- 58 minutes ago
A New Life in the Sun - Season 11 - Episode 02
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00Making a fresh start under blue skies is a dream chased by thousands of Brits.
00:05This is freedom. Pick your Vista. Anyone you like.
00:10Pursuing bucket list experiences...
00:13Yay!
00:15...and newfound freedoms.
00:17We could walk around butt naked if we wanted to.
00:19While Brexit has made it a battle...
00:22I've applied for two visas. I've been denied two visas.
00:25...many are still giving it a go.
00:28I wanted to know what else life had to offer.
00:30I like the idea of just spending every day together, don't we?
00:33We do.
00:35From launching bike tours in Spain...
00:38This is my office here. I couldn't ask for more.
00:40..to glamping sites in Italy.
00:42Build it and they will come. We hope.
00:46But will it be a smooth ride?
00:50Or their ideas come crashing down...
00:52Oh, my God!
00:55..as they begin their new lives in the sun.
00:58It's an adventure.
00:59Loving life.
01:01..today in the Dordogne...
01:03It's all turned on, it's ready, it's cold.
01:05Off we go!
01:06..as a couple from Yorkshire inch closer to First Orders at their new pub...
01:11..that's the outside windows done, now for the inside.
01:14..opening day nerves creep in.
01:17It's all new to us. It's trial and error.
01:19People are going to have to bear with us, aren't they?
01:21..and it's just part of life.
01:23In Spain, the stakes are high for a new guest house owner.
01:27Financially, it was the biggest risk I've ever taken
01:30because I put everything into this.
01:32..but can she come good on her dreams?
01:34Could have done with an extra half an hour to get things organised.
01:38Pressure's good. Keeps you on your toes.
01:40And after purchasing their dream Spanish home,
01:43a couple take a closer look at it.
01:46As you can see, it's completely rotten all the way along.
01:50..delaying the opening of their business.
01:52We've had rain on and off now like this for two weeks.
01:55..and adding to their workload.
01:58Can I push it?
01:59Yeah.
02:00That's it.
02:10The beauty and diversity of France's Dordogne region
02:14means that taking a holiday here stays long in your memory bank.
02:20And for the Dunn family from West Yorkshire...
02:25..at all.
02:27What are you laughing at, Hugo?
02:29I bet I could win you in a game of war.
02:33It wasn't just memories they left with, but also a dream.
02:38The French countryside is different.
02:41Yeah.
02:42We're in the middle of a national park.
02:44There's trees everywhere.
02:46The air quality is amazing.
02:48An abundance of space, peace, quietness.
02:51You would not get this anywhere else in the world,
02:54as far as I'm concerned.
02:55For former car sales manager Dave and travel agent Emily,
02:59seeing how much their two children, Hugo and Willow,
03:03also loved it...
03:04Do you like course-riding, Mubs?
03:06Yeah?
03:06Is it your favourite thing to do now in France?
03:08Yeah.
03:09..they took the plunge, selling up in Huddersfield
03:12and buying a bar and restaurant with a four-bed apartment above
03:15within the rural commune of Santa Steph.
03:20For me, it does still feel like I'm on holiday a little bit.
03:23Even though I'm working, it's not sunk in yet,
03:26but this is my actual home now.
03:30What a lovely place to live.
03:32Yeah, it's beautiful.
03:34And it's sunny.
03:35It's hot.
03:40While their kids are settling into French school life...
03:44What colour's grey?
03:46Green.
03:47What colour's dark green?
03:49What's that?
03:51Verde Francais.
03:52Verde Francais?
03:54Dave and Emily want to get their new pub,
03:56which has been closed for six months,
03:58back open as soon as possible.
04:01Our business is an English-style pub in the Dordogne,
04:05but we want it to be a community and a hub
04:07and somewhere that people can come
04:09even if they just want to come for a chat.
04:11Yeah.
04:11We want to make friends with the community and get involved
04:14and just somewhere that people are comfortable to come and see us.
04:18We're here.
04:19Yeah.
04:22We would also like a healthy amount of profit in the bank
04:25to know that we've done the right thing.
04:27Definitely by the end of the summer, you know,
04:29for the business to be sustaining itself.
04:32That would be great.
04:34It's now the end of May
04:36and Dave and Emily's Herculean effort
04:38to clean the kitchen of their new pub continues.
04:43Packing my scruffs covered in oil.
04:45Today I'm on fryer, oven duty.
04:49This is not the fun part.
04:51I want to be open now.
04:53How many days is it?
04:54We've got nine days now until we're open, so...
04:58Is it as much as that?
05:00Actually, we've got a lot of stuff to do in nine days.
05:03I wouldn't say that we're on track.
05:04I'd say that we're behind.
05:06We've not sorted any menus out.
05:09We've not sent anything to the suppliers for the till.
05:13No, that does need doing.
05:14There's lots of admin-y stuff that we need to get sorted.
05:19And with kids Willow and Hugo off school today,
05:24their work is under scrutiny.
05:27Er, he missed me.
05:28You, cheeky so-and-so.
05:30He missed me.
05:31Right, but...
05:32By the time I've finished this,
05:35this is going to be the cleanest fryer in the Dordogne.
05:38Who's been doing the hardest work, do you think?
05:41Us. Mummy thinks so.
05:42You think mum-esh?
05:44We're getting there.
05:48It's not going to be perfect,
05:49but it's a lot better than it was.
05:52Small victories every day.
05:56Later that afternoon,
05:58they reach another significant milestone.
06:03In their journey to become publicans.
06:07At the minute, we're having another beer pump put in.
06:11It's a local artisan brewer,
06:13which we're really excited to work with them.
06:15I think the challenge will be
06:16not drinking too much of it myself, to be honest.
06:18But with the pump now ready for use,
06:21one of the perks of their new careers
06:23is getting to sample what they'll soon be selling.
06:28Is it turned on?
06:29Yes, it's all turned on.
06:30It's ready. It's cold.
06:31Off we go.
06:36Mmm.
06:37Pine number one.
06:38It's actually half a pint.
06:40Your turn.
06:41Please just remember in the future
06:43not to fill past the line.
06:45We're not made of money.
06:47With the first drinks served up,
06:49the pair celebrate in their new beer garden.
06:52Sonté to our new life in France.
06:55A new life in France for us.
06:58For all of five minutes before their minds race back to opening day nerves.
07:05We've got ten barrels of beer.
07:07It's just, we don't know what people are going to want to drink.
07:10We've never done it before.
07:11It's all new to us.
07:12It's trial and error.
07:13People are going to have to bear with us, aren't they?
07:15And it's just part of life.
07:17Everybody makes mistakes.
07:18And you learn.
07:19And you grow.
07:27High on the rugged slopes of the Albahara Mountains,
07:30the tiny whitewashed village of Pelopos glistens in the sunshine.
07:35For many, it's a hidden gem.
07:38But for Nigel from Wiltshire and his Spanish husband Fede...
07:42So that's where the field is, where we are heading to.
07:46It's a place filled with meaning and family memories.
07:49And now also where they're planning to open a bed and breakfast business.
07:55This is my family's land for generations and generations.
07:58And our plan is to make some use of the veg and fruit
08:05that we can produce for the future B&B.
08:10Delicious.
08:13Mmm. Really juicy.
08:15They'll be good for breakfast.
08:17Oranges for breakfast.
08:19Lemons for the gin and tonic in the evening.
08:22Can I create over you?
08:23Perfect.
08:25The pair met in the UK and used to run a pub in Bath.
08:28And their background in hospitality will come in handy,
08:32having bought this former guest house for £58,000.
08:3725 rooms we've counted in total.
08:41Which sounds a lot, but, you know, it's a big challenge ahead.
08:44But we'll get there.
08:46We've both got our strengths, you know.
08:49Freddie with the legality of things for the house.
08:52As I've plodded on getting, you know, the decor done.
08:57Definitely the strengths of Nigel is that he's very creative.
09:02Weaknesses probably is that he could lose hope if something is not going alright.
09:08Luckily, it hasn't been the case yet.
09:14It's now March, and Nigel and Fede have been working on their B&B renovations for two months.
09:21But a recent spell of wet weather is stalling their efforts to refresh the property's exterior.
09:27We've had rain on and off now like this for two weeks.
09:31It's really slowing things up for the outside work,
09:34so the painters and decorators can't come in and paint outside the house.
09:38Which is annoying because we want to get it on social media.
09:41And they're also finding that being exposed to the elements up in the mountains
09:46means the building is vulnerable to even more wear and tear.
09:51As you can see, it's completely rotten all the way along.
09:55One of the porches being the latest casualty.
09:59I'm going to take this down because the tiles, look, you can see the tiles are all loose.
10:03And it's just safety, really.
10:06Safety being top priority.
10:08It's going to drop.
10:10Shall I push it? Yeah.
10:13As the pair are soon to take a trip back to the UK,
10:17so they need to know the building will be okay while they're away.
10:21I'm glad that it's down now and we can rebuild, hopefully,
10:27a wooden structure and put the tiles back up without all that weight up there.
10:31If this had come down on somebody, it would have killed them.
10:34So I'm glad it's down.
10:36Hopefully we'll come back to better weather and be able to do lots on the outside.
10:43The following week, after a 1,300-mile trip back to Nigel's mum's home in Melksham,
10:50the couple are collecting the last of their possessions,
10:53ready to bid the UK a final farewell.
10:56Where are you guys going?
10:58Er, Granada, Spain.
11:00Are you? Wow!
11:02So we've purchased a house out there.
11:04Can you let your mum have the address so I can probably leave her?
11:08Yeah. Brilliant.
11:11Excellent. Take care.
11:13Bye.
11:13With post-woman Hayley a potential B&B guest.
11:17Christmas decorations.
11:20Father Christmas is traveling with us to Spain.
11:24After clearing out the garage,
11:26it isn't long before their car and trailer are filled to the brim.
11:30It feels a bit strange now, being back and packing up the last bits and pieces,
11:36but I suppose it's exciting times ahead.
11:40Definitely.
11:44Coming up...
11:45I will take you two rooms and get you settled in.
11:49A Spanish B&B owner launches new summer events.
11:53The aim for the season is to use this busy time as a learning curve.
11:58And as opening day looms...
12:02Could the name of Dave and Emily's new pub put punters off?
12:06We toyed with getting rid of the name.
12:08Crazy Frog, to some French people, is insulting.
12:23When choosing exactly where on the Spanish mainland to relocate to,
12:29many chase the bustle of the costas,
12:31but others are drawn to a very different side of Spain,
12:35like in rural Almería,
12:37where life unfolds at a gentler rhythm.
12:43And after leaving behind life in Leicestershire,
12:47former dog groomer Emma...
12:50I need to sit down there.
12:52..now takes every opportunity she can
12:55to unwind at the tranquil Negratin Reservoir
12:58after realising her childhood dream of moving here.
13:02For me, falling in love with Spain all those years ago,
13:06it's completely delivered on all counts.
13:09So, obviously, the weather just makes life
13:11that little bit more easier and more enjoyable.
13:15It opens up opportunities to be able to have days out
13:18and explore and travel.
13:20It's just amazing.
13:21To sustain this lifestyle, Emma needs her new bed-and-breakfast business
13:26that she's begun running from her traditional cortijo
13:29on the outskirts of the village of Aurea...
13:32This is the room with the most fantastic views.
13:34..to bring in a steady income during her first summer season.
13:39I spent the first ten months renovating
13:42to a point that I was happy with
13:43to open for bed-and-breakfast for guests.
13:47This is the Olivos room.
13:49Every room is named after the local trees on the ground, basically.
13:53Having spent a huge chunk of her savings on the renovations,
13:57she needs her first summer season to be profitable.
14:00Financially, it was the biggest risk I've ever taken
14:03because I put everything into this.
14:05All my assets from the UK has gone towards this project.
14:10The pool didn't exist before I got here.
14:14It looks great.
14:15Going forward through the season,
14:16it would just be great to see more and more guests book in.
14:19I'm determined and I don't give up easily.
14:21As it's a competitive market, though, for B&Bs in Spain,
14:25Emma's master plan is to organise themed events
14:28and retreats to lure in customers.
14:32The aim is to use this busy time as a learning curve, really,
14:36as to where to take the business in the future.
14:38I've got some great reviews, some feedback from guests
14:41that I've had so far.
14:42I just want to create a space that's really fun and lively
14:45and a little bit different.
14:51It's now mid-June,
14:53and after a successful trial of a Greek-themed dinner event last month,
15:00Emma wants to see if her Cortijo's facilities could work just as well
15:05for a more creative activity.
15:07Quite nice with the breeze coming.
15:09It is. Makes all the difference.
15:12Today we have our first art afternoon.
15:15We have Michelle here, who's the art tutor,
15:18who's teaching everybody how to do a canvas painting today.
15:21Everybody will be having an afternoon tea midway through that class.
15:26I did add the option onto the package as to whether people would like to stay over,
15:30and everybody's signed up for that extra part of the package,
15:33so they're all stopping with me this evening
15:34and having a three-course meal, which I'll be cooking as well.
15:37So, yeah.
15:40I have no helpers today.
15:42It's all about prep.
15:43It's all about organisation.
15:45So, yeah, should be fine.
15:48Choosing to work solo today with no staff wages to pay
15:52means Emma's got the opportunity to make even more profit.
15:57OK, we'll take you to your rooms and get you settled in.
16:00And then when you're ready, just come back down, OK?
16:03And while there may only be six guests booked in...
16:06Hopefully you have everything you need, but if you do need anything, just shout.
16:10..it takes a lot to prep all the accommodation and catering.
16:14Plus, there's added pressure to make things special,
16:17as she's just learnt that guest Geoffrey is celebrating his birthday
16:21and hitting an important milestone.
16:24I've officially finished work today.
16:27Oh, really? Yeah.
16:28To work and then draw your pension and celebrate good on course.
16:31Yeah. Perfect.
16:33There seems to be a really good energy,
16:36and everybody seems to be getting on great, which is always a good start.
16:39And we have a member with a birthday today as well,
16:43so they're choosing to come here to celebrate his birthday,
16:46which is great as well.
16:48So, you're very welcome today.
16:50Please don't be nervous.
16:51I've taught a lot of beginners, OK?
16:54And they go out.
16:56They're happy with their artwork, OK?
16:58We're going to be doing it step by step.
17:00If anyone at all needs any help, and I'm waffling on like I am now...
17:06..please say, can you just show me this again?
17:09Michelle's welcomed everybody, settled everybody in, put them at ease,
17:12because there's a few nervous ones that have never done any painting before,
17:15so some definite beginners.
17:17But, yeah, they're all settled in, and I've given them a drink and refreshments,
17:21and they're, yeah, ready to go.
17:24With a full day and evening of hosting ahead...
17:27I want you to study your reference, OK?
17:31Will there be precision in every stroke for Emma's first art retreat?
17:43Meanwhile, across in the Dordogne, it's a far less relaxing atmosphere,
17:48as it's now the day before Emily and Dave relaunch their new pub and restaurant.
17:54Where does your fishing rod live?
17:55It should live with the rest of my fishing stuff upstairs.
17:59And they're continuing to juggle the demands of getting the business ready with childcare.
18:09We've had, like, weather at 30 degrees.
18:11Yeah, it's been hot.
18:12So the kids needed to occupy themselves, so...
18:15..a little paddling pool, and they've had their bikes out.
18:20For some reason, in France, they, erm...
18:23..they go to school infrequently, so they have every Wednesday off.
18:26And we've had about...
18:28..four bank holidays in the month that we've been here.
18:31And next week?
18:32Next week?
18:33Shut on Monday.
18:34Shut on Monday.
18:35Go Tuesday, shut Wednesday, go Thursday, shut Friday.
18:37Shut Friday, because they've got...
18:38Two days.
18:42It doesn't help parents that are trying to, er...
18:45Set up a new business?
18:46Set up a new business.
18:48But as they've advertised that they're reopening the pub tomorrow,
18:52with them now at the helm...
18:55C'est parfait, madame!
18:56Come on, Bert, let's do the lawn.
19:00..they've no option but to soldier on.
19:06Emily's sprucing up the beer garden.
19:09I need to actually remember where all these tables go once I've moved them.
19:13Dave cut the grass, like, two days ago, and now he's making me do it again,
19:16and you can't even tell that I'm doing it.
19:19And Dave on window cleaning duty?
19:22If I fail as a publican, maybe I'll start up a window cleaning company.
19:27While they're making steady progress, the nerves about their new venture remain,
19:32especially over the pub's existing name.
19:38The crazy frog, to some French people, is, erm, insulting.
19:44Because of the frog's legs thing, and the French known to the English as the frogs,
19:50and so we toyed with getting rid of the name.
19:53And we may change the name in the future, but when you come into a village in France,
19:57they've got, like, little signposts that'll say, this way to this place.
20:01Whilst we're called the crazy frog, we can never have a signpost in the village.
20:06So, er, you know, that's kind of something maybe to consider in the future.
20:10We should change the name.
20:13But with so much to pull together for the pub's relaunch,
20:16for now the name is staying.
20:18People know the restaurant, so we decided to keep the name,
20:22but just trying to create a brand, which my sister-in-law did a great job of.
20:27Obviously, our little frog is pretty crazy.
20:30Not many frogs wear a suit and a tie.
20:35We just need to sell lots of beer now,
20:38because the business account's now empty completely.
20:42Feeling the financial pressure, it's important that tomorrow goes well,
20:46and they make a good first impression with the locals.
20:51What do you want to be next?
20:53I don't know, do you want to start getting rid of some of the boxes
20:55with your glassware in from the UK?
20:57Right.
20:58OK, boss.
21:00We both knew who the boss is.
21:02Me, obviously.
21:04Until the pub begins to turn a profit,
21:08that's the outside windows done.
21:10Now for the inside.
21:12Hiring staff to help them isn't an option,
21:14so it's going to be a long night ahead to be ready for tomorrow.
21:20There's cobwebs.
21:24Everywhere.
21:25That spider.
21:27I don't mind doing dirty jobs,
21:29but I've got a real issue with the French spiders.
21:33So if I have to put my hand in somewhere dark,
21:36I just can't do it.
21:37It makes me scream.
21:39Do you know what?
21:40I don't mind the little ones,
21:41but it's when they've got, like, you know, the big bums.
21:44They really freak me out.
21:46You're excited for when the snakes arrive, aren't you?
21:49If I see a snake, I'm going home.
21:52You are home, man.
21:53No, back on a flight to England,
21:54where there's no snakes.
21:57Also working with a centuries-old building
22:01isn't helping them stick to their tight schedule.
22:07It's just super dusty, the walls, like, it crumbles off
22:10and it just gets all over everything.
22:13I'm going to have to clean them every day for the rest of my life
22:17over and over again.
22:21Coming up, as Nigel and Fede get back on Spanish soil...
22:26Hello.
22:27..there are renovation issues ready to greet them.
22:30The window's upside down.
22:34Fire!
22:37And as Emma's art retreat wraps up...
22:40Once you've got a signature on,
22:41it kind of says you're an artist.
22:44Will the results be as pretty as a picture?
22:47They look fantastic.
22:48You wouldn't think we'd been to the same beach.
23:01LAUGHTER
23:01In south-west England,
23:03before returning to their new home in Spain,
23:06there's one final farewell for Nigel and Fede to make.
23:12Just something for you guys to wish you on your new venture together.
23:15It's something nice cold and Spanish.
23:18And it's to the pub they used to run...
23:20..and it's regulars.
23:23Cheers, everybody!
23:24Cheers!
23:26I'm going to miss them, but we will stay friends forever
23:30and I know that we'll always be in contact.
23:34We've seen lots of photographs, lots of videos,
23:36and we are aiming to go out and stay with them, definitely.
23:41Not only are the locals sad to see them go,
23:44but it's a particularly emotional evening for Nigel's mum, Heather.
23:48LAUGHTER
23:49They know what they want to do.
23:51Once they've got something in their head, they'll do it.
23:54Say cheese!
23:55Cheese!
23:57I mean, I know what they're going to do is going to be fantastic,
24:01but...
24:03..yes.
24:05Very emotional.
24:06A good evening with family and friends
24:08and to have so many people turn up and see us
24:11for the one night that we are here,
24:13it's, you know, really grateful, aren't we?
24:15Yeah, so tomorrow morning the journey back starts here at 6am
24:19and, you know, we now need to get back on that ferry
24:23and get back down to Spain and get some work done.
24:31Two and a half weeks later, having returned to Pelopos...
24:37Hello!
24:39With the sun out, Fede's been trying to solve a spiky problem outside.
24:44I have been busy for the last days cutting some cactus
24:50that it has overgrown for, I would say, decades.
24:54So it's a monster, so we are going to get rid of it.
24:58We have removed only one first floor of the cactus,
25:03so it will take a few weeks.
25:06And, unfortunately, we had a casualty.
25:10We lost the wheel, so the next job this week
25:14is to find a cactus-proof wheel,
25:17so we don't have the same problem.
25:20Meanwhile, Nigel, with help from fellow expat
25:23and local tradesman Brian,
25:25is working on replacing two of the original windows.
25:30These are the two new windows that are going in.
25:33They're slightly taller, but they come all as a package,
25:35so they come with the handles and everything.
25:38These are completely rotten.
25:39We couldn't get the exact size, but we got the nearest possible,
25:44so both windows are going to be slightly longer.
25:49But after unpacking the new frames,
25:52they soon spot another issue with their measurements.
25:56So we've realised that the windows,
25:58we knew that they were longer, but they are actually slightly narrow,
26:01so I'm sure Brian can pull something out of his hat.
26:04It's a plopper surprise, as he calls it.
26:09There's always a surprise here.
26:11You'll be working away and there's always something,
26:13something will fall down or, you know,
26:17a plopper surprise.
26:19To avoid the further delay or cost of ordering another new set of windows,
26:25Brian must lower the brickwork
26:30before they can position the frame in place.
26:34Do you want me to let go?
26:37Do you want it outside?
26:40And to fill in the gaps at the sides,
26:42the plan is to use expanding foam.
26:45It looks like marshmallows.
26:48I'm really unsure it's going to hold this window in,
26:50but Brian seems to think it will.
26:53Half an hour later, with another to fit,
26:55it's a process they repeat step by step.
27:00All righty then!
27:01But all isn't quite right as the second window's fixed in place.
27:06The handle's there on that one above.
27:07All right, yeah.
27:09Hang on, the window's upside down.
27:13It's upside down.
27:16Buy it!
27:21Nigel!
27:22I'm blaming you!
27:26Classic.
27:28Absolutely.
27:30Good job we got some more of this anyway.
27:32We were lucky to get it just in time, before it went too far.
27:36Otherwise I would have been there with a blade, trying to cut it all out.
27:41Having narrowly missed another Palopos special,
27:45today's been another stark reminder of the scale of the work ahead
27:49and the challenges of working with a 120-year-old building.
27:54Even though we said we were going to do the majority of ourselves,
27:57sometimes you've got to go back on those words
27:59and, you know, get help to quicken things up.
28:03The thing is, because it's such a big project,
28:05it's difficult to know if we are ahead or not.
28:08We need to push forward and get the outside finished.
28:11By the weekend, we'll have the windows finished
28:14and then hopefully line the painters up for next month.
28:17The sooner the better, really.
28:24Already getting a taste of the challenges of running a B&B,
28:28back at Emma's, it's the morning of her first art retreat.
28:32Are you OK for a glass of water?
28:34Yes.
28:34Yeah.
28:36While local painter Michelle guides the group through an acrylic session,
28:41Emma takes charge of the hosting.
28:43Don't dip your paintbrush in that.
28:46No.
28:47The plan from here on in is let them get stuck in with the class
28:52and in about an hour and a half, we're going to serve the afternoon tea.
28:56Oh, that breeze is lovely.
28:59Have a quick look at mine, just so you know roughly.
29:03Slightly longer lines might be good.
29:05That's too perfect.
29:06How's that going, Leslie?
29:07I don't know.
29:09Can I have a look, darling?
29:11Yeah, nice.
29:11They'll all be completely different, even though we're doing the same reference.
29:15Doing really well.
29:16Keep at it.
29:17It's really interesting to see, actually, and really rewarding to see them sort of getting into it.
29:22It's a very relaxed atmosphere.
29:24They seem to be having a great time.
29:26The location kind of lends itself to that kind of thing, really.
29:29The mountains are really tranquil.
29:31It's a great energy.
29:32I've been taking some photos for social media, get the word out.
29:35And, obviously, the more people that come here and have a great time,
29:38they'll go home and tell their friends about it.
29:40After a productive morning...
29:43How's it looking? I really like it.
29:45Your clients are very unique.
29:47They are unique, aren't they?
29:49It's time to break for lunch.
29:51The grand reveal.
29:54And to tuck into Emma's homemade afternoon tea.
29:57We have the traditional scones with clotted cream and jam,
30:01and a mini coffee and walnut cake.
30:06I thought I was to share.
30:09Can't have anyone going short.
30:16For your birthday.
30:18With everyone refuelled, the afternoon art class gets going.
30:23So, refocus.
30:25Come on, you've done so well.
30:27Afternoon tea was amazing.
30:31I got a few wows and the plates came back empty.
30:34So, I'm really pleased, really happy.
30:37Now, I'm thinking about what people are having for their three-course menu this evening.
30:42Having worked hard to create their coastal sunsets,
30:47after another hour of painting, it's time to add the final detail.
30:52You know, it just kind of...
30:54Once you've got a signature on, it kind of...
30:57It says you're an artist.
30:58It brings it all together.
30:59I couldn't get my surname on there.
31:01Before everyone gathers to present their masterpieces.
31:13Thank you, guys.
31:14Can you please consider a new...
31:16I'm delighted.
31:17Honestly.
31:18The environment is absolutely stunning.
31:19It just lends itself to it.
31:20Yeah, it just makes you feel...
31:22Yeah.
31:22It's lovely.
31:23Yeah, I'll definitely be doing another one.
31:26And more.
31:27I think we look fantastic.
31:28You wouldn't think we'd been to the same beach, would you?
31:31And for teacher Michelle, she hopes this is the start of an ongoing partnership with Emma's business.
31:38The location here, it's perfect for an art day.
31:43It's so mountainous.
31:45You've got so many views that you could just sit and draw and paint.
31:48And it does take your breath away.
31:49I'm hoping I will be asked to come here again.
31:52I've certainly come back.
31:55I think it's an appropriate space and it lends itself to it,
31:59but obviously you don't really know until you've done something like this
32:01and you've got the professionals in to give you some feedback.
32:03But, yeah, Michelle says it's a great space.
32:06So, yeah, there will definitely be more in the future.
32:09To complete the full hospitality package that her guests booked,
32:14after relaxing on the terrace with drinks,
32:16the evening meal is soon to be served.
32:19Starters are almost ready to go out.
32:22While it's been a busy day working solo, it's been successful.
32:28Really nice numbers, actually.
32:30Six to be able to do this on my own.
32:33Obviously, there's prep, there's organisation involved.
32:38But, yeah, it's been pretty manageable, actually.
32:42So, good to know I can do it.
32:47The next morning, following an overnight stay, including breakfast...
32:52Well, thanks a lot, you.
32:55Having come to the end of the art retreat,
32:58her guests are also keen for a return trip.
33:02Yeah, it's been absolutely brilliant.
33:04We've really, really loved it.
33:05The art was lovely.
33:06Emma's hosting was lovely.
33:08It's just such a beautiful place.
33:10Well worth the visit.
33:11The best six-sixth birthday I've ever had.
33:16At €105 per person for the full package,
33:20it's been a good earner for Emma,
33:22but it's only mid-season,
33:24so can she find other ways to bring in new customers?
33:34Coming up, there are problems at the pumps for Dave and Emily.
33:41That's a noisy beer engine, isn't it?
33:43I hope it doesn't make that noise every time we try and serve someone.
33:46We're very new at this.
33:48And in Spain...
33:50Just move whatever you don't need.
33:52Great.
33:54Can Emma's next event help her predict the future of her new business?
33:58I'm hoping to sneak in a tarot reading for myself.
34:02It'll be interesting to see what comes up.
34:17It's early June in south-west France,
34:20and Dave and Emily have been working around the clock
34:23to get their new pub ready for its official opening tomorrow.
34:29It does feel like the end is near.
34:31Well, no, the start is near.
34:33The hard work changes.
34:37You take it off while you put it through.
34:39But they've now just discovered an issue
34:41with one of their new beer pumps.
34:47It's been a lot of hard work cleaning.
34:51That's a noisy beer engine, isn't it?
34:52I hope it doesn't make that noise every time we try and serve someone.
34:58Sounds like you're...
35:01Why does it do that?
35:06Is that beer now?
35:08Yeah.
35:10It needs to not be quite as noisy as that, doesn't it?
35:13We're very new at this.
35:15Don't know what we're doing.
35:16Along with a new range of ales...
35:21The pair have advertised that their opening event will also have live music in the beer garden and a taster
35:29curry menu,
35:30which they now need to begin prepping in their freshly cleaned commercial kitchen.
35:39Having to clean it how we've cleaned it now means that we understand how it works as well, which is
35:44really good.
35:45It's just ugly, isn't it, cos it's commercial?
35:47It's just a commercial kitchen, isn't it?
35:49Everything's massive and scary.
35:50Everything works really well, doesn't it?
35:52I don't know.
35:53I haven't tried.
35:54No.
35:55We'll soon see.
35:56Yeah.
35:57Let's get some chicken prepped.
35:59I thought you wanted to do onions first.
36:01But you said we were doing chicken first.
36:02Yeah, well, what Dave says goes.
36:05The plan is to offer customers the choice of two different curries.
36:10I'll get us something to put on the onion peel.
36:14One recipe developed by Dave and the other by Emily.
36:19I can't cut onions to save my life. I'm terrible.
36:23We've got 24 kilos of chicken to cook.
36:2824?
36:2924 kilos there is in total, I think.
36:31I thought I only had six.
36:35Don't tell me about 24.
36:36Oh, no, sorry. No, I'm lying.
36:38We've got 12 kilos of chicken.
36:4024 kilos of chicken would be a lot, wouldn't it?
36:43I'll need about a week.
36:47We've chosen to give free curries because me and Dave do
36:52very, very different curries.
36:54But we both think...
36:56I think mine's the best, he thinks his is the best.
36:59We're not open as a kitchen store.
37:01We said let's just offer some free samples.
37:04It's a good chance to see what the majority prefer.
37:08Be mine.
37:11Definitely tastes more flavoursome than yours, wouldn't it?
37:15Well... Don't disagree?
37:16I mean, that's insulting.
37:19Dave's curry, you eat it, you just get whacked in the face with spice.
37:23My curry, you eat it and you get whacked in the face with flavour.
37:25What I'd really like is for people just to say we loved them both.
37:30They were both great.
37:32How is it not making you cry?
37:34You need to suck a spoon.
37:36Sucking a spoon?
37:37That's what my grandma used to say, suck a spoon.
37:40We're just really hoping that we get it right, aren't we?
37:44Yeah.
37:45I think people will be forgiving of the fact that it's our opening night.
37:50I think it'll help that it's free.
37:53Yeah.
37:53But it's all a learning curve, so if people don't like it...
37:57Yeah, I mean...
37:58We'll ask them, won't we? We'll find out.
38:00We'll probably put the curries out after eight,
38:03which means that potentially people have been drinking for three hours
38:06and just be starving.
38:06So, you know, they don't actually taste all the flavours,
38:09they just know that they're getting something to eat.
38:11So, what you're saying is you want people to get drunk
38:12so they don't know what they're eating?
38:14Well...
38:14And they all like it. Great!
38:17An hour later, having prepped what they can for their curries,
38:21the school run beckons, so they'll have to finish the prep tomorrow.
38:25We need to stop now anyway, cos we've got to go pick the kids up.
38:28Their opening day nerves rumbling on.
38:32Everybody's coming tomorrow, apparently,
38:34so it's pretty nerve-wracking.
38:37Yeah, yeah.
38:37How many people are we going to have, I don't know.
38:40You know, it could be fifth day, it could be sixth day.
38:44Just hope it's not over 100, because we're going to run out of curry.
38:47We've got everything crossed, so it's going to go really well.
38:51How hard can it be?
39:01Back in the mountains above Aurea, B&B owner Emma
39:05knows exactly how challenging it can be launching a new venture.
39:10As it's now early July, and despite hosting some successful events,
39:16recently business has slowed.
39:19May was bumper, it was great.
39:22And I was just expecting that to sort of grow and grow into June,
39:25and there was a couple of events that didn't sell.
39:27I think one was a craft retreat, one was a pamper day.
39:31June's the first month of really nice weather,
39:34and I think a lot of people go to the coast.
39:36And also there's a lot of local events that go on,
39:38sort of the fiestas and the...
39:42There's a few festivals, music festivals that go on.
39:44Also the factor is now, when we're getting into July and August,
39:47is that it's too hot for people.
39:50So they just want to sit and do nothing, and I get that.
39:56With that in mind, the next event Emma's planning
39:59will allow her guests to do just that.
40:02We're welcoming six guests, three lots of two.
40:07All new guests, never been visited before,
40:09and we're going to have a tapas and tarot afternoon here today.
40:13It'll be interesting to see how it hits with people.
40:16But, yeah, I'm more excited than nervous, actually.
40:19Having paired up with tarot card reader Dawn...
40:22Just move whatever you don't need.
40:26Yep. Yeah.
40:27Great.
40:29As she gets set up for the readings on a private terrace...
40:34Just a bit windy.
40:36Don't normally have this problem.
40:38We'll get by. We'll sort it.
40:40Emma is busy making the tapas, working solo again in the kitchen.
40:46The thing is, with tapas, is it's lots of small dishes.
40:51There's more detailed prep.
40:53And with hot tapas, it's, you know, getting it all out on time,
40:57making sure it's hot for people when it reaches the plate, you know.
40:59So, I'm hoping that the food goes down well, that they enjoy the terraces.
41:05And I'm hoping to sneak in a tarot reading for myself.
41:09It'll be interesting to see what comes up.
41:13With the tapas coming along...
41:162, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 3 each.
41:2145 minutes ahead of the event's start time...
41:26..four of Emma's guests have already arrived.
41:29Hi! How are you doing?
41:31Hey!
41:31I've not changed yet, so excuse my scruffs.
41:35And as she gets them settled on the terrace...
41:38Here, do you want to be a bit more in a shade?
41:40Yeah, that's fine.
41:41Emma must now juggle cooking and hosting.
41:46Just could have done with an extra half an hour to get things organised.
41:52Hey-ho.
41:52It's what it is.
41:55Pressure's good.
41:57Keeps you on your toes.
41:59Her guests have each paid €30 per person for a tarot reading and tapas.
42:05And half an hour later, with her final guests having now arrived,
42:10it's time for Emma to serve up as the event gets underway.
42:16There we go, guys.
42:18Holy smokes!
42:21That looks so good!
42:23The afternoon seeing, everyone took into tapas
42:27and taking it in turns for a reading with Dawn.
42:31Don't overthink, just go with the first three cards
42:34and just give it to me face down, don't turn them over.
42:37Some having experienced it before and others being first-timers.
42:43I'm very interested in tarot readings and I thought it would be a nice opportunity to have a chill-out
42:48with a good friend.
42:50I'm actually a tarot virgin.
42:54I'm a bit sceptical about it all.
42:56We'll see what the day brings.
42:58Lovely, lovely to meet you.
42:59All right, lovely to meet you.
43:01The food's been excellent.
43:03I would highly recommend it.
43:04If you're looking for a place of serenity, it's here.
43:08Definitely.
43:09The only slight disruption to the calm that tarot reader Dawn didn't see coming...
43:15Oh!
43:17There's another one gone up there.
43:19..is from Mother Nature herself.
43:22Ah, here you go then. So you're meant to have that card as well.
43:26All right, what's this one?
43:30It's appreciation.
43:32With everyone leaving with a sense of enlightenment and full bellies from Emma's tapas...
43:38All right, take care. Bye-bye.
43:40..all that's left to do is find out what the cards say about the rest of Emma's first season.
43:48Be patient.
43:49Not got any.
43:50Not got any. This is what he's saying.
43:52You're seeing what it is you want, but you want to be at that other side.
43:56Yeah, yeah.
43:56It's the journey that you have to experience.
44:00I'm my own worst enemy. Is that what you're saying, Dawn?
44:03Oh, shock horror.
44:04It does make sense.
44:06Yeah.
44:07It's very good news. It says that everything's there for the taking.
44:11There's going to be abundance, but I just need to take a bit of time for myself and be patient.
44:15I promise her that I'll work on it, definitely.
44:22Next time...
44:23Really nervous. Don't know if we've done everything. Don't know if we've got everything.
44:28It's first orders at Emily and Dave's new pub.
44:31I don't know if I'm coming, if I'm going, what I'm serving.
44:34In Spain, big change is afoot for Emma.
44:38Well, I hope that's everything, because there ain't no coming back.
44:45And have Nigel and Fede's B&B renovations...
44:49Nice to meet you.
44:52..hit a sticking point.
44:54Fingers crossed, it's right, otherwise we'd be taking it back down.
44:58Ha ha ha ha.
44:59Ha ha ha!
Comments