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FunTranscript
00:00From a top four flat in Edinburgh.
00:02And we're joining them as their adventures begin across Europe.
00:06This is what we've been waiting for.
00:08It's beautiful. That's the Atlantic Ocean.
00:10This is where the work begins, mister.
00:12Playing the part...
00:14Oh, yeah!
00:15...of chateau owners in France...
00:17We've never done this before. We're making it up as we go along.
00:20...to launching fitness retreats in Bulgaria.
00:23Secret cards!
00:25But will their gamble pay off?
00:28Absolutely bonkers, but it's what we came for, yeah?
00:31Yay!
00:32Or will they fail to hit their target?
00:35Brexit has put the complications into overdrive.
00:38As they carve out...
00:40...their new lives in the sun.
00:43I just feel like I'm on holiday a little bit.
00:45It's not sunk in yet, but this is my actual home now.
00:49What a lovely place to live.
00:51Today, we meet a young family saddling up
00:54to keep their French dream alive.
00:56There's no going back now. The kids are French,
00:58so we're in French school.
00:59They're eating octopus for lunch.
01:01They don't want to go back and have chicken nuggets.
01:04But they're in for a steep learning curve
01:06in their new careers as publicans.
01:08We've gone full throttle, haven't we?
01:10So let's move to France and buy a business
01:12that we don't know how to run, and let's just do it all.
01:15In Spain...
01:17It's all going to be fine.
01:19It's the first summer season for the owner of a rural guest house.
01:24I just love seeing people enjoy themselves.
01:26But will her new events prove popular with the locals?
01:29Now it's time that I become the hostess.
01:32I'm a big believer in no risk, no reward.
01:35Also going all in, a couple who swapped life in Bath
01:38to open a mountaintop B&B.
01:42Pink makes the boys wink.
01:46Kickstart a challenging renovation.
01:49Can we hold it?
01:51The leg is gone.
01:53I knew it!
01:56I think that ladder needs to go to the doctor.
02:12The Dordogne in south-west France
02:14has a long tradition of attracting families from the UK
02:17looking to relocate to Europe.
02:20As along with its sun-drenched valleys
02:23and endless outdoor activities,
02:25there's a British familiarity
02:27so it doesn't take long for newcomers to feel at home.
02:31You've settled in well to the markets, haven't you,
02:33with your little French basket
02:35and eating your baguette
02:36and your cheese and ham-filled croissant.
02:39Well, you don't look like the odd one out.
02:41No?
02:42Like Emily and Dave from Huddersfield
02:44and their two children, Hugo and Willow.
02:47Which one? Which one?
02:48This one?
02:49Yeah.
02:50Bonjour.
02:55The community spirit
02:57and everyone from the town hall,
02:59school teachers,
03:01our neighbours, French and English,
03:04are so supportive, aren't they?
03:05Yeah.
03:06This is like England 50 years ago
03:09where it's old school.
03:11But it wasn't just a change of scene they were after,
03:16but also a change of pace.
03:18After more than a decade working as a car sales manager for Dave
03:22and a career as cabin crew
03:24and more recently a travel agent for Emily.
03:28You know, we wanted the kids to have the freedom and space and safety,
03:32but it was very much about us as well.
03:36We didn't get to spend a lot of time together.
03:43Now we're spending too much time together.
03:46As Dave has both a UK and Irish passport, the family could immediately begin planning their new lives.
03:56Come on, dogs.
03:57Which brought them to the rural commune of San Testeph, an hour to the west of Limoges to take on a former bar and restaurant.
04:07Fell in love with this area.
04:09We had a look at a few different places to buy, didn't we?
04:14We were shocked at, like, how much you could get for your money, weren't we?
04:17Yeah.
04:19You know, for the price of our three-bedroom semi-detached house in the UK,
04:24literally £50,000 less, we've got a four-bedroom apartment and an English-style pub in France.
04:35The pub's been closed, though, for the past six months,
04:39and to sustain their new lives here, Dave and Emily are keen to reopen as soon as possible.
04:46Welcome to the Crazy Frog, I guess.
04:48This is our terrace outside, which we're pretty in love with, I think, aren't we?
04:53Yeah, it's the best one in the area.
04:55But before they can relaunch the pub, everywhere needs a deep clean,
04:59the bar stocked and a fresh menu developed, which is all new territory.
05:05We've gone full throttle, haven't we?
05:07You know, let's not just move to France.
05:10Let's move to France and buy a business that we don't know how to run
05:14and let's just do it all.
05:16Well, we're going to make mistakes and we're just going to have to learn on the job.
05:20It's the end of April.
05:26With the official handover of their new business scheduled for next week,
05:31Dave and Emily are back in Huddersfield.
05:35You're going to have to push it upwards.
05:37Push it towards me so I can take the work.
05:39Clearing out the last of their things from their old family home.
05:43I can't lift that any higher.
05:46Before the sale completes.
05:50Right.
05:55How are you?
05:56OK, that didn't work.
05:59Today's all about packing the van.
06:02Am I doing it right?
06:03I think we need to squidge it in a little bit more than that.
06:06Packing our lives up is something that over the last 11 years that we've been together,
06:11we've done quite a few times.
06:13We've lived in one, two, three, four, six houses in 11 years.
06:21What are you doing?
06:26Where are you going?
06:27So that we can both just walk on in line.
06:28It's too long.
06:30It doesn't actually feel real.
06:31I feel like I'm just going on holiday.
06:33But I think once we land in France, it'll be...
06:37It'll start to feel a little bit more real.
06:38In the far south-eastern corner of Spain lies Almería.
06:58Wild, rugged and a world away from the bustling tourist towns on the coast.
07:03It just reminds me of the Wild West. It's just stunning. It's beautiful.
07:06And since moving here from Leicestershire,
07:09former dog groomer Emma has been enjoying exploring the region on foot.
07:13This is a natural spring, which is great for a bit of refreshment.
07:22I've been told by an elderly Spanish, very elderly, she's 92, bless her,
07:27by drinking the spring water, it adds 10 years to your life,
07:30so it's got to be worth a try.
07:32Living somewhere like this was a dream born in Emma's childhood.
07:38A dream that never faded.
07:41From going on holiday as a child, I just fell in love with the place.
07:44I love the culture, the language, the people, and obviously the sunshine.
07:49Come on.
07:50That was always the life goal. I feel like a piece of my heart here.
07:54After both her sons flew the nest, the time was right for Emma to make her long-held dream a reality.
08:01I would never be here without my son's permission, basically.
08:05I asked them first and foremost.
08:09And they said, yeah, you've raised us, Mum, so it's your time now.
08:14Which, yeah, they're special boys, so then I set the wheels in motion.
08:19Emma's house hunt has led her to a 300-year-old rural cortillo near the village of Orilla, full of original features.
08:31These two rooms are the oldest part of the building, so this is the lounge area.
08:36In the summer months, it's actually the coolest room in the house.
08:39It also boasts five bedrooms, a large bathroom, traditional kitchen and ample outside space.
08:48Here, obviously speaks for itself, a beautiful sun-soaked terrace.
08:54All set within an acre of land with mountain views.
09:02Having been brought up on a farm, I always wanted a big farmhouse with land.
09:08And I would never, ever be able to afford that in the UK.
09:11So for me to have that here is just amazing.
09:14Happy to be here.
09:16But to ensure she can stay in her rural retreat, which she spent 10 months renovating, Emma needs a regular income.
09:25Delicate teacups.
09:28So she's begun renting out four of her bedrooms on a bed-and-breakfast basis
09:32and hopes to boost her earnings by expanding into events and retreats.
09:38Now it's time with the business being open for guests that I,
09:42now I become the hostess and offer the hospitality side and begin to create something here
09:48that would both nourish me professionally and personally,
09:52but also be able to offer that to other people who would visit as well.
09:55I'm a big believer in no risk, no reward.
10:01It's early May and the start of Emma's first summer season,
10:06the most lucrative time of the year.
10:11Another table required.
10:13And to capitalise on it, she's advertised a series of new events on social media.
10:19Are you going to help me, Phyllis?
10:22Can you help me?
10:26We're having a Greek extravaganza event today.
10:30Basically it's a whole package where people book to come for the day,
10:33they have an afternoon tea, they have an evening meal
10:36and then they stay over for the night and then breakfast in the morning.
10:39I've always wanted to do something a little bit different.
10:42I just love seeing people enjoy themselves, so I get a real kick out of that.
10:48At €160 per couple, Emma's sold six tickets for the full package
10:53and is expecting additional guests in the evening.
10:56Does that look odd?
11:00Yeah.
11:02So she's hired friend Hilary to help in the kitchen.
11:05So they're the flatbreads, are they?
11:08Yeah. Wicked.
11:12But as 2pm rolls round, there's no sign of anyone arriving at Emma's remote hilltop cortijo.
11:21Raring to go. Just literally waiting on guests now to arrive,
11:24so it should be any minute now.
11:25But I am half expecting them to get a little bit lost, so I need to keep an eye on my phone
11:29to make sure they find it okay.
11:32Just waiting on them now.
11:33I'm waiting on them now.
11:41120 miles south-west, and also a little off the beaten track,
11:46is the traditional whitewashed village of Polopos.
11:49At 800 metres above sea level, halfway between the Med and the Contra Viesa mountain range,
11:57while it's a hidden beauty, it's a place with meaning for Nigel from Wiltshire
12:02and his Spanish husband Fede.
12:04Look what a beautiful day.
12:07And it's only February.
12:09The pair met in the UK 11 years ago,
12:12and regularly holidayed here due to Fede's family links.
12:17His grandfather used to be the village doctor.
12:20Look, that's the street that is named after my granddad.
12:24Having both worked in hospitality in Bath,
12:28they want to use their skills to open their own B&B,
12:31which they'll base out of a former 25-room guest house in the village,
12:36which they've bought at a knock-down price.
12:38We viewed it, liked it,
12:43and I had a couple of cheeky wines one evening and emailed the owner,
12:47and we managed to bag it for 70,000 euros, which is 58,000 pounds.
12:52So if it weren't for the wine that I had and emailed the owner,
12:55we wouldn't be in this situation now, so it paid off.
12:59Also driving them to take the plunge to chase their dream of moving to Spain
13:05was the passing of Nigel's father.
13:08Losing my dad last January made us realise that, you know,
13:12life's too short and we are here today because of that, unfortunately.
13:17But Dad would have been really proud.
13:19It's a dream come true and, you know, I do pinch myself every day.
13:23But to make a life for themselves here,
13:25this pair of DIY novices need to restore their dilapidated building
13:30into guest accommodation and a home for themselves as soon as possible.
13:34Yeah, we haven't got an endless pot of money, but, you know,
13:39we think if we're sensible with the funds...
13:41This is one of our biggest challenges.
13:45Apart from marrying him.
13:47It's now early February.
13:53Right, this is where the work begins, mister.
13:56And Nigel and Fede are kick-starting their B&B renovations.
14:01I love to sort out.
14:04As you can see, it's...
14:06The lady had a lot of stuff.
14:08But we'll get there.
14:10The first task is sorting through the previous occupants' possessions,
14:14which have been left behind.
14:16Some tinsel.
14:19Pink makes the boys wink.
14:22Maybe I do it to you.
14:26Mr Pink.
14:33It's like a Pandora's box.
14:35Here we are just...
14:37discovering new things.
14:39And we'll try to make use...
14:41Look.
14:44Make use of it.
14:46The old bar is also earmarked to stay.
14:49And what would you like, sir?
14:52I would like gin and tonic, please.
14:54Gin and tonic? Oh, that's brave of you.
14:57I thought I'd left my bar days behind me, but who knows?
15:01You know, could have a fun few evenings here.
15:04Oh, it looks like somebody's left something behind already.
15:06LAUGHTER
15:09Oh, my God.
15:11Alongside the clear-out,
15:13Nigel's also in the process of selling a motorhome back in the UK.
15:19Hello?
15:21Is that Ali?
15:23As the extensive renovations needed
15:26are likely to run into thousands of euros.
15:2925 rooms is a lot to deal with, so every penny counts.
15:33And, you know, all my funds and my savings
15:37have gone into this property,
15:39and likewise with Freddie.
15:41So, you know, we need to get this sold
15:43to be able to continue.
15:47Coming up...
15:49It was a big shock and a big change
15:51and very, very daunting.
15:53Reality hits as Emily and Dave arrive
15:55at their new home and business across the Channel.
15:58It's a little bit dirtier than we thought it was going to be,
16:00to say the least.
16:01All I'm doing is swishing round muck.
16:04And will the long trip to Emma's rural location
16:07pay off for her guests?
16:09With the events here,
16:11there's a catchment area that I'm aiming for
16:13from maybe 40, 45 minutes away today.
16:15In the Dordogne in South West France, it's now May, and having said goodbye to the UK for good,
16:33Dave and Emily have been getting their family settled into their new French home, above their new pub.
16:38So, from work...
16:41To home.
16:43This is our makeshift living room.
16:46At some stage, this will be a kitchen. Like, a proper kitchen.
16:52Yeah, there's not even any lighting in here or anything. It's pretty dark.
16:56While it's a work in progress...
16:59So, the bedrooms are all up this way.
17:03To ease the family's transition to France, they've prioritised getting son Hugo's bedroom set up.
17:10He wanted two blue walls because he wants a gaming corner in this corner.
17:14And making daughter Willow's room feel homely too.
17:18She wanted pinks and she wanted greens. So, you did this wall, didn't you?
17:21I did the wall.
17:23And again, she's dead happy in here, isn't she?
17:25It's functional now, and it's comfortable for the kids.
17:28Yeah, they're fine out there. They have no problem.
17:30Yeah, they've got what they need.
17:32It's a big shock and a big change and very, very daunting, but the amount of work we've done in three weeks,
17:38we know now that we can do it with kids and guinea pigs and dogs.
17:41But with purse strings tight, they're now forced to put the rest of their home renovations on hold until the pub turns a profit.
17:51We're not open, we're not actually making any money yet.
17:54But, you know, once we've started to get some money coming in...
17:57Yeah.
17:58..and we'll come upstairs and we'll be like, wow, look at what we've done.
18:02And we've fought and we've made it work.
18:04Yeah.
18:05Cos it 100% has to.
18:07It can't not work.
18:08There's no going back now, the kids are French, they're in French school.
18:10Yeah.
18:11This is...
18:12They're eating octopus for lunch.
18:15They don't want to go back and have chicken nuggets.
18:17No, no.
18:20Having set their opening day for just over a week's time though...
18:26I'm really not enjoying it, it just makes me feel sick.
18:30..the pair now have their work cut out to get the pub ready.
18:34Today we are getting our heads round cleaning a professional kitchen for the very first time.
18:42And it's a little bit dirtier than we thought it was going to be, to say the least.
18:48I'm just dismantling the cooker hood so we can give that a really good clean.
18:53It isn't the most pleasant job that I've ever done.
18:56All I'm doing is swishing round muck.
19:00I've been doing this for an hour and a half and I've got nowhere.
19:06Is that supposed to be clean up there?
19:10Ew.
19:12Let's move to France and buy a restaurant.
19:15Wow.
19:17It's a good job the wine is cheap.
19:21I'm definitely going to need a shower tonight.
19:26Do you know what I need?
19:27Do you know what I need?
19:29A bath?
19:30A bath.
19:31What I haven't got?
19:32One step at a time.
19:34Rome wasn't built in a day I think they said.
19:46Across in southern Spain, having already opened for business,
19:50today is the trial of Emma's new Greek extravaganza event.
19:54Once her guests have managed to navigate their way to her rural Cortijo.
20:01With the events here, there's a catchment area that I'm aiming for,
20:06so it's trying to sort of get the word out locally, really.
20:09Within about an hour's radius,
20:11people tend to travel for unique events, experiences,
20:14so they're coming from maybe 40, 45 minutes away today.
20:19Having provided detailed directions,
20:21it means her nervous wait is soon over.
20:24You're welcome.
20:26This is Phyllis.
20:27She will just kiss you to death.
20:29So where is it you've come from today?
20:31Hueco la Vera.
20:32Hueco la Vera.
20:33Oh, fantastic.
20:34Yes, love it there.
20:36Right, I shall show you your room.
20:38OK, thank you.
20:39This one is the Granada room and it has the best views of the mountains.
20:47Breakfast in bed, though.
20:49Well, you know, it can be arranged.
20:52It's absolutely gorgeous.
20:54Thank you very much.
20:55And it's not long before more guests are here to check in.
21:00You're in the en suite room, which is just to the external part of the house,
21:05so I'll just take you round there.
21:07As her first guests soak up the sun with welcome drinks,
21:11the final prep for the afternoon tea is made,
21:16Emma having put her own twist on a British classic.
21:18We have Greek-themed afternoon tea, or Greek-inspired, shall we say.
21:25Erm, so we have little shot pots of creamy rice pudding,
21:30a syrup sponge cake, flatbreads with coronation chicken
21:35and feta, salad and pesto.
21:39Yep.
21:40Scones are a classic, no-brainer, jam and cream.
21:44Erm, so, yeah, that will all be going out first
21:47with endless supplies of tea and coffee.
21:51Although one couple are yet to arrive,
21:54Emma gets serving keen to stick to the day's schedule.
21:58How's it looking? I think we're there.
22:01It's looking good.
22:05We'll check these out first.
22:08Now to negotiate the...
22:11..the curtain.
22:13It's all going to be fine.
22:14Her selection of sweet and savoury treats are getting the thumbs up.
22:24Are you OK for drinks?
22:26Yes.
22:27Yep, fantastic. Enjoy.
22:29Through the curtain again.
22:31And would you like tea or coffee with your afternoon tea?
22:38Can I have one like coffee, please?
22:39Absolutely.
22:41One tea, one coffee. Wonderful.
22:44Hi, guys. Hello.
22:45How are you doing?
22:46Hi, thank you.
22:48Good to meet you, Emma.
22:49Good to meet you.
22:51After her final customers arrive...
22:55Here we go, ladies.
22:57Emma grabs the opportunity to take some publicity photos
23:01to help market future events.
23:03Would you mind if I took a photo of you both?
23:08Wonderful. Thank you.
23:09Because if today goes well, she hopes her Greek-themed event
23:14will be a regular in the Cortillo's calendar.
23:17Everybody seems really settled and happy.
23:20Tea and coffee's flowing.
23:22Vintage China on the go.
23:24They've complimented me on the details on the table,
23:26which is always good.
23:28So, yeah, all good.
23:30With the event halfway through,
23:32Emma must now prepare for the evening's activities.
23:38There is a stain on it somewhere.
23:41I think we'll get away with that.
23:46Lee, the chef, has arrived for this evening
23:48and we're just turning tables around.
23:50People have made friends that well
23:52that have requested to sit together for dinner.
23:54So, we're just reconfiguring the tables
23:56so it would just be a better atmosphere for them.
23:58But with an extra 12 guests expected
24:01for the Greek-themed drinks and music,
24:04can she keep the good reviews coming all night long?
24:14Coming up...
24:15We can't move it electrically
24:17because rodents have gone through the cable.
24:20There's an invasion of critters for Nigel and Fed.
24:23And there's a wasp nest in there.
24:25Oh! There's a gecko!
24:29And in France...
24:32Oh, no! No!
24:34Are Emily and Dave about to throw in the towel?
24:36I did have a big wobble this morning.
24:38I was thinking,
24:40I can't do this.
24:41This is too much.
24:42It's February in Palopos in southern Spain.
24:55And Nigel and Fed are continuing to clear out their new property
24:59with help from friend Steve.
25:01What about this one, Steve?
25:03Still too long.
25:05Today's task being the removal of an old stair lift.
25:07It is in the way to get the big furniture down, like the sofas and the beds.
25:19But the problem we've got is we can get to all the screws down the staircase,
25:23but the one at the top here where the seat is actually encased is covering the screws.
25:29And we can't move it electrically because the rodents have gone through the cable.
25:36But after some careful manoeuvring...
25:47We're using the screwdriver to move it down the chain so we can get to the screws at the top
25:53to be able to take it straight off.
25:55They finally have success.
26:00There we go. It's ready.
26:03Right, get the grubby end.
26:07Yeah, we thought the furniture was going to be the eye job,
26:10but we've managed now to get that out, so that's a good thing.
26:13We can quickly get the two sofas and things that we need to
26:16and hopefully they'll disappear in the night.
26:19Two weeks later, having made steady progress inside,
26:25Nigel and Fede are turning their attention
26:28for the first time to the outside of the property.
26:31If you rub down the ironworks
26:33and then I'll start sanding the doors down.
26:36Along with restoring and repainting the ironwork
26:40and all 28 windows and seven doors,
26:43the pair also plan to repaint the building's vast exterior.
26:47So it's a relief that they've just received
26:50a very welcome £24,000 cash injection.
26:54Last weekend I got a phone call to say
26:56that somebody was interested in buying the motorhome.
26:59They confirmed on the Monday that they wanted it,
27:02so I arranged for flights Wednesday
27:04and I literally got back yesterday morning
27:06and successfully sold it,
27:08so it gives us a financial input.
27:11We can look at hopefully completing it by the end of the year
27:15without no worries as long as we keep the purse strings tight.
27:20To get started out here,
27:22they must first remove some old light fittings.
27:26Can you pass me the scissors so I can cut this one off?
27:29Oh, this one's not even attached.
27:31Scissors.
27:32And there's a wasp nest in there.
27:34What are you doing with that?
27:35What are you doing with that?
27:36What are you doing with that?
27:37Oh!
27:38There's a gecko!
27:39There he is.
27:44Having said a surprise hello to their new neighbours.
27:48Right.
27:49Job done.
27:51Fede begins sanding the ironwork
27:54whilst Nigel moves on to the doors.
27:57This is our first DIY project,
28:00so every step of the way is learning.
28:03Yeah, looks totally different, doesn't it?
28:06Yeah, already.
28:07Compared to that one when you put them both together.
28:10You don't have to take right down to the bear.
28:15You've only got to take the rusty bits off.
28:18Much better now.
28:20He's got a good job by the end of the day, not tomorrow.
28:25Unfortunately, I got the shorter straw.
28:29Nigel is doing an easier job.
28:32I've sanded both doors in the time he's done half a gate.
28:36But which work is better, though?
28:39Exactly.
28:43But Nigel's reward for finishing first
28:45is he gets to make a start on the windows.
28:48I'm taking the mosquito netting off
28:51because it's all damaged.
28:53And what I want to do is get to the ironworks
28:56to be able to paint them.
29:01Not the safest.
29:03Don't wait to hold it.
29:05Nigel, that leg is gone.
29:11I knew it had.
29:12I think that ladder needs to go to the doctor's.
29:14It has a broken leg.
29:18As DIY novices, it's going to be a long road ahead.
29:22But Nigel and Fede are determined
29:24to create the business they've long dreamt of.
29:27We've got no excuses now we've sold them at home
29:30because we've got funds behind us properly
29:33that can help fund the bigger jobs that we want done.
29:37Yeah, it does motivate us to see already the results
29:41and with just a bit of time you can see a difference.
29:46You know, I think every day that we come now
29:48is going to be a different thing to motivate us to the next day.
29:52Across in south-west France, with their own mountain of work ahead,
30:04there's just over a week until Emily and Dave open their pub.
30:07Once we're open though, the kitchen is not my job, the bar is my job.
30:16The kitchen is not your job?
30:18The kitchen is your job.
30:19I will be out the front mostly, but I make a better curry than Dave.
30:25He makes a different curry than Dave.
30:27So I'll have to do the curry.
30:28I make a better burger than Dave.
30:30I make a better sandwich than Dave.
30:32So I'll have to do the sandwiches.
30:34So Dave will just do chips.
30:36But yeah.
30:37Well, I'll just do as I'm told basically.
30:40While they're slowly making progress cleaning the place up...
30:44I've nearly done the top.
30:46Then I have to start on the side.
30:49This morning has been a huge reality check
30:52that all of the cooking equipment and even the dishwasher...
30:56Quickly.
30:57Boom!
30:59..will need to be scrubbed and disinfected.
31:04Oh no!
31:05No!
31:06No!
31:07How can you wash things in that?
31:11This place just goes from bad to worse.
31:13It's not, it's fine.
31:15I think it's like a bird's nest though.
31:17Oh, brilliant.
31:18Brilliant.
31:19Testing their resilience as they race to get the pub ready.
31:26We learn more and more every single day.
31:28We've never run a pub before.
31:30And I did have a big wobble this morning.
31:32When I started to get into this, I was thinking,
31:34I can't do this.
31:36This is too much.
31:37You know, Em actually had to say to me,
31:39go and sit down outside, take a little breather,
31:41compose yourself.
31:42We'll do the hard work.
31:43We have to remember that the place has been closed for six months as well.
31:47Yeah.
31:48You know, we're making forward movement.
31:53I need a glass of wine.
31:56But that will have to wait until they've managed to fully stock their bar.
32:00Another job on their growing to-do list.
32:03So it's an absolute mess everywhere at the minute.
32:09That also includes putting their own stamp on the pub interior.
32:14You know, people can come, they can play pool.
32:17And we're going to get a dart board up.
32:18Oh, put it there.
32:19This side here, yeah.
32:20Because, obviously, a bit of the old arrows.
32:23This could be our disco room as well.
32:26A disco room?
32:27Party, party.
32:28I thought you didn't want a party pub.
32:29I don't.
32:30I'm joking.
32:31This area down here, where it's set up as a restaurant,
32:34we kind of imagine a couple of Chesterfield chairs.
32:37Yeah, it needs to be more cosy.
32:39A low table.
32:40Yeah.
32:42Being in a tourist area with so much going on.
32:45I do think that if in summer, when we've got this abundance of people,
32:48if we shoot for the stars, we might just get there.
32:52Yeah.
32:54The couple may be full of ideas
32:56and have already proudly put their name above the bar.
32:59You had me that made for Christmas, didn't you?
33:01Yeah.
33:02So, the Dunes were established in France in 2025,
33:05so that's taken pride of place up there.
33:09But as they embark on new careers,
33:11nerves are beginning to creep in.
33:14Being behind the bar, it makes me feel really small,
33:16like everything's just scary.
33:18There's going to be loads of people just staring at me
33:21and speaking French and it's a big change.
33:30Coming up...
33:31Hello.
33:33Oh, where's that?
33:34Not sure where that is.
33:35Emma's mountain location has more of her guests in a spin.
33:39Go there and then put in the pin and then that will take you correct.
33:43And as Nigel and Fede's renovations continue...
33:46I ain't got the battery.
33:47I'm trying to use a drill and I ain't got the battery on it.
33:50A golden marketing opportunity passes by their front door.
33:54Ooh.
33:55It's of the village.
33:56Wow.
33:57It's our house.
33:58That's brilliant.
33:59How cool is that?
34:11In Almeria, after a successful afternoon tea, Emma's now gearing up for the second part of her new Greek event,
34:19which will see an extra 12 guests arriving soon.
34:22I'm thinking the same dips with the Lankhofters, perhaps.
34:25Yeah.
34:26Would they go quite nicely?
34:27Yeah, yeah, yeah.
34:28Yeah.
34:29With Hilary continuing to help, she's also hired fellow British expat Lee to take charge of the three-course dinner
34:36and local musician Jackie to provide the evening's soundtrack.
34:44So, basically, you'll be set up here.
34:46Okay?
34:47Is that all okay for you?
34:49But as he gets ready, Emma's mountain location has some of her new guests confused.
34:55Hello.
34:56Ooh, where's that?
34:58Not sure where that is.
34:59Don't go left there.
35:00That'll take you down Rambladoria.
35:02You don't want to go there.
35:03So, go to the Gasolinera.
35:05Yeah, you want, yeah, on the instructions.
35:08If you go there and then put in the pin and then that will take you correct.
35:13Okay.
35:14All right.
35:15See you shortly.
35:16All right.
35:17Bye.
35:18Bye.
35:19So, Chef Lee is in the thick of it at the moment in the kitchen.
35:23We're expecting another couple of guests in just a few minutes.
35:26They've just rang me for some directions.
35:28We've got other guests that have gone to their rooms to get ready for this evening's meal.
35:32Hillary is busy laying the tables and making it all look lovely.
35:36And, yeah, we've just got a slight cutlery shortage, so we're going to sort that one out.
35:43As today's event is a trial, Emma's learning as she goes.
35:47I'd just do one fork.
35:48It's what they do in Spain.
35:50But it's not yet impacted her guests' experience.
35:56The afternoon tea was excellent.
35:58We've really enjoyed it so far, haven't we?
36:00We have blessed.
36:01It was a bit tricky to get here, but nothing that you wouldn't get in Spain anyway.
36:07And, all in all, a very good experience and really looking forward to the Greek food tonight.
36:13Lee is about ten minutes off finishing the food.
36:16I'm going to get everybody to sit at their tables.
36:19So, yeah, drink's going down nicely.
36:21People are mingling, so it's all good.
36:23With her terrace filling up...
36:25Hola, nice to meet you. Hola.
36:32The evening meal is served.
36:34I want half to two salad.
36:36It's all that's left, so...
36:39You've done this before.
36:41Emma has certainly come good on her promise of a Greek menu and music.
36:46The guitarist has just started performing.
36:49I'm very pleased with the numbers, actually.
36:51They're all tucking in nicely.
36:53There's a few that have arrived just for drinks, which is good as well.
36:56It's fantastic just to see a crowd on the terrace, which is exactly what I've aimed for.
37:01As the sun sets over the mountains, and the meal wrapping up, the Greek dancing soon begins.
37:16Emma's remote location now coming into its own, with no noise limits to worry about.
37:22Allowing everyone the freedom to party the night away.
37:40The following morning, Emma's eight overnight guests begin to stir.
37:44She's hoping to cure any hangovers with breakfast and some strong coffee.
37:53It got a little bit rowdy on the terrace, shall we say, till about 3am last night.
38:00Thankfully our neighbours are far away, so they can't hear what's going on.
38:04We've had a lot to process after such an epic day.
38:08My brain is very much still whirring, but on the whole, really happy with how everything went.
38:14As her guests prepare to check out after breakfast, they too have enjoyed their stay.
38:20Really good all-round package.
38:22Yeah.
38:23Beautiful surroundings too.
38:25The food was amazing, and the whole atmosphere.
38:28Lots of singing, lots of dancing on the terrace.
38:30It's been wonderful, it's a lovely experience.
38:32I'm not going to Greece again, I'm coming to Spain to have a Greek night.
38:37All the best.
38:39Everyone is leaving with memories made and new friendships formed.
38:43Well, all the best.
38:45Thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
38:48The last guests have checked out, and they were full of praise and lovely compliments.
38:52I'm a little bit tired from the event, but yeah, well worth it, well worth it.
38:57And with this successful event under her belt, she hopes it will signal the start of a busy summer ahead.
39:11Two and a half hours southwest in the village of Polopos, it's now early March.
39:16Having made a start painting the exterior doors and window frames of their new B&B,
39:22due to wet weather, Nigel and Fede have been forced to park exterior jobs.
39:28I ain't got the battery. I'm trying to use a drill and I ain't got the battery on it.
39:32And turn their attention back inside.
39:35Ta-da!
39:38The pair have begun to breathe new life into the old bar area.
39:42Freddie's treated the beams and painted the ceiling.
39:48We've put the panel in them on the walls and we've painted the front of the bar.
39:54And this afternoon, they hope to add the final decorative details.
39:58The smaller one needs to go in the centre up there.
40:02Beautiful.
40:03And then the other four have to go in the centre of these.
40:07Like that.
40:09Just to give it a finishing touch at the top.
40:14Yay!
40:16It looks good.
40:17Well done.
40:19Very nice. Look how quickly you've done it.
40:22That's the thing, Freddie can't see the end picture until it's done.
40:26True.
40:27I think it's difficult for someone to explain exactly the idea.
40:33I have to wait to see the final result.
40:36And the finished look will have the golden accents running from the bar across to the bench seating.
40:43It's definitely bringing the colour into and along the room so it makes it look that it matches the bar.
40:51So now we'll just get the padded seating ordered and give it another wipe down once we've painted the walls.
40:57Pretty happy with the result. It looks really good.
41:00It's one room done out of 25.
41:04Long term maybe we will open it up as a bar, a public bar.
41:08And, you know, hopefully then bring more custom to the village.
41:13But who knows, we'll wait and see.
41:16Yeah, so far we are going to focus on opening it as a DMV.
41:20Yeah, and we are going to use the bar at the beginning for like a social place.
41:24And also it can be used, for example, for guests that they want to have breakfast in this area as well.
41:31Yeah.
41:32We'll see, but definitely we'll make it some useful.
41:36While Nigel and Fede explore their options to hire in extra help to speed up the renovations,
41:43for now it continues to be just the pair of them.
41:46Working such long hours together, I tend to whistle and make noises that I don't notice it.
41:56I need him to tell me, so I stop it.
42:00I thought he was going to say, because we work together more, that he loves me more.
42:05Yeah, every day more and more.
42:06A week later, and with the sun back out, Nigel and Fede are taking the opportunity to celebrate a local bike race running through the village.
42:19What a great event.
42:21Now that you know how it looks like next year, you can participate.
42:24Busy weekends like this bring people to Pelopos from across the region.
42:32So once their B&B is open, it's the kind of event they'll want to capitalise on.
42:37Look, this is the village.
42:40But look, it's our house.
42:43How cool is that?
42:44It's good that the villagers come out and support it. You know, this is only a handful from what I'll be here later.
42:51But you know, it's right away from the seafront all the way up, so people are supporting them all the way up to the finish.
42:57Fede's brother Luis and sister Arantra have also made the journey.
43:02For Pelopos.
43:06And after the race, they're keen to check out the progress at the B&B.
43:11Oh my God!
43:16How beautiful.
43:18Come in, have a look.
43:20And welcome to the bar area.
43:22Wow!
43:24Get ready for the surprise.
43:26Oh!
43:28Wow!
43:31Yeah, the bar, it looks so different.
43:34It's like, for me, it's like, they change, you know, the old furniture, but it looks quite different.
43:40Yeah, they did very good work.
43:43And getting Fede's family's seal of approval is just the boost they need to keep going on their renovation marathon.
43:51It's good to have a second opinion and know that you are doing the right thing.
43:57You know, now the bar is done, we know that we can move on with other rooms and I've got that backing of how it's going to turn out.
44:04And it's exciting really.
44:07It is.
44:12Next time...
44:14It's all turned on, it's ready, it's cold.
44:16Off we go!
44:18Dave and Emily inch closer to first orders at their new pub.
44:21It's all new to us. It's trial and error.
44:24In Spain, the stakes remain high for Emma as she pushes on with new events.
44:30Financially, it was the biggest risk I've ever taken because I put everything into this.
44:35And a closer look at Nigel and Fede's B&B...
44:38As you can see, it's completely rotten all the way along.
44:41...delays the opening...
44:42We've had rain on and off now like this for two weeks.
44:45...of their new business.
44:48That's it.
44:49That's it.
44:50That's it.
45:04That's it.
45:06So thank you for sharing your attention.
45:10I'll see you in love with Rachel.
45:12I'll see you in next time.
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