really.
42:38Unsure which piece to choose, Kev turns to the crowd for their opinion.
42:43Is that mine?
42:45Here.
42:47Here.
42:49Here.
42:50Here's the perfect spot.
42:52This lady thinks that that one's the best one as well, so that'll do for me.
42:57With all the paintings hung, the crowds gather to find out who the lucky winners might be.
43:02be and kev's proudest punch as raymond picks up second place in the adult amateurs category
43:19you've saved the day you've saved the day well done mate that's hey nice pastels as well and
43:24it's me with some stiff competition kev's perfectly formed petite piece gets pipped at the post for a
43:36prize in the expert painters category put myself into the top category there's some pretty damn
43:41good ones there and while kev might be sworn off ever painting umbrellas again the day has done
43:47little to rain on his parade didn't win however raymond one of my students he won a prize in his
43:56category so that's a massive win for me as well and um and i sold a painting so all in all quite
44:06a reasonable day it all counts as good publicity so can he draw on his reputation and attract the
44:12crowds to his classes next time victoria test drives a new idea for her bulgarian retreats
44:28in france can adrian and serena's grand chateau shape up before the guests show up we're up against
44:36it because we've got a million jobs and kevin tony pull out all the stops to make their art
44:42business work everybody that walks through the door will get a free glass of don perignon champagne
44:50maybe not don perignon
44:52maybe not don perignon
45:02uh
45:18so
Comments