Channel 4’s Help! We Bought a Hotel isn’t just another renovation show. It’s a strangely compelling mix of Grand Designs ambition with a dash of Escape to the Chateau fantasy, all while managing to avoid the usual pitfalls of the genre. Instead of focusing solely on the nuts and bolts of DIY, the series turns its lens on the often-overlooked human element—the sheer audacity, the occasional delusion, and the inevitable exhaustion—of transforming crumbling European relics into hospitality hotspots.
Tuesday’s episode continues this theme, following several intrepid British entrepreneurs as they attempt to breathe new life into some seriously dilapidated properties. In France, we find hoteliers making a considerable life change, a move seemingly inspired by equal parts romanticism and a complete disregard for common sense. Meanwhile, in Italy, an aged palazzo begins its metamorphosis from dusty grande dame to, hopefully, a stylish hotel. Back in the UK, a Welsh couple uncovers some surprising, possibly even alarming, historical details about their heritage hotel—because what’s a renovation show without a little unexpected drama?
While hammers swing and paintbrushes fly, it’s the emotional and financial roller coasters that will keep me hooked.
Help! We Bought a Hotel Episode 2 airs Tuesday December 3, 2024 at 5:30 PM on Channel 4.
