Brits weren’t always greeted with the warmest of welcomes (Image: ARTE.tv/ Getty)
A documentary shed light on the struggles Brits face when and how they aren’t always greeted with the warmest of welcomes.
Brits have described their welcome by French locals as “lukewarm” in a series called ‘Little Britain in the Dordogne’, released in 2023.
Aired on French and channel Arte, the show follows the life of British expats who reveal the struggles they have faced when trying to integrate, including neighbour feuds and culture clashes.
The show shines a light on the tensions that have crept in between locals and the Brits who have snapped up country estates at bargain prices.
French locals feel Dordogne is turning into a “Little Britain” due to the arrival of English butches and barbers.
The Dordogne has between 5,000 and 10,000 British residents (Image: Getty)
The Dordogne has between 5,000 and 10,000 British residents with many Brits flocking to the area to enjoy its warmer climate and rural living.
One former Norfolk handyman, Graham Parker, aired his frustrations with the locals he’s tried to employ to work on his £1million 18th century gite – saying they take two-hour lunch breaks and return to the job “half-drunk.”
The handyman says he has had no luck in getting workers to adapt to British hours.
Mr. Parker said: “I just don’t get it. 12 o’clock – everything stops. Literally they stop, doesn’t matter what they’re doing til 2 o’clock. And then they can’t work because they’re half-drunk!”
Graham and his wife Nicola moved to Montignac-de-Lauzun, a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department where they snapped up a beautiful three-bedroom gite with a pool for around £1 milion after selling their barn conversion in Norfolk.
Graham and his wife Nicola aired their frustrations (Image: ARTE.tv )
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However, the couple have had a less than welcoming house warming from locals.
Graham said: “You’ve got the British coming over with their money and buying up all these old houses and renovating them.
“A lot of the French couldn’t afford what we’ve bought, and that’s where the divide comes.”
The 30-minute episode also follows the story of British couple Steve and Helen Robbins, originally from Oxford, who moved to the small Dordogne village of Eymet eight years ago.
The pair have been running a traditional English butchers at the local Thursday market where they have been selling a range of British comforts including Cumberland sausages, back bacon and a variety of pies.
Although they source their meat from local French farms, not all residents in Eymet are enjoying the impact of British shops in their village and even feel in the minority.
One local, who sells French baked goods at the stall next door to the Robbins, said: “There are English shops, an English barber. You’re often among the British in the shops here.”
Despite trying to learn the local language, Steve and Helen say the majority of their customers are English.
And one villager expressed their frustrations at the reluctance of Brits to try and learn the language.
They said: “They learn French slowly. They would need more lessons but they keep to themselves. So we have to speak English or there is no sale.”