Drew Pritchard, the star of the hit series Salvage Hunters, finds himself facing significant financial challenges as he attempts to restore his Georgian townhouse in Bath, Somerset. Originally purchased for £1.5 million, this ambitious renovation project has proved more difficult than anticipated, leading Pritchard to exhaust his £200,000 budget within just ten months.
With the struggle underway, Pritchard must now resort to selling some of his most cherished antiques to fund the restoration’s continued progress. The historical townhouse had previously been subdivided poorly during the 1970s, requiring substantial work to return it to its original glory.
Confronted with mounting debts and inadequate funds, Pritchard candidly laid out the gravity of the situation one day, admitting to 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.” His words reflect the intense pressure mounting on the renovation as time marched on.
He adds, “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.” Despite his experience and passion for antique restoration, Pritchard is encountering challenges he hadn’t anticipated. The project is now months behind schedule, which only adds to the stress and sleepless nights he has been experiencing.
Beyond the financial drain, the restoration has posed unexpected structural challenges. Despite investing heavily upfront, Pritchard soon found his budget stretched thin due to the complexity of the project. Increasing costs have limited his options significantly, especially after being rejected for bridging loans. Now he is frantically seeking solutions to avoid any halting of the delicate work undertaken.
“I can’t back out now, but I don’t have a magic money tree,” Pritchard shared during the latest episode of Salvage Hunters: Georgian House Restoration, emphasizing his commitment to seeing the project through, even when faced with adversity. Determined to maintain the building's historic elegance, he chooses traditional restoration materials, such as plant-based paints, over more modern options laden with chemicals.
The urgency to complete the restoration not only weighs heavily on Pritchard financially but also mentally. To alleviate some of his financial burden, he made the heart-wrenching decision to auction off his extensive collection of antiques, which he had spent decades amassing. This auction featured around 600 items, including rare antiques like the fossilized skull of an Irish elk and vintage pieces sourced from numerous trips over the years.
“I’ve got some incredible things I’ve collected over the years,” he remarked, showing emotional reluctance as he added, “Some I paid way too much for, and 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 financial stakes during the auction could hardly be higher for Pritchard; he's gambling everything on the sales to fund the restoration’s continuation. He expressed saddened anticipation as this represented not merely monetary value but part of his life’s work and passion for unique items. The first item, featuring the beloved model of Steamboat Willie, originally purchased for £3,500, sold for £5,500, generating some initial profits but many honorable possessions netted below expectations.
Having secured just enough funding to finish certain areas, Pritchard decided to focus on creating livable spaces first, tackling the top two levels, which will include his own bedroom and separate guest quarters. Yet, the basement and ground floor renovations, originally meant for adding spacious communal areas, will need to wait until more funds can be gathered.
Even amid financial uncertainty, there are moments of joy for Pritchard as he revels in the beauty of the completed top floors of the house. “I’m fizzing with excitement because it just feels incredible. It’s exactly what I wanted,” he reflected after the initial renovations. Awe and anticipation fill the air, but as Pritchard moves forward, he knows the road to full restoration is still fraught with challenges.
For now, even with worries looming over unpaid bills and unfinished projects, Drew Pritchard remains firmly dedicated to the vision of his Georgian townhouse, hoping to realize the dream home he's desired all along, one painstaking inch at a time.