Salvage Hunters star Drew Pritchard has been feeling the financial pressure of his Georgian house restoration project in Bath, with the renovation almost grinding to a halt
Salvage Hunters’ star Drew Pritchard took a massive gamble when he embarked on restoring a five-storey Georgian townhouse in Bath, Somerset. He anticipated challenges but didn’t foresee the financial drain it would become.
Just 10 months into the revamp, Drew had blown through his initial £200,000 set aside for the renovations. With banks not extending a bridging loan and his credit cards tapped out, Drew resorted to selling some of his cherished antiques and collectibles to fund the continuing work.
In the latest instalment of Salvage Hunters: Georgian House Restoration, Drew confesses the project has been incredibly stressful. “There’s been sleepless nights and a lot of worry,” he shared.
“I can’t back out now, but I don’t have a magic money tree.”
This restoration saga, which is being documented over a five-part series on Quest, follows Drew’s journey in refurbishing a Grade I-listed building he snapped up in 2022 for £1.5million. Initially split into flats in the ’70s, the house had endured shabby makeover attempts which Drew and his squad are currently rectifying, reports the Mirror.
Adding to the woes, unforeseen obstacles have increased the expenses, necessitating an extra £200,000 for completion. Nevertheless, Drew insists on quality over cost-cutting, choosing classic materials such as plant-based paints instead of cheaper contemporary options.
The financial strain intensified for Drew when he discovered that the plumbing and electrical work would set him back a whopping £150,000. With no other options left, he was forced to sell his beloved antiques warehouse in Conwy, along with all its treasures.
By then, he had already shelled out for emergency repairs, including a brand-new slate roof and the replacement of 28 sash windows. Despite these measures, the threat of disaster loomed large.
The renovation project was lagging months behind, and to make matters worse, Drew’s loan application got the thumbs down, leaving him in quite the pickle. At one point, things got so dire that Drew had to break it to his builder, Kieran Dixon Squire, that if there wasn’t cash in the bank by Monday, they’d have to down tools on the house.
“If I don’t get the money, we’ll lose the guys,” he cautioned. In a desperate bid to drum up some funds, Drew made the tough call to auction off his personal collection, amassed over three decades.
The auction boasts 600 lots, featuring gems like a fossilised Irish elk skull and an exquisite 18th-century vice snapped up in Italy. Even with the auction, Drew was left biting his nails, uncertain if the proceeds would be enough to foot the bill.
“I’ve collected some amazing things,” Drew admits. “Some I paid far too much for, and some were worth nothing when I bought them. This auction is a gamble. It could help, but it’s terrifying and exciting all at once.”
The first gem to go under the hammer was a hefty model of Steamboat Willie, Mickey Mouse’s vintage vessel. Drew had forked out £3,500 for it and was chuffed when it raked in £5,500.
Even after the auction house took its cut, he pocketed a tidy £1,200 profit. But not every piece was a winner—some didn’t even hit the reserve price.
Overall, Drew reckoned the event went pretty smoothly, though it didn’t cough up enough dosh to finish off the old abode.
With his bank balance still looking a bit peaky, Drew faced some stark choices. “I’ve run out of money,” he spilled the beans to Kieran.
“We’ll have to knock off working on parts of the house.”
For the now, he aimed to get the top two floors done and dusted, setting up his bedroom, bathroom, and guest quarters. The basement and ground floor—with dreams of a swanky dining area and kitchen—plus the first-floor reception and study will have to bide their time.
Luckily, Drew scraped together the brass to sort out the upper levels, so he could shack up there while the rest of the pad gets sorted. Touring the spanking new rooms, Drew was buzzing like a bee.
“I’m fizzing with excitement,” he buzzed. “It’s better than I imagined, and it’s exactly what I wanted.”
Still, our man Drew’s aware this project’s a marathon, not a sprint. More moolah’s needed, and he might have to make one heck of a sacrifice soon. To see his restoration dream come true, parting ways with his most prized treasure might just be on the cards.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
