Salvage Hunters star Drew Pritchard knew that his dream renovation was a gamble, but the reality hit hard when, 10 months in, he blew through his £200,000 budget.
The TV star found himself in dire straits after being turned down for a bridging loan and reaching the limit on his credit cards. In a desperate bid to keep his project alive – the restoration of a five-storey Georgian townhouse in Bath, Somerset – Drew was forced to sell off some of his most cherished and collectibles.
“There’s been a lot of stress, sleepless nights, a lot of worry because I can’t back out now,” he confessed in the latest instalment of the special Salvage Hunter series titled Georgian House Restoration. “It’s not a never-ending supply of money. You know, I don’t have have a magic money tree, as they say.”
The Quest channel’s five-part series tracks Drew’s efforts to restore a Grade I-listed building that had been split into flats in the early ’70s. Having bought the property for £1.5million in summer 2022, Drew faced a “botched” conversion that left him with an uphill battle.
Despite completing emergency structural fixes, a new slate roof, and replacing 28 sash windows, the threat of further complications was ever-present, especially as the project fell months behind schedule and hit a critical point with the rejection of his loan application.
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Drew feels the pressures as costs mount and the schedule slips (Image: Quest/Warner Bros)
In a fraught conversation, he warned master builder Kieran Dixon Squire, “If I haven’t got the money in the account by Monday, we’re going to have to stop the build. And then we’ll lose the guys for months because they’ll have to go to another job.”
Drew was scrambling to find at least an additional £200,000 to finish the renovation, juggling finances but unwilling to compromise on quality or historical integrity. He insisted on using plant-based paints to maintain the authentic Georgian look, shunning modern chemical options.
The pressure mounted as 53-year-old Drew faced having to install new plumbing and electrics, with costs soaring over £150,000. The precarious financial situation drove him to a bold move – selling his beloved antiques warehouse and its contents in Conwy.
Drew’s personal collection, amassed across three decades, went under the hammer in a “once-in-a-lifetime auction”.
With around 600 lots up for grabs, including rarities such as the fossilised skull of an Irish elk and an 18th-century wooden vice from Italy, Drew was still left wondering if the auction earnings will be enough.
Drew’s team of experts and specialists have helped with the project (Image: Rory Lindsay/Quest TV)
He disclosed: “I’ve got some incredible things that I’ve collected over the years,” and added “Some I’ve paid way too much for, some came when they were worth nothing. The auction is basically a roll of the dice. This will help (improve finances) in part, but it’s the weirdest thing… it’s terrifying and therapeutic all at once.”
The collector confided: “I’m gambling the lot and so far I’m all right with it. This is the last time I’ll be having a large permanent base in North Wales and it’s sad, you know. I don’t know how I’m going to feel when the place is empty. But if it (the auction) goes right, it can be life changing.”
A prized possession, a valuable model of Steamboat Willie held for over 15 years, was Drew’s foremost auction piece. Initially costing him £3,500, he was delighted to sell it for £5,500.
Post-auction fees, he netted a profit of £1,200 despite not all items selling as expected. While some pieces failed to hit reserve prices, Drew generally felt the auction was successful, even though the earnings did not fully cover his restoration venture.
Faced with financial constraints, Drew makes a tough call, sharing with Kieran: “Unsurprisingly, I’ve run out of money. I’m going to have to stop work completely on certain parts of the house. For now, just so you know, there’s nothing left in the wallet. It’s empty.”
Having secured just enough funding, Drew made the strategic decision to prioritise renovations on the top two floors of his residence. These levels will house his own bedroom, a generously-sized bathroom, and a trio of guest rooms on the uppermost floor.
But he’s had to delay working on the basement and ground floor revamp, as well as the first floor which was set to include a reception area and study.
After transforming what he could, he said: “I’m fizzing with excitement because it just feels incredible. It’s better than I imagined and it’s exactly what I wanted.”