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A New Life in the Sun - Season 11 - Episode 16
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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've put everything in.
00:19All 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...
00:27Service!
00:28..and pubs in France...
00:30We're very new at this.
00:31Wow.
00:32Good job the wine is cheap.
00:34..to wellness retreats and holiday parks in Bulgaria.
00:38It's not big enough.
00:39We measured it. I don't understand.
00:41It's a journey into the unknown.
00:44Whoa.
00:44That's cool.
00:46Boo!
00:47But we're joining them for the ride.
00:51As they tee off...
00:52Oh!
00:53..their new lives in the sun.
00:55I just walk around with a smile on my face all the time.
00:57This one's ever!
01:00Today in Spain...
01:02Just look at the gunge coming out of that.
01:05..dream project or house of horrors.
01:08Two publicans put everything on the line
01:11as they expand their hospitality empire.
01:14Quite run down, isn't it?
01:15Yeah.
01:15It needs a lot of work.
01:18Riding off into the sunset...
01:20I've given up an office life in the UK for,
01:23well, this is my office here in Spain.
01:25..but will a Bristol family's biker tours take off?
01:28It's expensive.
01:28We've run out of money.
01:30We're emotionally drained.
01:32But we're cautiously optimistic.
01:33And in Bulgaria, it's a marathon, not a sprint,
01:37for a Dumfries couple.
01:38There's two done.
01:40Only another 98 to go.
01:42..as the future of their holiday village hangs on expansion.
01:46What's at stake is everything.
01:57Spain's Costa del Sol remains the number one choice
02:01for Brits choosing to make the move to sunnier shores.
02:06Here in Benal Madena,
02:08almost 5% of the population are Brits,
02:11and it was the perfect fit for Adam and his Spanish wife, Ali.
02:15Let me put the umbrella in, Al.
02:16Yeah.
02:17When they chose to swap Lancaster for the Costa in 2022.
02:22We're currently looking at 28 degrees
02:26towards the end of November.
02:28We get this amazing weather all year round.
02:29So, no, not missing the UK weather, but loving it here.
02:34The couple set up a bar overlooking the beach.
02:37I am under a tad amount of pressure here now.
02:41All of a sudden, everybody arrived at the same time,
02:42and that's a lot of fresh cocktails to make.
02:46But soon found themselves struggling to keep up with their success.
02:50Every day we do about, roughly, up about 18 hours.
02:54We get about five hours sleep a night.
02:56My initial target was 300 euros a day.
03:00We're now up to 1,000 euros a day.
03:04We are up to 1,000 euros a day.
03:04Into their second season, the business continued to boom,
03:08and despite working flat out everyday,
03:10the couple never lost sight of their dream.
03:13Every night when I just turn around, I never get tired of that view,
03:17you know, boats going past.
03:18It's why we're here, why we're in this location, but our view.
03:26Almost three years since we first met them,
03:29Adam and Ali are about to put everything they've built on the line.
03:32It's just incredible, isn't it?
03:34They're handing more responsibility to bar manager Meg's
03:38and opening a second bar in the heart of town.
03:41It's been around for about 40 years.
03:43Quite run down, isn't it? Yeah.
03:45It needs a lot of work.
03:47The couple just bought the lease to this former show bar for €20,000.
03:53They want to create a stage for live acts, from drag to disco.
03:59But the bar needs more than just a little TLC.
04:04We are throwing everything we have into these projects.
04:07It needs a lot of money spending on it.
04:09And we literally are putting everything into it.
04:13But, yeah, we've made the decision to just go for it
04:17and do it properly and put everything into it.
04:22It's November, and after seven long months,
04:25the tourist season in Ben al-Madunah is winding down.
04:29Our last day of the season.
04:31It's towards the end of November.
04:33It's starting to quieten off.
04:35We've had a ridiculously good year, but we're tired.
04:41Closing during winter months isn't unusual in resorts like Ben al-Madunah.
04:46But when the shutters come down on their beachside bar,
04:49work will begin at their second location.
04:52And the hard work starts tomorrow.
04:55Tomorrow.
04:56It's the next step of our journey out here,
04:59which is going to give us...
05:01It doesn't sound like it,
05:02but it's going to give us a better work-life balance.
05:05That's what he says.
05:07We say.
05:09Even in November, there's a steady stream of customers
05:12lining up for Adam and Ali's signature cocktails.
05:16It's the best porn star martini ever.
05:19It's amazing.
05:20And they've decided it's time to drum up some excitement
05:23about their new venture on social media.
05:29We are now the very proud owners
05:31of the old Bonanza bar up near Bonanza Square.
05:34The name is going to be changing
05:36and that's all going to be revealed very, very shortly.
05:39Adios.
05:42And now it's official.
05:43It's like a bit of a weight off our shoulders, as we know.
05:45And it's official.
05:46We're letting everybody know.
05:47And now it's full steam ahead.
05:50As the sun heads for the horizon,
05:53the tables are thinning out
05:55and the end of a long year is in sight.
05:58And we are done.
06:01Say dizzy.
06:02Dizzy.
06:06Turning kitchen equipment off for this year.
06:08That's all the fryers off.
06:10Oven off.
06:11I'm off now.
06:14Tomorrow, three months of hard graft
06:17to bring their new venue up to scratch begins.
06:20Cheers, guys. Thank you.
06:21Thank you very much.
06:23And though it could signal a fresh chapter
06:25in their Spanish dream,
06:27they know this season could be boom or bust.
06:39But not all Brits relocate for endless sunshine.
06:43At the heart of the Laobana Valley in the Cantabria region
06:47lies the medieval town of Potes.
06:50With its old stone buildings and timber-framed houses,
06:54it's a place where old-world traditions meet mountain adventure.
06:58The perfect base for nature lovers
07:01to explore the Picos de Europa National Park.
07:08Like Greg and Daisy from Bristol.
07:11Phenomenal. Gracias.
07:13Muy bien. Muy bien. Gracias.
07:16In this valley, you have to come through a gorge just to get here.
07:20And we're surrounded on all sides by beautiful mountains.
07:22And it's a walkers and bikers' paradise.
07:26It's just a wonderful place to be.
07:27When they first visited 14 years ago,
07:30the couple instantly fell for the charm of this lesser-known region.
07:35We came out here in a camper van, didn't we?
07:37With the mountain bikes and a couple of surfboards.
07:39And we just did about a month just touring the north of Spain.
07:44Yeah, we absolutely loved it as soon as we got here.
07:46It's just stunning.
07:47And, you know, you're only an hour away from amazing coastline,
07:51so we went surfing in the afternoon and mountain biking in the morning.
07:55Not many places you can do that.
07:57After spending their honeymoon in Potes,
07:59Greg and Daisy started to see a future here for their family.
08:04Oh, that's lovely. That's great, isn't it?
08:06Yeah.
08:06We love Bristol, but we always had itchy feet, I think.
08:09That's safe to say, isn't it?
08:10Yeah.
08:11And we were talking about, could we find a way to move out here?
08:14We thought, well, let's get some bikes,
08:16let's start doing some tours out here.
08:17We love motorcycles, and this place is just asking for it, isn't it?
08:21It'll be great, because you do get a lot of motorcyclists here,
08:24but there's nowhere to rent bikes, there's nowhere to do tours.
08:27So, yeah, that was the idea and the dream behind that.
08:30Yeah.
08:31The couple took the leap and moved here with their children,
08:34Ben and Lucy, just before the pandemic.
08:37What do you think, Benny?
08:39As a base for their new motorcycle tours business,
08:42they bought a four-bedroom farmhouse,
08:44plus a ruin ripe for development, for €180,000.
08:50Biologist Daisy still works remotely,
08:53but software engineer Greg quit his job to focus on their new venture.
08:58Do you like the views?
09:00Yeah, it's cool.
09:00It's cool, isn't it?
09:03How much are we throwing into this?
09:05Financially and emotionally.
09:07Quite a lot.
09:08A lot.
09:09All of it?
09:10All of it.
09:10All of it.
09:11And then some?
09:12And then a bit more.
09:14To boost their income,
09:16the couple are also converting part of their house
09:18into a one-bedroom rental apartment.
09:21So, by the end of the summer,
09:22hopefully we'll have a few tours done,
09:25we'll have the accommodation rented out a few times,
09:28and hopefully we'll have...
09:29Loads of money!
09:33That's not going to happen.
09:35That's our little village down there.
09:37Can you see Lucy?
09:37Yeah!
09:38Now their future life in Spain
09:40rides on the success of their tours and holiday rental.
09:44It's hard work.
09:45It's hard work.
09:46We've run out of money.
09:47We're emotionally trained.
09:49But we're cautiously optimistic.
09:51Are we?
09:52No.
09:53No, of course we are.
09:54We wouldn't be here otherwise, would we?
09:55That's true.
09:58It's February.
10:00And before they can start offering tours,
10:02Greg and Daisy need a group insurance policy.
10:06While they wait for that,
10:07they're finishing their rental apartment.
10:11So in here we've got the...
10:12It's sort of an open plan,
10:14kitchen, sort of dining room, living space.
10:17In order to save on funds,
10:19Greg has done much of the work himself.
10:22Before we moved out here,
10:24I learnt some of the basics,
10:25basic sort of carpentry,
10:27a little bit about plumbing,
10:28a little bit about electrics,
10:29and that really helped us
10:31when it came to putting this together.
10:33Through here we've got a nice little bathroom area.
10:38And then this is the bedroom.
10:40You've got the views sort of down into the valley
10:42from the bedroom.
10:43So it's actually a really nice place to wake up.
10:46So far, the renovations have cost 20,000 euros,
10:49but the investment means
10:51they can offer biker breaks as well as tours.
10:54We've got the motorcycle business getting up and running.
10:57Hopefully we'll get people coming out
10:58and, for example, spending a long weekend with us.
11:02But before they can host paying guests,
11:04the apartment will also need to be legally signed off.
11:08It's like a checklist of things
11:09that all properties in this municipality in Spain
11:13have to have in order to get the licence for renting out.
11:16Once we've made this apartment all official,
11:19we can start having people come and stay with us.
11:21And we're ready to crack on.
11:29In north-eastern Bulgaria,
11:31just 80 minutes from the popular Black Sea resorts,
11:34is the village of Lissivra.
11:38Tucked away on a hillside with only around 50 inhabitants,
11:42it's not the sort of place you'd expect
11:44to find a pair of enterprising expats.
11:47Oh, Trix, it's going to be a hot day, actually.
11:50Yeah.
11:51Feels hot already.
11:52And here's the bees.
11:54I wonder how much honey they've made this year.
11:55Yeah.
11:56But when they decided to swap Scotland for sunnier climbs...
12:00Come on, Trix.
12:01This serene rural setting was exactly what Dumfries couple
12:06Tracy and John had always dreamt of.
12:08The way of life here is much slower.
12:11Yeah.
12:12It's got the nature, the fresh air,
12:15less traffic, less people,
12:19and as long as you are the sort of person that...
12:23Likes an adventure.
12:24Likes an adventure,
12:26then you will absolutely love Bulgaria.
12:30Their Bulgarian adventure began with the purchase of a holiday home.
12:34But after falling in love with the area,
12:36before Britain left the EU,
12:38they moved here permanently
12:40and turned their home into a business.
12:44We've got a bar, a village shop,
12:46the cafe, the campsite,
12:48the B&B rooms, the pool,
12:50and were developing all the time.
12:53Running a collection of businesses
12:55is a big change from their former careers.
12:59John was a welder
13:00and Tracy an NHS nurse.
13:03Working together
13:04is sometimes very difficult
13:08because, obviously,
13:09we're two individuals with our own opinions
13:11and usually they clash terribly, don't they?
13:14Tracy's boss with that, yeah.
13:16No, I'm not.
13:18I'm not the boss.
13:19But I do have the best ideas.
13:24The couple were forced to diversify
13:26as their accommodation is so remote
13:28that passing trade is limited.
13:31And to keep their dream alive,
13:33every year the pressure is on
13:34to improve their bottom line.
13:37What's at stake is everything.
13:39We've done it bit by bit, haven't we?
13:41Yeah.
13:41You know, we've earned a bit of money,
13:43we've spent some money.
13:44So, yeah, we've never kept a record.
13:47And I think psychologically
13:48that's a good thing.
13:52It's April
13:53and Tracy and John's holiday complex is quiet.
13:58During the off-season,
13:59the couple rely on everything
14:01but their accommodation
14:02to make ends meet.
14:05This is the shop, the bar and the cafe.
14:08It's sort of an all-round area.
14:11Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings,
14:14it's open to the village
14:15as the village shop and cafe.
14:18And then Saturday nights,
14:20it's open as the bar
14:21and we do snacks,
14:24chips and Pileski Hapki,
14:26which is chicken nuggets.
14:27We needed this area
14:30so we could have a campsite.
14:32To have a beer licence and spirit licence,
14:35you needed a bar.
14:37To have the bar and the campsite,
14:40you needed a reception.
14:41So we built all of this into one thing.
14:47The shop, bar and restaurant
14:49don't bring in a lot of cash,
14:51so Tracy and John
14:53are always expanding their offering.
14:55This year,
14:56they're looking to turn
14:57an unused space above the shop
14:59into a two-bedroom holiday apartment.
15:03In we come.
15:05They've got a nice bright yellow door.
15:09We thought it was fearful.
15:12After working hard over the winter,
15:14they're pleased with the progress so far.
15:17The kitchen is finished,
15:18even though it's full of tools.
15:20Just the floor needs tiling.
15:23Last week, I was tiling in the bedroom.
15:25I've started tiling the floor
15:27in the sitting room,
15:28but as you can see,
15:29everything is a work in progress.
15:32Yeah.
15:33This is going to be one of the bedrooms.
15:35I hope you like the colour.
15:39The en suite Jack and Jill bathroom
15:41is almost complete.
15:43All the hot water's in,
15:45everything,
15:45this bathroom's all finished,
15:46all the drains,
15:47everything.
15:48All we've got to do
15:49is put the shower screen up.
15:51And then that's it complete,
15:52really, in here.
15:54The plumbing is all John's handiwork.
15:58Yeah, it works!
15:59Yay!
16:00And this is hot water
16:01that is heated by the sun.
16:03We've got the solar water heater here.
16:06We've got solar panels on the roof
16:08and the boilers here,
16:09so we're going to build a cupboard there,
16:11and this is going to be
16:12the second bedroom.
16:14To survive the quiet winter months,
16:17Tracey and John need to make the most
16:19of the summer season.
16:21Now it's a race against time
16:23to finish off the apartment
16:24and start taking bookings.
16:27Well, it's April now.
16:29Maximum of six weeks.
16:31Yeah, six weeks' time.
16:34If anybody wants to come and stay here,
16:36it'll be ready for guests.
16:42Coming up...
16:43Oh, my God, there is things moving in there.
16:45..a rude awakening for Adam and Ali.
16:47In the 30 years in hospitality,
16:49I've come across some dirty bars before
16:51and some insect problems,
16:53but this is just another level.
16:55And for Greg and Daisy...
16:57We're close to €25,000 in for the bikes.
17:01We really need to start getting
17:03some paying guests in.
17:13Back in northern Spain...
17:15Just watch your fingers in case it all moves.
17:18Greg and Daisy are laying the foundations
17:20for their new motorcycle tours business.
17:23They want to appeal to families
17:25as well as solo riders,
17:26so they're making a new addition
17:28to their garden.
17:30We're building a little playhouse
17:32for guests, for kids,
17:33when they come and stay.
17:33So we've got a little slide.
17:35We can do some little swings
17:36and things there as well.
17:38So we need to work out
17:39what's the height for a kid,
17:41for a rainy.
17:43The couple are currently living
17:44on Daisy's remote working salary,
17:47so they've recruited some free help.
17:49We've got Elena and Bart with us.
17:51They're workaways,
17:52so basically they're coming to help us out
17:54and we give them food and boards
17:58and they help us out
17:59for a few hours each day.
18:00It's a nice way for workaways
18:03to sort of travel around an area.
18:05When we cut this hole out,
18:07the post should just go straight in.
18:10Here?
18:11Yeah.
18:12You sound about as convinced as I do.
18:14All right, shall we give it a go?
18:17Around one quarter of all British holidaymakers
18:20visiting Spain are family groups.
18:24Well, that's perfect, I think.
18:28Does it fit?
18:29So Greg knows that appealing to this market
18:32is essential.
18:33Not quite.
18:35Let me go and get the persuader.
18:38It's just a hammer, isn't it?
18:39I'll call it the persuader.
18:45Want a little bit more?
18:46A little bit.
18:46A little bit more?
18:47Yeah.
18:50Maybe one more.
18:51Maybe one.
18:53Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
18:54That's it, that's it, that's it.
18:55Perfect.
18:56See how far off we are.
18:58Look at that.
19:00Spot on.
19:02Spot on.
19:06Elena and Bob, they've been fantastic.
19:08The job that would have taken me three weeks,
19:10it's been a week.
19:11And it's really nice having people here.
19:12It's, it's a, it sort of gives you a feel of what it might be like when we start getting
19:16clients, you know, showing them the reasons we love this place so much.
19:21During their five-week stay, Elena and Bart are test-driving Greg and Daisy's new rental
19:27apartment.
19:29The apartment is great, actually.
19:31It has everything we need.
19:33It's nice, cozy.
19:35We do work away quite often.
19:37We did it four times last year.
19:39It's one of the best so far.
19:41Definitely.
19:41Yeah, they're really kind.
19:43The work we have to do is really fun.
19:47And the environment here, it's amazing.
19:49We really love it here.
19:50And their visitors are also sold on the couple's business plans.
19:54I think the motorbikes will definitely work, yeah.
19:57It's a great, adventurous area.
20:00Yeah.
20:01They are, they know what they are doing.
20:04Many hands make light work, and the play area is another task crossed off the job sheet.
20:11Lovely.
20:12Nice and solid.
20:14Nice one.
20:15Thanks, mate.
20:15A really good day's work.
20:17Bringing Greg and Daisy one step closer to opening for business.
20:21We've got the bannisters up.
20:22We've got the ladder up.
20:23We're on the final straight now, I think.
20:26But Greg's next job is a tougher one.
20:29Marks, get set, go.
20:32Well done, Lucy.
20:34Oh, more?
20:36You want to go again?
20:37Get up on them.
20:37Their motorbikes have been in storage for several years.
20:41Now it's down to Greg to get them up and running.
20:44It's an exciting time.
20:46We're really, yeah, we're sort of right on that edge now where we can sort of feel things happening.
20:51It's all coming together.
21:02Back in Benal Madina.
21:04The glass wash.
21:06Oh, my God, there is things moving in there.
21:09OK, that's going.
21:10Publicans Adam and Ali have given themselves three months to renovate and launch a new show bar.
21:17And the hard graft starts today.
21:19It's in a very, very poor state, especially hygiene-wise, safety-wise.
21:25Everything-wise.
21:26Everything-wise.
21:26But I'm just super excited about being able to put our own stamp on this.
21:30To help with major structural work, Adam and Ali's son, Brogan, will soon be arriving from the UK.
21:36They've also enlisted the help of some of their bar staff, like barman Dylan.
21:41Dylan, 50 rubble sacks there.
21:43Who has been tasked with removing a blanket of sand covering the bar terrace.
21:47I just can't wait to see this area transformed.
21:50While Dylan gets his hands dirty...
21:53Tomorrow? Yeah, that'd be great.
21:54...bar manager Megs is hitting the phones to find acts to perform in the venue once it's ready.
22:00Can't wait to meet you properly.
22:02The bar is in a state of disrepair and there are nasty surprises lurking around every corner.
22:12It's a cockroach.
22:19What's going on?
22:22There's a cockroach.
22:26Do you get it, Al?
22:27Yeah.
22:30Everything just needs to be not just clean.
22:34It's going to be full of clean disinfectant.
22:38We're not having here cockroaches.
22:40Adam, before he found something in the dishwasher, we're going to need a fumigating.
22:45Can I get past you, please?
22:46There's people working here.
22:52Outside, Dylan is also struggling to dig up the beach terrace.
22:56My big problem right now is the bags aren't wide enough so they're not keeping themselves open.
23:03It's slowing me down.
23:08Don't overfill it because I'll never move it.
23:15When they're done, just pop them here.
23:18The bar equipment is also in a state of disrepair and needs to be replaced.
23:26Starting with the beer pumps.
23:28I'm so tentative at me, the touch.
23:31They said just cut through all the lines.
23:33Is that right, Ali?
23:34Yeah.
23:35Adam's been told the pumps are already disconnected,
23:37so he should be able to cut through the old lines.
23:45It's not connected to any beer.
23:47There's no gas on.
23:48But it quickly becomes clear
23:51that the lines aren't quite as expected.
23:55Yeah, it looks like it was connected.
23:57There's an engineer here yesterday.
23:59This wasn't his stuff.
24:00He just said just cut through the lines if you just want to get it out.
24:05Yes.
24:06How's that?
24:06Oh.
24:06I dreaded to think what was behind this.
24:10Next job, two heavy coolers still filled with water.
24:15Just look at the gunge coming out of that.
24:18It is just revolting.
24:21The floor is alive.
24:24By moving the cooler,
24:26Adam's disturbed a whole host of cockroaches
24:29drawn to the damp conditions around the pipework.
24:32Well, it ain't rats.
24:35The smaller ones are a bad sign,
24:38as it usually means there's a nest nearby.
24:41Oh, God.
24:43And the problems just keep coming.
24:47Oh, God, we've got a leak here as well.
24:50The engineer said, just cut the pipes.
24:53It'll be all right.
24:53Don't worry.
24:54And then we'll come and collect all the stuff.
24:58In the 30 years in hospitality,
24:59I've come across some dirty bars before
25:01and some insect problems,
25:03but this is just another level.
25:06Oh, of course.
25:08Of course the sink isn't plumbed in.
25:11Why would I think the sink would be plumbed in?
25:13Ah, it's just come out of the pipe.
25:15You know what?
25:16It won't hurt having a bit of water on this floor, will it?
25:18It's just disgusting.
25:21Ali, do you want to help?
25:22No.
25:23You sure?
25:24No, thank you.
25:25It's lots of friends here, Ali.
25:27But with every move, the water keeps flowing.
25:31I don't really know what I'm doing 100% here.
25:33I'm just having to wing it a little bit,
25:35but I need to do it.
25:37I need to get them out.
25:39As much water and as many creepy crawlies that come out,
25:43it needs to be done.
25:44Simple as that.
25:45What should have been a simple task
25:47is fast turning into a huge headache.
25:53That goes...
25:53Where does that go?
25:59Coming up,
26:01buyer's remorse for Tracey and John.
26:03Uh-oh, here's the bus.
26:05Oh, yes.
26:06I'm in trouble now.
26:08Ooh, it looks quite dark, doesn't it?
26:11Oh, it's on there now.
26:13And the horrors just keep coming.
26:15Oh, this smell.
26:17Oh, my God.
26:18For Adam and Ali.
26:19This is more like our new life in the swamp.
26:29Back in Bulgaria, it's April,
26:32and Tracey and John are running out of time
26:34to finish their newest holiday accommodation
26:36in time for the peak tourist season.
26:40Every aspect of the apartment is currently half-finished,
26:44but they want it ready for guests in just six weeks.
26:48Today, John's tiling the bedroom.
26:50We have chosen a lovely chocolate colour.
26:57I think it's because Tracey likes chocolate.
27:01A previous life as a welder
27:04was no preparation for John's semi-retirement as a renovator.
27:09This is a really old drill.
27:11They don't make any more.
27:12It's three speed.
27:14Oh, too fast.
27:18But he's learning on the job.
27:21And I think through my enthusiasm, I put too much water in.
27:25As well as holiday accommodation,
27:27the couple also run the only shop and bar in the village.
27:32Put them there.
27:33During the winter, the shop doesn't turn a profit,
27:36but it's become a lifeline for village locals.
27:39This is the local cheese.
27:41It's only made three kilometres away,
27:44and it's like a feta cheese, and it's called syrini.
27:47This is a lutenitsa.
27:52A lot of people home make it,
27:54and it's from tomatoes and herbs and onions and peppers.
27:58We've got uvka,
28:01which is little bits of pastry,
28:04and they make cakes out of it and other things.
28:09When their campsite and holiday apartments
28:11begin to fill up in the summer,
28:13the shop will turn a healthy profit.
28:16And upstairs, John is working hard
28:18to expand their accommodation offering.
28:21Uh-oh, here's the bus.
28:23Oh, yes.
28:24I'm in trouble now.
28:25Ooh, it looks quite dark, doesn't it?
28:28No, it's on there now.
28:30You can do some, and I'll start washing off.
28:33Okey-dokey.
28:34They've adjusted well to being colleagues
28:37as well as a couple.
28:38There's two done.
28:40Only another 98 to go.
28:42But not without the odd hiccup.
28:45He's been a bit too bossy,
28:49and starts with the...
28:52..and I just walk off.
28:54I go on strike.
28:56I never say...
28:57Yes, you do.
28:59And he gets too bossy, so I think, right?
29:02But it doesn't happen often, but obviously...
29:06Normally once a day.
29:08We're both human.
29:09LAUGHTER
29:14One room tiled, one to go.
29:18Next on the list is the living space.
29:21I always think it's tiling
29:24as a wet weather job.
29:28But here in Bulgaria,
29:30we get a lot more sunny days
29:32than we do in wet days.
29:34So quite often you have to work inside
29:36even when it's a lovely sunny day outside.
29:40So there we go, first tile of the day.
29:45Let's hope...
29:46Yeah, that feels pretty good.
29:49How are you getting on?
29:50Good.
29:51OK.
29:53With the summer season fast approaching,
29:56Tracey and John are pushing
29:57to get this apartment finished and booked.
30:00We did have a few people last year
30:03that were interested in it,
30:04so I'll send them a message
30:06and say it's all ready to go, you know.
30:10There is friends as well
30:13that might want to come and test it for us.
30:16I don't know.
30:18We'll...
30:19I'd rather it was paying guests.
30:21LAUGHTER
30:24But with just six weeks until their deadline,
30:27there's still a lot left to do.
30:36Back on the Costa del Sol...
30:38It's so wet and dirty.
30:41Adam and Ali's new bar renovation
30:43has got off to a bumpy start.
30:46This is incredibly heavy
30:47and mostly because of the water that's inside it.
30:50And I'm thinking to use the truck over there
30:52with Dylan's help.
30:57Let's go, let's go.
30:59Adam needs to remove the old beer pumps and coolers.
31:02That's a lot of water.
31:04But it's turning into a more messy job than expected.
31:07It's a lot lighter now.
31:12No, I think I prefer just serving people food and drinks
31:14rather than doing this.
31:16One cooler down, one to go.
31:22That's a start.
31:25We'll get that down the toilet, I think.
31:28This is more like our new life in the swamp.
31:30That's what it feels like underfoot.
31:32But give me half an hour
31:33and we'll try and change that.
31:36And with the second cooler successfully out of the way,
31:40Adam can make some headway behind the bar.
31:44Do you want a pair of glasses, Ali?
31:45No, gracias.
31:46There's a pair of flashing glasses here.
31:49Inside is just crawling with cockroaches.
31:52All inside a pair of flashing glasses.
31:55Look at those, aren't they cool?
31:57Cockroaches are having their own disco.
32:02Oh, there's smell.
32:03Oh, my God.
32:05Oh, dearie me.
32:06It's just rancid.
32:07A big part of the smell and the problem in this place
32:10is what's been going on underneath the bar here
32:11with all the moisture.
32:13So it's out with the smelly matting
32:16and down with a chemical treatment
32:18to kill off any remaining bugs.
32:21I seriously think, Ali,
32:22we're going to have to jet wash this.
32:25Adam is finally making headway.
32:27Megsy, give us an update.
32:29As is bar manager Megs,
32:31who's been speaking to local music acts
32:34ahead of the bar launch in three months' time.
32:38So you've booked Tony in for Tuesdays.
32:40Tuesdays, yeah.
32:41And then this is what's going to happen on the following Tuesday.
32:44So it'll be a Frankie Valli tribute.
32:47Yeah.
32:48A diva show.
32:49And then these two artists form a duo
32:52to make The Greatest Show,
32:53which is a form of Broadway,
32:55sorted like The Greatest Showman.
32:57Now we can start to see it take shape.
32:59We can start to see the bar take shape,
33:01the terrace take shape.
33:02You can start to see the show take shape.
33:06Exciting times.
33:10Outside, barman Dylan is not having as much luck
33:14with his efforts to clear a layer of sand off the bar terrace.
33:18It rained this morning,
33:20so the whole top layer of all the sand's gone quite hard.
33:23I'm not giving up now.
33:25Yeah, I guess he has.
33:27It's already starting to...
33:29You're starting to see what's underneath,
33:30and I just can't wait to get this completely clear.
33:32And jet-washed.
33:34Whatever it looks like underneath,
33:35it's going to look better than all this,
33:37this stuff they put on top, so...
33:39Who in their right mind does this to a lovely terrace?
33:43I just don't get it.
33:45It's looking better than I thought it would.
33:46And we haven't even got a quarter of it off yet.
33:50Add some plants in, some greenery.
33:51It's a really nice...
33:52It's a really nice place to come and have a drink in the afternoon
33:54because it's very peaceful here.
33:57All the tables and chairs are going to come quite soon for it,
33:59and that's going to lift it again,
34:01add some more plants in,
34:02and then we'll see where that takes us.
34:05We're going to order another 50 rubble sacks
34:06because clearly 50 is not going to be enough.
34:09We all thought we'd ordered too many,
34:11and 50's probably going to do half.
34:13That'll look really good to start off with,
34:15and then another day we'll do the other half here.
34:18Getting this bar the way they want it won't happen overnight.
34:22It's not my expertise to take this off.
34:26I could just watch this for hours.
34:27By watching the sea, yeah?
34:29The waves.
34:30I'm prepared to watch the sea and the waves.
34:31Is it as rewarding for you as it is for me, Ali?
34:34Yeah.
34:35Because I can see the end,
34:37and I'm not leaving to the end until this is done.
34:38Although there have been no more surprises behind the wallpaper,
34:43Ali isn't taking any chances.
34:46It's no muff, man.
34:47Even so, I don't want to even think what you have of me.
34:57It's been a very rewarding day.
34:58You can see light at the end of the tunnel.
35:01If we've done this in one day,
35:02what we can achieve with the muscle coming next week as well.
35:05Yeah.
35:06Adam and Ali knew this bar wasn't a turnkey business,
35:10but nothing could have prepared them for the scale of the task ahead.
35:15We're not going to fly through this.
35:16It's going to still be a bit of an emotional rollercoaster.
35:19I'm looking forward to it.
35:20Yeah, I can see the light.
35:27Coming up, tight deadlines crank up the pressure on Tracey and John.
35:32You know, sometimes we bite off more than we can chew,
35:35and in those situations, yeah, it can get stressful.
35:40And Greg and Daisy.
35:42So we've got the guys coming in two weeks.
35:45There's some things to fix, and I hope we've got enough parts.
35:50I should probably find that out now.
35:59Back in Cantabria,
36:01Greg and Daisy's new biker business is finally motoring.
36:05All their legal paperwork has now been signed off,
36:09and they've got some exciting news.
36:11We've got our first guests coming in a couple of weeks,
36:14and I need to make sure I've got three motorbikes which are road-ready.
36:18The couple have invested in five motorbikes,
36:21but some have not been ridden since before the COVID pandemic.
36:25The motorbikes, we've probably had them for probably about five years,
36:30but in reality, they've just been sat in the garage because of lockdown,
36:35so we weren't able to use them then.
36:37And then we had two children,
36:38and, of course, that sort of slows things down a bit.
36:41So the motorcycle business went on to the back burner,
36:43so they're going to need a little bit of love
36:45before we take anybody out on them.
36:48Ahead of their guests arriving,
36:50Greg needs to make sure his lockdown bikes are ready for the open road.
36:55Right, today.
36:56Yeah.
36:58Bikes.
36:58OK.
36:59So we've got the guys coming in two weeks.
37:02I need to make sure we've got three working bikes.
37:04So is it him and his wife?
37:05Yes.
37:05So he's experienced.
37:07Yeah.
37:07She's just got her licence, but she mostly just rides a moped.
37:12OK.
37:13There's some things to fix, and I hope we've got enough parts.
37:18You should probably find that out now.
37:20I will.
37:20Maybe today, so that you can order them.
37:22Yeah.
37:24With Daisy still working remotely, Greg is flying solo.
37:28I do know I need to replace a brake pedal on this one.
37:33What else are we going to do?
37:34Erm, I've got a broken clutch lever on...
37:39Which one is it?
37:40On this one here.
37:42Getting hold of the parts in Spain for these bikes is a little more difficult.
37:44And I've only got two weeks to get everything ready for the guests.
37:49And I've got here my handy little winch,
37:51so I can lift the bikes up and work on them.
37:55This upcoming booking is the perfect opportunity for Greg and Daisy
37:59to showcase their tours to their target market.
38:03So we've got an English couple, but they do live in Spain.
38:06They seem like the ideal client, the sort of people that we're expecting to go forward with.
38:10They found this through social media, which is amazing, really,
38:14because we've not really done a huge amount at the moment.
38:17We've put a website together, but it's pretty basic,
38:19and we've put a few pictures on Instagram.
38:22But we're certainly not active at the moment, although we need to start doing that.
38:27With so much invested in the venture already,
38:30and only Daisy's income to rely on,
38:33it's crucial that the business starts paying for itself.
38:36We're close to €25,000 in for the bikes,
38:41and, yeah, we really need to start getting some paying guests in and riding them.
38:46Daisy won't be happy if I don't.
38:48But while €25,000 is a big outlay,
38:51the couple haven't gone full throttle just yet.
38:54You know, starting a new business, we didn't want to invest crazy amounts.
39:01I mean, you know, the sky's the limit with motorcycles.
39:03I mean, I'd like to look at getting some different bikes in the future,
39:07hopefully when we're proving that there's a business in this and we're successful.
39:11Luckily, even after five years in storage, the bikes are running fine.
39:19There we go. Sweet as a nut, yeah.
39:22So it's time for a test ride.
39:29Set on the edge of a national park,
39:32Greg and Daisy see the Laobana Valley
39:34as the perfect playground for visiting bikers.
39:38Renowned for its unique microclimate,
39:40the sunnier and drier weather is an added attraction for visitors.
39:45It's a freedom that you don't get doing anything else.
39:48You're up in the mountains.
39:50500 metres from my doorstep,
39:51and it's, yeah, we have this just stunning environment
39:55to take the bikes out in.
39:56I've given up an office live in Bristol in the UK
40:00for, well, this is my office here in Spain.
40:02I couldn't ask for more.
40:04It's fantastic.
40:04So if we can make this business work,
40:06then, yeah, we'll be very happy.
40:10Very happy.
40:12Greg and Daisy's life savings now ride on selling this area
40:17as a desirable destination to fellow petrol heads.
40:20But Greg is feeling optimistic.
40:23I think it's something that people will really enjoy.
40:26At the moment, touch wood, there's very little competition here.
40:29We're quietly confident.
40:31I would pay for it.
40:32So, yeah, hopefully there's other people out there who would do that too.
40:43It's June in Bulgaria,
40:45and with the warm weather came a flood of bookings
40:48at Tracey and John's campsite and retreat.
40:51There we go.
40:53But one place visitors won't be staying
40:56is their new two-bedroom apartment,
40:58which isn't quite ready.
41:00But John's pleased with progress.
41:03As you can see,
41:05we've finished tiling.
41:06We've just got a little bit of grouting to do here.
41:09So that is the kitchen pretty much finished.
41:12One of the bedrooms is mostly done,
41:15but the lounge still needs work,
41:17and the clock is ticking.
41:19It's slower than Tracey would like.
41:22I'm hoping that the flat will be ready for guests mid-July,
41:27and I'll start advertising it,
41:30sort of maybe the beginning of July,
41:33when I definitely see a deadline.
41:35We've had some inquiries,
41:36so we'll then get it all set up and go for it.
41:44But seven weeks later,
41:46there's a bigger setback to overcome.
41:49A safety inspection highlighted an issue
41:52with the steps leading up to the apartment,
41:54and it can't be rented out
41:56until they fit a secure railing.
41:58So what we're doing now
42:00is we put the earth lead from the MIG welder.
42:03The MIG welder is a welder
42:05that sends a piece of wire through,
42:07and as it hits the metal,
42:09it's got electric power going through it,
42:12which heats up very fast,
42:15and it welds the metal together.
42:18Luckily, John is a welder by trade.
42:22It's a tiny little tack to start with.
42:24And John isn't just keeping his trade skills sharp.
42:28He's also saving a lot of money.
42:30A custom-made thing like this,
42:32even in Bulgaria,
42:33they were talking about 5,000, 6,000 levs.
42:37That works out at over 2,000 pounds.
42:40But the railing isn't the only remaining job.
42:44Inside the apartment,
42:45there's also grouting and painting to take care of.
42:49You know, sometimes we bite off more than we can chew,
42:52like you do,
42:53and in those situations,
42:56yeah, it can get stressful.
42:59When you first start a business like this,
43:02it's new.
43:04You've never done it before.
43:06You know, you've got to be on a steep learning curve
43:09for a lot of things.
43:11Their decision not to use trades
43:13to renovate the apartment
43:14has set the couple back several months,
43:17but it makes every finished task
43:19all the more satisfying.
43:22That looks amazing.
43:24Oh, wow.
43:26Can't even get your head stuck,
43:28which is even better.
43:30And now they have an added motivator.
43:33They've just taken a booking in the apartment
43:35two weeks from now.
43:37We'll make a lot of progress
43:39in the next two or three days.
43:40Yeah.
43:41The architraves round the door,
43:43a small bit of painting,
43:44a small amount of grouting,
43:47a curtain to be put up
43:48round the hot water tank
43:50and then furniture to be moved in.
43:53It's a bit stressful,
43:54but although in another way,
43:56it's really good.
43:57No, it doesn't bother me that much at all.
44:00He doesn't worry about deadlines.
44:01I do, but he doesn't.
44:03I find the more you try to go fast,
44:07the slower it happens.
44:08What is it?
44:09More haste.
44:10No, more haste, less speed.
44:11Yeah, that's what we're going to count on this time.
44:13It'll all be ready.
44:14Yeah.
44:15We'll be ready to go.
44:16We're quite confident.
44:22Next time.
44:23It doesn't often rain in Spain,
44:25but when it does,
44:26it really rains.
44:27Biblical problems for Adam and Ali.
44:30With the smallest bucket we have,
44:32trying to unblock the terrace.
44:34It should be here till next year doing that.
44:36Greg and Daisy feel the weight of pressure.
44:39Have you got a chiropractor in the village?
44:41Yeah.
44:41As they push to open for business.
44:44We've got a lot riding on this.
44:46Our futures, our children's futures.
44:48And is the end in sight for Tracey and John?
44:52We've had a bit of bad news.
44:54Yeah.
44:55The guests that were coming tomorrow,
44:57she's fallen over and broken her ankle.
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