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00:00Welcome to Florida.
00:02Florida life, nothing quite like it.
00:04Home to theme parks, golden tans and 400,000 Brits.
00:08I absolutely love it here.
00:10Who've made the Sunshine State their new home.
00:13This is what sold me out of it. Yeah.
00:15Like, cos it's stunning.
00:16Who wouldn't want to live here like this?
00:18They've swapped drizzly winters and gas bills for new careers
00:22and seemingly endless fun in the sun.
00:24Cheers, Biggers!
00:26It's our little piece of paradise.
00:28Get it right and life in Florida can be like a dream come true.
00:32Every evening do this with your glass of wine.
00:35But getting here and staying here takes hard work.
00:38I do pinch myself every day.
00:41Grit. We just lost the starboard motor.
00:44And determination. Good job. Well done.
00:46These are the Brits who've made their own Escape to Florida.
00:56Today on Escape to Florida, it's a dog's life for bar owners Sean and Anya.
01:00Little lady, you're a woman after me on hard. I love the spuds. I do love the spuds. Look at
01:06you.
01:07Yorkshireman Nick is cooking up a Brit Beach barbecue if he can get the fire lit.
01:12We've got about 40 or 50 people arriving here in the next few minutes.
01:15And I've got a lot of food to cook.
01:17People are going to be hungry. You know what the Brits are like.
01:19And it's a tense day for Scottish-born Laura as she waits for x-ray results on her beloved horse.
01:26We will find out from the vet today if she is going to be able to move forward in her
01:31training or not.
01:37Apollo Beach on Florida's west coast is a waterfront haven for 3,000 sea-loving expats,
01:44including publican Sean and his wife Anya.
01:49You've got the weather on your side, gifted with water in her backyard and a beautiful boat.
01:54It's been a dream of mine. Ever since I've seen a Flipper movie, I think, back in the day.
02:00Originally from Oma in Northern Ireland, the couple met in the Big Apple back in the 80s.
02:06It was 15 years in New York.
02:08You used to come down here fishing and Diana brought Anya down and she fell in love with it.
02:13I did. I absolutely fell in love with it. I fell in love with the heat.
02:16My first winter in New York did not go down too well.
02:20I thought my eyeballs were going to freeze. It was that cold.
02:2525 years on and two suns later,
02:28the couple now run the Salty Shamrock.
02:30It's a family affair with son Ogie managing front of house.
02:35This is a bad poor.
02:37Daughter-in-law Gabby is also on the staff and Anya manages the accounts from home.
02:42When she's not babysitting their first granddaughter, Margo.
02:46Where's Margo?
02:49Where's Margo?
02:51Margo.
02:53You have a lot of opportunities here.
02:56Sean and Anya have prospered in Florida's bar trade.
03:00You put your head down and work and the dreams come true, you know, coming to Florida.
03:06We've had three successful businesses here and one currently going pretty good.
03:12The pub has become a hub of the Apollo Beach community.
03:16Oh, there's never a dull moment at Salty's.
03:18There's always something going on.
03:19St. Patrick's Day is huge, of course.
03:22And today is the start of their four-day Paddy's Day festival, usually the busiest week of the year.
03:29It's all hands on board.
03:30You're dealing sometimes two, three, four thousand people, so it becomes a big operation.
03:36Abel, so we all set up today, yeah?
03:39Yes, sir.
03:40With thousands of hungry mouths to feed, Sean needs the Salty Shamrock's kitchen to run like clockwork.
03:46Well, this is Abel, our kitchen manager.
03:48He keeps it all together here.
03:50He's mighty man.
03:51Mighty man.
03:52What's the special today?
03:53What have we got?
03:54We've got corned beef and cabbage.
03:56This time of year is just pure mad.
03:58Everybody comes out and they're savages for corned beef and cabbage, huh?
04:02Is it Irish cabbage?
04:03Picked it up at the airport this morning.
04:04Yeah, it got imported from Ireland.
04:07All right, I'll see you.
04:08Good luck.
04:09Thank you so much.
04:11Sean employs a huge team of 46 people during St. Patrick's Day.
04:16Got a great bunch of staff here.
04:18They put their heart and soul into it.
04:20What was done through time is created a family within a family.
04:23You know, you look after them and they look after you, you know?
04:26That's the whole thing.
04:27Without them, their hard work, dedication, you have nothing.
04:32Sean always checks that the Paddy's Day menu is up to scratch.
04:36This is our parsley cream sauce here.
04:43Very bland.
04:44Very bland.
04:45I'll do some chicken base.
04:46Chicken base, a wee bit of garlic or something, yeah?
04:49It's always good to put your eye on stuff.
04:51Better off to catch it now than later.
04:57The celebrations kick off at 1pm, and it should be one of Sean's most profitable days of the year.
05:04If people don't turn off, you've got empty seats with no asses on them, so, I mean, that doesn't do
05:09anybody any good.
05:10It all starts with Sean's legendary Paddy's Pageant.
05:14He's expecting up to 50 competitors from all over Florida to strut their stuff in a bid to be crowned
05:20Salty Shamrock Queen or King.
05:23Some travel from Orlando and Fort Myers, which is, you know, an hour or two hours away.
05:28You know, they look forward to it every year, so it's important, you know, we do a success, it really
05:32is.
05:33But these contestants are arriving on four legs, not two.
05:37Would you believe that competition is for dogs and their owners?
05:47A little further down the Gulf Coast, Sarasota has some of the best seafood in Florida.
05:53So, it's no wonder that Yorkshireman Nick is drawn to his local fish counter.
06:00Nick has lived in Sarasota for the last 11 years.
06:03You can already smell the seafood.
06:06But his love affair with the Sunshine State started a lot earlier.
06:10I've been coming to Florida since I was a kid.
06:12I was a tennis player when I was younger, about six or seven years old.
06:15We got told about as the number one tennis resort in the United States, here in Sarasota.
06:19So, I started training there while my family had a holiday.
06:23One of my favourite things is snow crab.
06:25If you've never been to Florida and had snow crab, if you're missing out.
06:28It's on sale actually today, £7.99 a pound, which is really, really good.
06:32I just always wanted to come back to Sarasota.
06:35I had the ability to work remotely, so I used to spend some time here on the three-month visa.
06:39On one of those trips I met a girl and we fell in love, got married and got my green
06:43card eventually.
06:44Hey, what's going on?
06:45How you doing, mate?
06:46Good, how you doing?
06:46Doing good, doing good.
06:47Can I do it for you boys?
06:48Can I get a pound and a half of the snow crab, please?
06:51I have snow crab, I'll ride out.
06:53Nick's marriage didn't work out, but his love affair with Florida did.
06:57Anything else for you?
06:58Two pounds of the shrimp, please, Gulf shrimp.
07:01It was a huge decision to move over here.
07:03You know, I was leaving behind my friends and my family, my hometown where I've lived for a long time.
07:07It's difficult, but, you know, there's just always somewhere I wanted to live.
07:11I love being by the water.
07:12It's just a different quality of life.
07:14You know, starting your day off with the sunshine, being able to wear your t-shirt and shorts
07:17and not having to worry about getting cold everywhere you go, it makes a huge difference to life.
07:21Nice thick juicy ribeyes, perfect for the grill.
07:24I love the meat over here.
07:25I love the meat in England, but I'm sorry, the steaks here are very, very, very good.
07:33Appreciate it, have a good day.
07:34Now I'm going to get some chicken drumsticks because I've got some marinade at home that I love as well.
07:38But Nick's lengthy shopping list isn't all for him.
07:41Today he's planning a beach barbecue for his British mates who've also made Sarasota their home.
07:47What's great about the barbecue as well is everybody brings a little bit of something.
07:51We never really know what everybody's going to bring in, so it's just a bit of guesswork.
07:55With his ingredients in the bag, Nick heads home to prep for this afternoon's barbecue.
08:04Coming from sunny Doncaster, you don't get to wake up to a view like this,
08:07every morning, but I love to come out and sit outside here and obviously can have a swim in the
08:10afternoon as well.
08:12We call it island life.
08:14You know, we are surrounded by barrier islands.
08:16It's just a much more laid-back, slow-paced way of living compared to back home for sure.
08:21It's paradise living here, it really is.
08:23But Nick's not home alone in Sarasota.
08:26He's got American housemate Jeff.
08:29This is my buddy Jeff. Hello everybody to England now, get out of my office.
08:33He's my closest pal here. He's a great guy and we have a lot of fun together.
08:38This is my portable sauna.
08:41Nick likes to make fun of me because...
08:44All you can see is his head.
08:45All you can see is my head.
08:50And the best part...
08:52Is he could use his phone while he's in it.
08:54Oh, yes.
08:55I got all my work done and now I'm just happy as a pig in mud.
09:00Jeff isn't just Nick's housemate, he's also his boss.
09:04They work together from home in Sarasota's emerging therapy business.
09:09Jeff and I sell medical equipment. It's Jeff's company.
09:13This is my baby. I absolutely love.
09:16We sell therapeutic lasers and other equipment to chiropractors, physical therapists.
09:21It's only appropriate for Nick to get on the bed.
09:24The red light therapy bed that we sell is becoming more and more popular.
09:26It's great for pain, inflammation, arthritis, for recovery, for sleep.
09:31It has many different benefits to it.
09:35Oh, there he is.
09:37Feeling better.
09:40Nick's clearly a great salesman and with its large population of retirees,
09:45Florida has a big share of this $9 billion US therapy business.
09:50Nick and Jeff can sell these beds for upwards of $70,000.
09:56They may have an Anglo-American bromance going on,
10:00but culturally, they're not on the same page at all.
10:03People think we speak the same language, but it's pretty different.
10:06Absolutely not. I like to watch football, what he calls throwball.
10:10He loves his rugby. I love everything but.
10:14Yeah.
10:14As buddies, we get on extremely, extremely well.
10:17But I do miss home and doing the British things that we like to do.
10:20And I miss the people.
10:22Nick's not alone.
10:23There's a growing community of Sarasota Brits who want to reconnect with Blighty.
10:29We have a Sarasota Brits group on Facebook.
10:31There's probably 300 or 400 in there now.
10:33I organize regular events that we do.
10:35And one of the ones I love is the beach barbecue.
10:39Today's Brit Beach barbecue has an exclusive guest list, unfortunately for Jeff.
10:44As an American, I'm not allowed to go to Brit events.
10:47That's right.
10:47We only invite the Brits.
10:49The partners are allowed to come, but he's not allowed.
10:51And this is what's amazing.
10:52If we have a bromance, you would think that he would bring me.
11:06Near the town of Groveland, in central Florida, there's a tranquil sanctuary.
11:12Set in 65 acres, that's home to 26 horses.
11:16Good morning.
11:18And Laura.
11:23Laura left the hospitality trade in Scotland for the Sunshine State 20 years ago.
11:28And now runs a hotel for horses instead.
11:32I'm originally from a small village called Hart Hill between Glasgow and Edinburgh.
11:37And I have loved horses since I was a little girl.
11:41They're magnificent creatures.
11:43They tug at my heart string.
11:45When you're in their presence, you feel something magical.
11:50This is Apollo.
11:51This is Granny's horse, officially.
11:55Good morning, babies.
11:57I came over here with my mum and my dad.
12:00Can I open my door for you?
12:01There you go.
12:02My mum is my best friend and the barn manager,
12:06but her most important role is Granny to every horse.
12:11Aye, in you come, babe.
12:12I love all horses.
12:13Come on, honey.
12:14I'll give you breakfast, my wee man.
12:15It's my passion.
12:17I just love them.
12:18Can you come for the breakfast?
12:20Come on.
12:21Good boy.
12:23On top of the boarding stables, Laura also runs a holiday letting agency with her parents,
12:29Diana Huey, hosts weddings at the farm, and hires out her dad's Tiki Hut as a separate party venue.
12:36I genuinely thought I was the boss, but I soon found out that Laura is the brain.
12:44She's a switched on business person.
12:47She is the hardest worker.
12:50I have many jobs.
12:52I wear many hats.
12:53It's a busy life, but it's very rewarding.
12:56Laura's our one and only daughter.
12:58She is a child.
13:00She's the one and only child.
13:02She always had tons of my little ponies.
13:06You know, she had tons of my daughters.
13:08She had everyone.
13:09It just obviously came from me.
13:11Breakfast, porridge.
13:17Laura's parents, Diana and Huey, were running a rural post office in Scotland back in 2005 as
13:23branches were closing in villages all around them.
13:26We had a newsagent as well, and newspapers were just dying of death, so we saw the writing on the
13:32wall.
13:32We used to come out here three times a year on vacation, and we just got to the stage, well,
13:38let's just make the move.
13:40Laura being Laura, she said, let's do it, let's just go.
13:45The family bought this farm in Groveland, where Laura was able to turn her passion for horses into a good
13:51living.
13:52The stall board here is $1,000 per month, and field or pasture board is $600.
13:59But some of our guests require extra care, as Laura's Horse Hotel also doubles as an equine rescue centre.
14:08The cliche is, oh, you're a horse whisperer, but it's not about us speaking, it's about listening.
14:15Yeah, good boy.
14:17But they can't speak, so we have to try and find what other ways are they trying to communicate to
14:23us.
14:24Whether it's a twitch of the ear, a glance with their eyes, it's a shake of the head, it's a
14:29muscle tremor.
14:30I don't want, I don't want, okay, okay, okay.
14:33It is a long process of observation, getting the horse to trust you enough that they will reveal their secrets.
14:41I can't.
14:46Yay!
14:48There is an ugly side to the horse world.
14:51I can't wrap my head around why anybody could bring themselves to be so cruel to an animal.
14:58But we pick them back up and give them a second chance at life.
15:05Today, there is one horse who needs a lot of care and attention.
15:09This is Angel's Echo. Echo is her barn name.
15:14She is my baby.
15:16I bred from her mother, who is next door here.
15:20She is extremely special to me.
15:23She is, or she was, my Olympic hopeful.
15:26That has changed.
15:28She's had a traumatic career-ending injury.
15:37We will find out from the vet today if she is going to be able to move forward in her
15:42training or not.
15:43Right now, all I'm hoping is that she is rideable.
15:57Over in Apollo Beach.
15:59Yeah, how's it going?
16:00Everything good?
16:01Good.
16:02Thanks for coming.
16:03The focus is also on four-legged friends as bar owner Sean prepares for the salty shamrock St. Puppy's Day
16:10dog show.
16:11Everybody's psyched.
16:12Everybody looks forward to this.
16:14It's a warm-up for St. Patrick's Day.
16:15Leprechauns made me do it, everybody.
16:18You get everybody to dress off their dogs and come out, and it's a great community event.
16:23The canine contestants are starting to arrive in St. Patrick's Day-themed costumes.
16:28And it's fair to say the residents of Apollo Beach are barking mad about their pups.
16:34You see a lot of dogs here being pushed around in prams, and oh my goodness, it's eye-opening all
16:40right.
16:40And I couldn't see it going on back in Oma, for sure.
16:44This is definitely a dog town.
16:46We all love our puppies.
16:48St. Puppy's Day is an inclusive event, as long as you've got a wet nose, that is.
16:54We have had blind dogs, three-legged dogs, rescue dogs that have become St. Puppy's Day champion.
17:02It's not Crufts.
17:03It's far from Crufts.
17:05We try not to make it about the trophy.
17:08It's more about the community and coming around and being together, you know.
17:15This is little Gracie Lynn.
17:17This costume was originally a Hawaiian shirt, but now it's all built up with all her friends on it.
17:23So these are her favorite dog toys, and then she has a little hat on.
17:27We have got several categories, best female dog, best male dog, best dog in show.
17:33It's probably the best owner dog look-alike.
17:35That's the magic one.
17:37I am the Irish potato, half-baked, and she's the fully loaded potato.
17:44This is our ninth year.
17:50Ensuring the day runs smoothly is no walk in the park for Sean.
17:54Do you need help?
17:55Here we go.
17:56This is a big event, really organizing this here from January 1st.
18:01As well as celebrating the dogs on stage, St. Puppy's Day is also about helping those in need.
18:07We have had many, many, many events for the community, and we raised a lot of money.
18:13We have an adoption center set up.
18:16Yeah, show you, baby.
18:17You are so cute.
18:19I can't believe you're homeless.
18:20How are you doing?
18:21How's everything?
18:22Good to see you.
18:24All set.
18:25Were you guys here last year, yeah?
18:26We were.
18:27That's right.
18:28I'm only speaking to my dog today.
18:29I like that.
18:30It's way too peepily out there.
18:33We appreciate Salty Shamrock supporting us.
18:37We all make it together, so that's what it's good.
18:40Salty Shamrock, it's the heart and soul of Apollo Beach, and what you give, you know, you get back tenfold
18:45and return.
18:47The community had to pull together more than ever in September 2024, after the worst hurricanes to hit Apollo Beach
18:55in 100 years.
18:56We really did not expect the damage that it did to this community, and it was quite overwhelming.
19:06Many people had to stay in mobile homes.
19:13Some people had to stay in hotel rooms.
19:17A lot of people lost everything.
19:20A lot of people lost everything.
19:21A successful St. Puppy's Day could go some way to giving Apollo Beach a much-needed lift.
19:27It's critical that we get a good turnout, you know, we've spent money on advertising, we've done word of mouth,
19:32social media, all the rest, so hopefully it's successful.
19:37The dogs are ready, it's time for Sean to host the event.
19:42All right, I've got to go and get the dog show going on here, get all these dogs on parade,
19:46and hopefully we get a good crowd, you know.
19:59In the coastal town of Sarasota, Nick's having his daily catch-up with girlfriend Lucy, who's back in the UK.
20:06Hey, darling.
20:08Hello.
20:09How are you doing?
20:09You all right?
20:10Yeah, you?
20:10Yeah, I'm good.
20:11How's the weather?
20:12Fired.
20:12Just a bit grey.
20:13Not grey here.
20:15Lucy is my girlfriend.
20:17She lives in Nottinghamshire.
20:18Her and I met on one of my trips, back to see my family.
20:22Lucy was beautiful.
20:23I asked her out for dinner, and the rest is history.
20:25How's it with you?
20:25I've got the British barbecue today.
20:28Oh, gosh, I forgot about that.
20:30Some of the usuals?
20:31Yeah, some of the usuals, and then you've got some new people.
20:33The group's getting bigger now, so you know what it's like.
20:35I like to have my British people around me, so it's good to have a bit of familiarity.
20:39Oh, it sounds amazing.
20:40I'm guessing I can't be there.
20:42I'm sure you'll have a wonderful day.
20:43Eat some shrimp for me.
20:44Will do.
20:45Bye, sweetheart.
20:46Bye, darling.
20:47Bye.
20:48Nick's expecting up to 50 expat guests, and his signature shrimp is only one of a number
20:53of main courses.
20:54He needs to prepare for them.
20:55Time to peel the shrimp, unfortunately, before we do the seasoning, which is one of the pains
21:00in the butt.
21:00But you know what?
21:01They're worth it when they're done.
21:02Look at the size of it.
21:02These are actually fresh gulf shrimp, too.
21:04So these are straight out of the Gulf of Mexico.
21:06Proper local shrimp.
21:08We've got the favourite seasoning over here that I always use.
21:13It's a magic seafood mix.
21:16I know I'm a cheat and I should make my own, but it's really, really good, and people at
21:20the barbecue like it, so I always make the same thing.
21:23For what Nick shelled out in prawns for his Brit friends over the years, he's got back
21:28in goodwill when times have been hard.
21:30It is a lifeline having the expat community here.
21:34It's been great for me having a bit of comfort.
21:36I've actually just celebrated two years of sobriety.
21:39I'm proud of myself.
21:40It was something that, you know, a few years ago I didn't think was possible.
21:43Drinking had got a little bit too much for me, but hard work and determination and having
21:47the love and support of people around you is what's important.
21:49My family, you know, have been amazing.
21:51But when you're a long way from home, having those solid friends around to be able to turn
21:55to is vitally important.
21:57They have helped me to get to where I am now.
21:59What are you doing?
22:00I'm seasoning my shrimp, mate, for the barbecue today.
22:04Oh, what barbecue would that be?
22:06Yeah, no, I love you, but I'm sorry.
22:08All right, I got my chicken drumsticks.
22:10Okay, they're going to be good to go on the grill.
22:13Perfect.
22:15There's just time to box up the food.
22:18That's box up the food.
22:22There we go.
22:24Before heading to the beach, without Jeff.
22:43In central Florida, Laura and her horse have a visit from the vet.
22:49She hasn't been able to ride her beloved Echo since an awful accident 18 months ago.
22:55Echo flipped over right onto her back and the trauma travelled all the way down her neck
23:01and she broke her withers.
23:03This area that kind of sticks up where the back starts is the withers.
23:07After a long recovery, Laura's hoping Echo will finally get the green light to have her back in the saddle.
23:15She is about to have a recheck examination from the vet.
23:20Worst case scenario is she will never be ridden again.
23:23At the end of the day, if she can't, I still love her.
23:26I love her with all of my heart.
23:28She's the reason I get up in the morning.
23:33Good morning.
23:35Good morning.
23:37I'm going to start taking a look at Echo.
23:38Perfect.
23:39Hello, sweet girl.
23:40Today I'm looking at her as a full physical exam.
23:44So is she painful when I put my hands on her?
23:46It's like a little massage.
23:47Yeah.
23:48Yeah.
23:49Good girl.
23:50Is she sore?
23:51Is she moving away from me, moving towards me?
23:54I know.
23:55It's just a massage.
23:56Good girl.
23:58Good girl.
23:59You're a very good girl.
24:01It's a tense time for Laura.
24:03All she can do is watch and hope.
24:05It's a huge day.
24:06It's not even a big day.
24:08It's, yeah.
24:10It is a colossal day.
24:12We have basically palpation, yeah, going down the back and the neck.
24:17So, I love.
24:18I've prepared myself for the worst case scenario.
24:22I'm hoping for the best, but I'm a bag of nerves.
24:27I see you, yeah.
24:30Now that I'm older, because I haven't got children,
24:34I feel this maternal connection just as a mother feels naturally
24:41that she has to protect and take care and provide for her children.
24:47Oh, yeah.
24:49Oh, yeah.
24:52Her pain and discomfort is usually pinning in the ears,
24:55grimacing in the face, or moving away from me.
24:58I'm sorry.
24:59Sometimes she'll bow her back.
25:00Sometimes she'll kick out.
25:02Horses have many different ways of showing pain.
25:04Oh.
25:06And that's right where the saddle fits.
25:09I am so sorry.
25:11I'm going to go to the other side.
25:14Horses are huge, big creatures.
25:17A little bit of right hip as well.
25:18But they are fragile, fragile creatures.
25:21All right.
25:22Let's take her for a little walk outside.
25:28It's definitely her back.
25:30She was extremely sore in the back, especially where the saddle goes.
25:34And it was extremely sore for a horse that's not been ridden in months.
25:38So she should not have a sore back.
25:44She's crossing, Laura, just so you see.
25:48Bunny hopping.
25:49Yeah.
25:50Easy, baby.
25:54Easy, oh.
25:56So, Laura, let's take her in and make a decision, make a plan.
26:00Yep.
26:06I would not recommend riding right now because she's too sore.
26:09Yeah.
26:10At this point, I would start with x-rays of the back until we find out exactly what the problem
26:16is,
26:17when we know what her potential will be as a riding horse.
26:21It's not the news Laura was hoping for.
26:23Echo was my Olympic hopeful, but this isn't about me achieving my goals.
26:31Ultimately, at the end of the day, her quality of life is most important.
26:35Laura will have to wait for the results of the x-rays later,
26:38before deciding whether Echo needs to go into early retirement.
26:50Back in Apollo Beach, mad dogs and Irishmen are out in the Florida sun,
26:56as the Salty Shamrock's Puppies Day dog show is about to get underway.
27:02That's the noise for Mr. Sean Riley!
27:08How's it going, everybody?
27:10Good, good, good.
27:12Thanks very much, everybody, for showing up.
27:1560 contestants have registered, and the competition is expected to be fierce.
27:20I refuse to judge.
27:22I've learned this from experience, because some people take it quite serious,
27:26and they're quite disappointed if they don't get the trophy.
27:29To avoid any conflict, Sean's drafted in local celebrities to do the adjudication for him.
27:36We have a couple of cable TV personalities that are going to be judges.
27:40I don't think our judges here, all our judges here, they cannot be bribed.
27:44It's a tough gig for them to judge these dogs.
27:46I mean, there's no real thoroughbreds here.
27:48It's all mutts and adopted dogs.
27:51Sean is comparing the events, so we'll need to keep the dogs and their owners on a tight leash
27:57to ensure everything runs smoothly.
27:59All right, here we go. We're going to go and start with Zoe.
28:02Look at this. Zoe.
28:04How old is Zoe?
28:05Zoe's two.
28:06She's two years of age, eh?
28:07Well, Zoe, turn around there, and we'll let's see everybody, Zoe.
28:11I love dogs.
28:12I've always had dogs since I was a kid growing up, and the pub's always been dog-friendly.
28:17Oh, look at that. There we go.
28:20Let's hear it together for Zoe.
28:22Yeah!
28:23The community loves to dress up, and they love to dress their dogs up.
28:27Whether it's Halloween, Independence Day, or St. Patrick's Day, they go all out,
28:32and they really put in a great effort.
28:35All right, next we have Gracie.
28:39Oh, she's got shot glasses on her back.
28:42Wonderful.
28:44Much to Sean's relief, the competition has got off to a great start.
28:48Yeah!
28:50Really bringing your dog to a pub and let them get on stage and show their bits and pieces
28:57and that there.
28:57She's dressed like a wee fairy.
29:00A fairy?
29:00Do you believe in fairies?
29:01Yes, we do.
29:02Paula Beach needs it because it's been pretty downbeat since the hurricanes.
29:08It's good fun.
29:10It really is good fun.
29:11Isn't that great?
29:12The nails are manicured.
29:15Wonderful.
29:16My name is Jasmine.
29:18I'm here with Slater, and I'm here to have a blast.
29:22Who's walking who here now?
29:24Who's walking who?
29:25The energy is amazing.
29:27It brings the community together, and it makes it just a good vibe.
29:31It's just amazing all around.
29:33Ellie, next we have is Ellie.
29:34Give it up, Ellie!
29:36Previous winner there.
29:37There you go.
29:38This dog's got skills.
29:40Sean's wife, Anya, has put the pub's paperwork away for the day to babysit their granddaughter.
29:46We were blessed last year with the most beautiful gift anybody could have ever got.
29:51Little Margot was born.
29:53And it looks like Margot's enjoying the show.
29:56Margot's very like her grandfather.
29:58She has a great sense of humor and knows how to draw attention.
30:05Oh, yeah!
30:07Look at this!
30:07Look at this!
30:08My favourite part of the competition is the look-alike.
30:12She's a loaded baked potato.
30:14Little lady, you're a woman after me on heart.
30:16I love this pub.
30:17I do love this pub.
30:18Look at this.
30:20It's unbelievable to see how you like a dog and their owner can be.
30:24Beautiful.
30:25Thank you so much.
30:26Great effort into your outfit.
30:28That's fantastic.
30:29I might know a category for you.
30:32All the pups have had their time to shine,
30:35while the judges compare to decide the top four category winners.
30:40It's nap time for Margot.
30:42We'll have to take this read-mite home because she's getting a little tired.
30:46Outside, the contestants wait for the results with bated and bad breath.
30:51All right.
30:52Num, num, num, num, num, num, num, num, num, num.
30:53Yeah!
30:55Whoa!
31:0640 miles south in Sarasota,
31:09Yorkshireman Nick has arrived at Lido Quay to set up his Brit Beach barbecue.
31:14How are you doing?
31:14All right.
31:15How are you, mate?
31:15Hello, darling.
31:16It's all right.
31:17Yeah, not too bad.
31:18Sometimes it's kind of a little easy to get what I call America'd out.
31:22So today is one of those days where I get to see all my Brit's friends in town.
31:25Mark, you're going to give us a hand light in the barbecue then, mate?
31:27Let's go for it, old chap.
31:28This is the bit I always dread, getting this thing lit.
31:32Mark's been a good friend of mine over here for about 14 years.
31:35He's a lanky shalat, so he's from the wrong side of the hills.
31:39How many men does it take to start a barbecue?
31:46The weather looks perfect at the minute.
31:48Beautiful day to be on the beach having a barbecue.
31:50That is, if Nick and Mark can get it lit.
31:54Do you want me to stand and block the breeze?
31:56Yeah, I know.
31:57Takes a tack.
31:58This is going to be my part for the afternoon.
32:02At least I'm not studying with an umbrella.
32:03That's the main thing.
32:05As more expats arrive, all invited via Nick's Brits in Sarasota Facebook group, he's starting
32:11to feel the heat.
32:13But sadly, not from the barbecue.
32:16We've got about 40 or 50 people arriving here in the next few minutes, and I've got a lot
32:20of food to cook.
32:21People are going to be hungry.
32:22You know what the Brits are like.
32:24It's a little bit of England, really, like, you know.
32:26Everyone gets together, and people that you normally wouldn't hang out of in England,
32:31you know.
32:31It's just they all come together, and we just all become one, like, you know what I mean?
32:34It's just a great experience.
32:36Just make some new friends.
32:37Food's always great, you know, so the sun's shining.
32:41What ain't there to like, really, you know?
32:50I've got my cigar lighter in the car.
32:53Let me get my keys.
32:55Back up lighter.
32:57Let's try again.
33:04We have fire.
33:06Beautiful.
33:07The barbecue's finally lit, and just in time.
33:11At least we're cooking now.
33:13The shrimp are going to be lovely on there.
33:16Nick's ravenous guests are watching on expectantly.
33:20Luckily, some have brought their own food to tide them over.
33:24Hello.
33:25What have you brought?
33:26My scotch egg.
33:27Scotch eggs, lovely.
33:28Scotch eggs.
33:29Lovely.
33:29Stick them on the table.
33:30Nice to see you.
33:31Everybody tries to bring something that reminds us of England.
33:35These are homemade, and they're absolutely delicious.
33:40We bought cheese and pineapple sticks last time, and nobody ate them.
33:45But scotch eggs always go.
33:48The patriotism at Nick's Brit Barbie doesn't stop with the food, though.
33:52Did you need a flag?
33:54We always need a flag.
33:55Okay.
33:56Well, I didn't bring anything to put it on.
33:57Oh, that's all right.
33:58I don't want to put it somewhere.
33:59The British flag has finally arrived.
34:01The event can properly start now.
34:04Better get those prawns on the grill, then, Nick.
34:08Got some butter on there.
34:09Look at that.
34:13Hello, darling.
34:13How are you doing?
34:15Nice to see you.
34:17These are my Gulf of Mexico seasoned shrimp.
34:21First thing off the barbie today.
34:23While everyone is sitting down, relaxing, enjoying themselves, I can see Nick is around cooking, checking on everybody, and that's
34:31really typical of him.
34:32Shrimp, guys.
34:33They look beautiful.
34:34They look beautiful.
34:35They look beautiful.
34:36You're welcome.
34:37Ladies, shrimp, I've got a couple of pounds of it.
34:41Nick's signature shrimp have been a hit, but he's still got three more courses to cook.
34:49Somebody's commandeered me grill, and I don't think he's one of the Brits.
34:53And now he hasn't got a barbecue to cook them on.
34:56Hey, have you seen this old fellow over here?
34:58He's commandeered the grill.
34:59Oh, yeah.
35:00One of the Americans, one of the spouses.
35:01Oh, nice.
35:02This is why we don't invite the Americans, because they end up taking over me grill.
35:14At the stables in Groveland, Laura's already had a lot on her plate today, with Echo failing her latest medical
35:21and unable to return to training.
35:25But things are about to get a whole lot busier on the farm for Laura, her mum Diane, and dad
35:30Huey.
35:31The ladies are having a TAC sale.
35:34I know nothing about horses.
35:36I'm just here because they're here.
35:40TAC is the equipment that we use to manage the horses.
35:47TAC is going to range anywhere from saddle pads, saddles.
35:52We have reins.
35:53We have all kinds of stuff here.
35:56Today, we are selling breeches, riding shirts, show jackets, frames, tacks, boots.
36:03I got some farm fresh eggs, a little bit of everything.
36:06I currently don't have any TAC that I'm not using, but we made up for it with some crochet items.
36:12So, some lovely hens and ducks.
36:16Whether crocheted birds or bridles, there are plenty of bargains to be had.
36:21The saddles have been in our barn for years, so they're at a discounted price so we can clear them
36:27out.
36:28Brand new.
36:29I mean, they sell for thousands of dollars.
36:31About 50 bucks she's going to let them go for today, so take them.
36:36We traveled two and a half hours to come here today.
36:38I live in a small town called Lake Placid, and we don't have a lot of TAC sales out there.
36:43So, we came specially, you can always make deals at TAC sales.
36:46That's the way to go.
36:50The TAC sale is a big day, right enough.
36:54Can't believe we've got all of this going on.
36:57But right now, it's Echo that needs Laura's undivided attention.
37:02Present arms.
37:07Okay, slide back a little.
37:12Get a little bit of sclerosis here and very little space here, so she's touching almost bone-on-bone.
37:19Echo's condition is known as kissing spine, a common cause of back pain in horses.
37:24It can be treated.
37:26We can start with the shock wave because she's sedate today.
37:28That would be the quickest thing to do.
37:29And then we can consider injections to see.
37:32So, we'll take one step at a time.
37:35Now, Laura can join the TAC sale knowing that Echo could be on the road to recovery.
37:53In Apollo Beach, the results are in.
37:57And Sean has the honor of crowning the Salty Shamrock St. Puppy's Day champions.
38:03All right, so, let's go ahead and get things started.
38:05We got best female.
38:07The winner is Heddy!
38:12Heddy.
38:13Here we go.
38:15We won first female.
38:17Any prize is worth a win.
38:19I love getting close to these folks.
38:21We appreciate Salty Shamrock.
38:23It's all about the fun and being in the Florida warm weather.
38:26Give it up for Heddy, everybody!
38:28Yay!
38:32And it's not just the winners who'll be going home happy.
38:36As Sean and his team's hard work seems to have paid off.
38:40It was an eventful day.
38:42A good turnout considering we've been through two hurricanes.
38:45A lot of people are out of their homes and that.
38:49Four best look-alike Georgia.
38:53People needed an excuse to get out.
38:56People wanted to do fun stuff, so we showed them a good time.
38:59This is our third year attending.
39:01We love it here because we're winners, right?
39:07I am just so very ecstatic.
39:10Right, Georgia?
39:11And finally, the award for Top Dog.
39:15All right, overall goes to...
39:26I was hoping to win for Best Female, not Best Overall because there was other dogs in some amazing costumes.
39:33But when I found out, I literally was just shocked.
39:36She actually did it all on her own.
39:38The reigning champ of 2025, Salty Shamro.
39:45We love you, St. Puppy's Day!
39:48Yay!
39:50That's a good show.
39:52We had a very successful St. Puppy's Day.
39:55The community came together and all the staff made great tips.
39:59We're very proud.
40:00What we've done, there's not a better feeling to know that you accomplished what you set out to do.
40:06Congratulations!
40:07That's fantastic.
40:08Well done, Grace.
40:09She's very proud.
40:10We are going to McDonald's after this, so she will be having a little celebration snack for sure.
40:16I'm delighted.
40:17I'm exhausted.
40:18I'm delighted.
40:18Thank you, Polavich and beyond.
40:20God bless you.
40:22Definitely, it's on the calendar for next year.
40:25And all being well for many, many years to come.
40:38In central Florida, treatment begins immediately on the kissing spine back condition Laura's horse, Echo, has been diagnosed with.
40:48We're going to take the pain away today and do what we call shockwave therapy.
40:52Okay.
40:56Delp.
40:57Delp.
40:59The way this works is similar to removing kidney stones by breaking them up.
41:04So it's to help break up the inflammation, break up the scar tissue, and it brings in blood flow to
41:09relax the muscle.
41:14There you go.
41:15What a good girl.
41:16What a good girl you were.
41:19No, that wasn't making you too happy, was it?
41:21But you were a good girl.
41:23Although we didn't get the news that we were hoping for on Echo, it helps us continue on the path
41:31for her recovery.
41:34Treatment for the kissing spine condition is generally successful, and horses are able to be ridden again.
41:45The rehabilitation work will hopefully pay off, and there is still hope that Echo can compete.
42:02In Sarasota, one of the American locals has hijacked Nick's grill, leaving him no choice but to fire up another
42:11Barbie.
42:12Oh, we're getting there.
42:13All right, chicken on the ground.
42:15Oh, top.
42:18Despite continued setbacks...
42:20Oh, this is not good.
42:25I've lost everything.
42:26What are you looking for?
42:27I've got some cooking oil somewhere.
42:30I'm having a panic now.
42:31I think I'll put it on a suntan, I guess if I'm a steak.
42:34Don Castor born and bred Nick is still determined to serve up a feast for his fellow expats.
42:41In the whole Malay, I've just realised that I forgot to put on the most important thing.
42:47Made in Yorkshire.
42:48I've got my flat cap somewhere.
42:52Events like this do help me keep connected to the UK, because, you know, you can go days and days
42:57without hearing a British accent.
42:58I definitely miss that English banner, some of the best jokes I've come out with, and it's over their head.
43:05So it is good to meet up with some Brits and tell my corny jokes and actually get a few
43:09laughs, you know.
43:11All right, so we've got Snow Crab coming up.
43:13This is the least practical thing to bring to a barbecue, but I think we're going to give it a
43:18go.
43:18Why not have Snow Crab on the beach?
43:20We can, we're in Florida.
43:21I love it, you know, I miss home, I do miss home.
43:24He's going all out today, isn't he?
43:26He's Angley Harriet.
43:27You know, we can have the same conversations, laugh at the same jokes.
43:30Having that camaraderie here is really important.
43:33What day are you opening in your restaurant?
43:35Ha!
43:36I love these guys, you know, and it's really important to me to see everybody happy.
43:42It's really good, isn't it?
43:43They like it.
43:45It takes a lot, you know, everyone wants to do this kind of thing, but no one actually, you know,
43:49steps up and does it.
43:50I'll have the rib rise, put a little bit of oil on there.
43:54Without him, this probably wouldn't happen at all, you know.
43:57A little bit overdone, but not too bad at all.
44:00And actually, I might get a chance to relax in a minute and have some steak myself.
44:03You never know.
44:05Nick's Brit Beach barbecue took a while to ignite, but in the end, he successfully managed to feed 50 hungry
44:13expats with Florida's finest fare.
44:17It's been an absolutely fantastic day, great turnout, have some good food, and the weather has been perfect.
44:23It was a good day.
44:25Lay down on the floor like a model, or we could crack you.
44:28I'm really thankful that these friends of mine have come out, had a bit of banter all day long like
44:33I love.
44:33I feel like I'm in Britain with the sun again.
44:35You!
44:36You!