A star of hit TV show Salvage Hunters took on a huge risk when he decided to restore a five-storey Georgian townhouse. He had previously described the house as riddled with "bodged repairs" and coated in white gloss paint, seeing it as the "worst house in the best location". However, despite the many challenges thrown Drew Pritchard's way during the tough project, he finally saw light at the end of the tunnel. After a brutal renovation project in which he had to auction off a number of prized possessions due to rising costs, he has been able to share the impressive end results.
Taking to his Instagram Stories, Drew shared an amazing end image with his followers. It showed an elegant designed room with pristine finishes. The airy room was well presented, including a marble-looking table in front of leather chairs. The snap came after he had said he was "unpacking" earlier in the week, showing off a fine collection of artwork – and a chair his followers say he can "never sell". And earlier this month he had revealed a "space that keeps giving" with the room just a shell. He explained in the caption that the original pine board flooring in the main principal room was being re-nailed.
Prior to his renovation project, he knew he faced an uphill battle with the property in Bath, Somerset. However, he took on the project anyway – and didn't realise just how much of a financial struggle it would become. Within 10 months of his rebuild project, Drew had wiped out the £200,000 cash he had budgeted for the renovation.
He had no bridging loan opportunity and he had maxed out his credit cards. It left the TV star needing to look at alternative methods. It left him needing to sell some of his most treasured antiques in order to avoid stopping the restoration. In the latest episode of Salvage Hunters: Georgian House Restoration, he admitted the project has caused him a lot of stress. “There’s been sleepless nights and a lot of worry,” he said. “I can’t back out now, but I don’t have a magic money tree.”.
The project has been filmed along the way, culminating in a five-part series on Quest. It focuses on his efforts to renovate the Grade I-listed property he bought in 2022 for £1.5 million. Initially, the property had been turned into five flats in the 1970s, before having a number of poor renovation jobs completed.
Throughout Drew's attempt to fix it, he has faced unexpected hurdles that have led to mounting costs. It's said to have needed an additional £200,000 to be completed. Despite this, Drew refuses to compromise on quality, opting for traditional materials, like plant-based paints, over cheaper modern alternatives.
At one point, with his finances still tight, Drew had to make tough choices. “I’ve run out of money,” he told builder Kieran. “We’ll have to stop work on some parts of the house for now.” For the time being, he decided to focus on completing the top two floors, which would house his bedroom, bathroom, and guest rooms. The basement, ground floor (which was meant to have a dining room and kitchen), and the first floor (with a planned reception room and study) will have to wait.
