Homes Under The Hammer's Martin Roberts gives shock update on hotel project, admitting ‘I have failed on every level'
WITH total honesty, Homes Under The Hammer presenter Martin Roberts admits: 'For a man who spends all his time telling people to make sure they stick to their budgets and timescales, I have failed on every single level.'
Two years ago, the property expert showed The Sun around his own DIY project to turn a run-down Welsh village pub into a top tourist attraction.
Advertisement
8
Homes Under The Hammer presenter Martin Roberts admits his project to renovate a Welsh pub has been a failure
Credit: Dan Jones Images
8
The back of the hotel shows a building in dire need of urgent renovation
Credit: Huw Evans
And just like he does on the hit property show, I asked: 'What is your timescale?'
Back then, in
spring
2023, Martin was convinced it would take just two years and around half a million pounds to
So here we are, two years later, and on the outside, the eight-bedroom boozer looks . . . exactly the same.
Martin, 61, who has witnessed more than 3,000 property renovations on his BBC daytime show, says: 'I'm still smiling but, oh my word, what a challenge it's been.
Advertisement
READ MORE ON MARTIN ROBERTS
'I'll be honest, it's the first commercial property I've ever done.
'There have been lots of residential houses and flats, but commercial properties have a lot more complications.
'I'd say we are 60 per cent of the way there.'
But when I ask how soon we can expect the pub to be open, Martin hedges his bets and shrugs: 'I think it's going to come together really quickly in the final few months.
Advertisement
Most read in News TV
'I'm hopeful for Halloween but Christmas would be good. If not, in time for Easter.'
One of the many hold-ups, according to Martin, has been dealing with planners who insist he makes preparations in case the pub in the former mining village of Blaencwm is hit by a once-in-a-century flood.
Homes Under the Hammer's Martin Roberts announces new series that's world's away from beloved BBC show
He says: 'We've got to do it right, and we will do it right, but unfortunately that means there's lots of hoops to jump through.'
It is only three years since Martin was minutes from death and
Advertisement
Doctors who carried out the surgery to drain fluid from the sac surrounding his heart told him in
future
to choose the easy life and avoid unnecessary stress.
That is advice he does not seem to have followed.
He could have spent his spare time living at his Rhondda Valley farmhouse — which he bought after falling in love with the area — and enjoying the stunning scenery which is popular with mountain bikers.
Instead he decided to seize life and bought the pub lock, stock and barrel — without telling his wife Kirsty.
Advertisement
My head is going, 'What the absolute bleep have you done here?'
Every single wall was cock-eyed, every single window was falling down. Add to that the small matter of bats nesting in the leaking roof.
Martin Roberts
In fact, father-of-two Martin thought he had kept the purchase a complete secret, but he reveals: 'My cleaner rang me up one day and said, 'Have you bought the Hendrewen?'
'It turns out her auntie was in the queue at Asda and the woman behind was saying, 'That
Martin Roberts
has bought the Hendrewen'.
'It's just hysterical because as far as I was concerned I hadn't told anybody, but it was being discussed in Asda.'
next
year — or whenever the pub finally opens.
Advertisement
But he has also given The Sun an exclusive peek at his architect's visualisations of how the pub will look when the work is finally done — including a wacky upside-down Rolls-Royce suspended from the ceiling in the dining area.
8
Martin has shared an artist's impressions of his ambitious plans to renovate the bar and restaurant
Credit: Supplied
8
The bar and hotel aims to employ around 30 locals in one of the most deprived areas in Europe
Credit: Supplied
As well as a new bar and restaurant, there will be eight bedrooms, all named after hit TV shows.
Advertisement
Martin says: 'When I was a travel journalist I probably stayed in hundreds of hotels and often they all looked the same.
'The ones I remember most are those where the rooms felt individual.
"So in my hotel I wanted to create rooms that had an individual feel.
'Then I woke up in the middle of the night and suddenly thought, why don't I theme them around what I know and what I'm known for, which is television.
Advertisement
'Each room is themed around a legendary TV show. Obviously we're going to have a
Homes
Under The Hammer room with lots of memorabilia and funny stuff from the 20 years of the show.
'We're going to have a Doctor Who room, which is very
science
fiction-y.
'Next Stereophonics'
'A Fawlty Towers room where the light fittings are broken, the wallpaper is hanging off, beds are going to be very creaky and lots of quotes from
Fawlty Towers
on the walls.
'A Question Of Sport room will have lots of sports memorabilia.
Advertisement
'There will also be a Top Of The Pops room, an Antiques Roadshow room, a Planet
Earth
room and one that is a tribute to Top Gear.
'I've been collecting things from car boot sales, flea
markets
and online for the last two years. Now I've got lots of TV memorabilia so these rooms can be decorated
in the style
of different telly programmes. It's going to be great.'
8
Martin is still optimistic his grand plans will accelerate over the coming months
Credit: Supplied
When the Hendrewen Hotel does finally open it will employ around 30 locals in one of the most deprived areas in Europe.
Advertisement
Teenage students on catering and hospitality management courses will get practical experience working in the pub and in the hotel.
Martin says: 'They'll get a chance to run a real-world place. We're going to have a teaching kitchen where
celebrity
chefs will come along and pass on their cookery skills.
'We're also putting in a stage with lots of musical instruments, which the locals will be able to come and use.
'And we'll have visiting musicians coming along, teaching musical skills to local kids. We might discover the
next
Advertisement
He also has a team of teens aged 15 to 17 working with his tradesmen, learning the skills to be plasterers, carpenters, electricians and plumbers.
Martin says: 'By working in the pub, these kids are getting a massive step up the ladder. A lot of their lives have been transformed.
'We've had kids come off drugs. We've had kids who wouldn't get up out of bed in the mornings who are now arriving early to work because they're enjoying it so much.
'These kids have been told by the schools that they're rubbish. They come in, we give them a paintbrush or a trowel and say, 'There's a wall, you've got to work on this'. We teach them, and they walk away, heads held high, a belief in themselves has returned.
Advertisement
'They also walk away with a CSCS card, an industry qualification which shows they've got the safety experience to work on a building site.
'If one day they say working with me was a turning point in their life, I'll be thrilled.
8
Martin plans to create TV themed rooms in the hotel, including one based on Homes Under The Hammer
Credit: Supplied
'Village lost its heart'
'Some of the youngsters have given up
drugs
. We have one lad who struggled to communicate because of a really strong stammer, but he's grown in confidence.
Advertisement
'Now he won't stop talking and his stammer has diminished, which is great to see.
'I was three hours away from death, so I am even more driven to do things, not to make me money — because it's certainly not doing that — but to do some good, and to change lives.
'Because that's what you'll be remembered for, not for having a million pounds in the bank.'
He adds: 'Bear in mind that some families around this area have generations of unemployment. It's like breaking a cycle and the kids get to see the joys of working.'
Advertisement
8
Martin has been presenting Homes Under The Hammer for two decades
Credit: Lion TV
And Martin admits there are still months of hard graft ahead. He says: 'I've broken every single one of my rules!
'I have been driven by my heart. I made the classic error of going, 'It's a little pub, it closed at the start of lockdown, and the village has lost its heart and it needs me'.
'At the same time, my head is going, 'What the absolute bleep have you done here?' Every single wall was cock-eyed, every single window was falling down. Add to that the small matter of bats nesting in the leaking roof.
Advertisement
'It has ups and downs. I still have days when I really struggle with my health.
'This is the thing that just keeps me going.
'I've got people relying on me and I won't let them down. I'm not going to give up.'
The last episode of Martin's programme will be the hotel's grand opening.
Advertisement
He has already booked the world- famous Treorchy Male Choir and a big-name female
celebrity
.
He says: 'I am absolutely supersizing it for the opening.
'The Valleys will have never seen anything like it."
And there's light at the end of his tunnel too...
8
Martin has played a key role in the renovation the tunnel linking the Rhondda and Afan Valleys
Credit: Huw Evans
Advertisement
THE end is in sight for Martin's other fix-me-up project in the Welsh Valleys.
His hotel in Blaencwm sits at one end of an incredible two-mile railway tunnel that has been closed off for more than 60 years.
Martin is patron of the campaign to reopen the tunnel, which links the Rhondda and Afan Valleys, and turn it into a major tourist attraction.
When it reopens it will be the longest all-year-round-use tunnel in the world for cyclists and walkers.
Advertisement
Last week Railway Paths, a charity that restores old railway infrastructure, became a partner in the Rhondda Tunnel, which was used to transport coal from mines in the Valleys to
Swansea
docks.
The £2million restoration could be open in two years.
Martin says: 'Now all we want is for the Department for Transport to give us the tunnel. It's not going to cost the UK or the Welsh governments anything.
'The partnership with Railway Paths is a
marriage
made in heaven.
Advertisement
'This could be the vital step to finally making our dreams and hopes a reality.
'Being the longest continually open walking and cycling tunnel in the world will attract visitors from all around the globe to this area.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Homes Under The Hammer's Martin Roberts gives shock update on hotel project, admitting ‘I have failed on every level'
WITH total honesty, Homes Under The Hammer presenter Martin Roberts admits: 'For a man who spends all his time telling people to make sure they stick to their budgets and timescales, I have failed on every single level.' Two years ago, the property expert showed The Sun around his own DIY project to turn a run-down Welsh village pub into a top tourist attraction. Advertisement 8 Homes Under The Hammer presenter Martin Roberts admits his project to renovate a Welsh pub has been a failure Credit: Dan Jones Images 8 The back of the hotel shows a building in dire need of urgent renovation Credit: Huw Evans And just like he does on the hit property show, I asked: 'What is your timescale?' Back then, in spring 2023, Martin was convinced it would take just two years and around half a million pounds to So here we are, two years later, and on the outside, the eight-bedroom boozer looks . . . exactly the same. Martin, 61, who has witnessed more than 3,000 property renovations on his BBC daytime show, says: 'I'm still smiling but, oh my word, what a challenge it's been. Advertisement READ MORE ON MARTIN ROBERTS 'I'll be honest, it's the first commercial property I've ever done. 'There have been lots of residential houses and flats, but commercial properties have a lot more complications. 'I'd say we are 60 per cent of the way there.' But when I ask how soon we can expect the pub to be open, Martin hedges his bets and shrugs: 'I think it's going to come together really quickly in the final few months. Advertisement Most read in News TV 'I'm hopeful for Halloween but Christmas would be good. If not, in time for Easter.' One of the many hold-ups, according to Martin, has been dealing with planners who insist he makes preparations in case the pub in the former mining village of Blaencwm is hit by a once-in-a-century flood. Homes Under the Hammer's Martin Roberts announces new series that's world's away from beloved BBC show He says: 'We've got to do it right, and we will do it right, but unfortunately that means there's lots of hoops to jump through.' It is only three years since Martin was minutes from death and Advertisement Doctors who carried out the surgery to drain fluid from the sac surrounding his heart told him in future to choose the easy life and avoid unnecessary stress. That is advice he does not seem to have followed. He could have spent his spare time living at his Rhondda Valley farmhouse — which he bought after falling in love with the area — and enjoying the stunning scenery which is popular with mountain bikers. Instead he decided to seize life and bought the pub lock, stock and barrel — without telling his wife Kirsty. Advertisement My head is going, 'What the absolute bleep have you done here?' Every single wall was cock-eyed, every single window was falling down. Add to that the small matter of bats nesting in the leaking roof. Martin Roberts In fact, father-of-two Martin thought he had kept the purchase a complete secret, but he reveals: 'My cleaner rang me up one day and said, 'Have you bought the Hendrewen?' 'It turns out her auntie was in the queue at Asda and the woman behind was saying, 'That Martin Roberts has bought the Hendrewen'. 'It's just hysterical because as far as I was concerned I hadn't told anybody, but it was being discussed in Asda.' next year — or whenever the pub finally opens. Advertisement But he has also given The Sun an exclusive peek at his architect's visualisations of how the pub will look when the work is finally done — including a wacky upside-down Rolls-Royce suspended from the ceiling in the dining area. 8 Martin has shared an artist's impressions of his ambitious plans to renovate the bar and restaurant Credit: Supplied 8 The bar and hotel aims to employ around 30 locals in one of the most deprived areas in Europe Credit: Supplied As well as a new bar and restaurant, there will be eight bedrooms, all named after hit TV shows. Advertisement Martin says: 'When I was a travel journalist I probably stayed in hundreds of hotels and often they all looked the same. 'The ones I remember most are those where the rooms felt individual. "So in my hotel I wanted to create rooms that had an individual feel. 'Then I woke up in the middle of the night and suddenly thought, why don't I theme them around what I know and what I'm known for, which is television. Advertisement 'Each room is themed around a legendary TV show. Obviously we're going to have a Homes Under The Hammer room with lots of memorabilia and funny stuff from the 20 years of the show. 'We're going to have a Doctor Who room, which is very science fiction-y. 'Next Stereophonics' 'A Fawlty Towers room where the light fittings are broken, the wallpaper is hanging off, beds are going to be very creaky and lots of quotes from Fawlty Towers on the walls. 'A Question Of Sport room will have lots of sports memorabilia. Advertisement 'There will also be a Top Of The Pops room, an Antiques Roadshow room, a Planet Earth room and one that is a tribute to Top Gear. 'I've been collecting things from car boot sales, flea markets and online for the last two years. Now I've got lots of TV memorabilia so these rooms can be decorated in the style of different telly programmes. It's going to be great.' 8 Martin is still optimistic his grand plans will accelerate over the coming months Credit: Supplied When the Hendrewen Hotel does finally open it will employ around 30 locals in one of the most deprived areas in Europe. Advertisement Teenage students on catering and hospitality management courses will get practical experience working in the pub and in the hotel. Martin says: 'They'll get a chance to run a real-world place. We're going to have a teaching kitchen where celebrity chefs will come along and pass on their cookery skills. 'We're also putting in a stage with lots of musical instruments, which the locals will be able to come and use. 'And we'll have visiting musicians coming along, teaching musical skills to local kids. We might discover the next Advertisement He also has a team of teens aged 15 to 17 working with his tradesmen, learning the skills to be plasterers, carpenters, electricians and plumbers. Martin says: 'By working in the pub, these kids are getting a massive step up the ladder. A lot of their lives have been transformed. 'We've had kids come off drugs. We've had kids who wouldn't get up out of bed in the mornings who are now arriving early to work because they're enjoying it so much. 'These kids have been told by the schools that they're rubbish. They come in, we give them a paintbrush or a trowel and say, 'There's a wall, you've got to work on this'. We teach them, and they walk away, heads held high, a belief in themselves has returned. Advertisement 'They also walk away with a CSCS card, an industry qualification which shows they've got the safety experience to work on a building site. 'If one day they say working with me was a turning point in their life, I'll be thrilled. 8 Martin plans to create TV themed rooms in the hotel, including one based on Homes Under The Hammer Credit: Supplied 'Village lost its heart' 'Some of the youngsters have given up drugs . We have one lad who struggled to communicate because of a really strong stammer, but he's grown in confidence. Advertisement 'Now he won't stop talking and his stammer has diminished, which is great to see. 'I was three hours away from death, so I am even more driven to do things, not to make me money — because it's certainly not doing that — but to do some good, and to change lives. 'Because that's what you'll be remembered for, not for having a million pounds in the bank.' He adds: 'Bear in mind that some families around this area have generations of unemployment. It's like breaking a cycle and the kids get to see the joys of working.' Advertisement 8 Martin has been presenting Homes Under The Hammer for two decades Credit: Lion TV And Martin admits there are still months of hard graft ahead. He says: 'I've broken every single one of my rules! 'I have been driven by my heart. I made the classic error of going, 'It's a little pub, it closed at the start of lockdown, and the village has lost its heart and it needs me'. 'At the same time, my head is going, 'What the absolute bleep have you done here?' Every single wall was cock-eyed, every single window was falling down. Add to that the small matter of bats nesting in the leaking roof. Advertisement 'It has ups and downs. I still have days when I really struggle with my health. 'This is the thing that just keeps me going. 'I've got people relying on me and I won't let them down. I'm not going to give up.' The last episode of Martin's programme will be the hotel's grand opening. Advertisement He has already booked the world- famous Treorchy Male Choir and a big-name female celebrity . He says: 'I am absolutely supersizing it for the opening. 'The Valleys will have never seen anything like it." And there's light at the end of his tunnel too... 8 Martin has played a key role in the renovation the tunnel linking the Rhondda and Afan Valleys Credit: Huw Evans Advertisement THE end is in sight for Martin's other fix-me-up project in the Welsh Valleys. His hotel in Blaencwm sits at one end of an incredible two-mile railway tunnel that has been closed off for more than 60 years. Martin is patron of the campaign to reopen the tunnel, which links the Rhondda and Afan Valleys, and turn it into a major tourist attraction. When it reopens it will be the longest all-year-round-use tunnel in the world for cyclists and walkers. Advertisement Last week Railway Paths, a charity that restores old railway infrastructure, became a partner in the Rhondda Tunnel, which was used to transport coal from mines in the Valleys to Swansea docks. The £2million restoration could be open in two years. Martin says: 'Now all we want is for the Department for Transport to give us the tunnel. It's not going to cost the UK or the Welsh governments anything. 'The partnership with Railway Paths is a marriage made in heaven. Advertisement 'This could be the vital step to finally making our dreams and hopes a reality. 'Being the longest continually open walking and cycling tunnel in the world will attract visitors from all around the globe to this area.'
The Journal
6 hours ago
- The Journal
Shop cleared of discriminating against children who tried to make €68 payment in 10c and 20c coins
A SHOP HAS BEEN cleared of discriminating against two children who were asked if they had anything larger when they tried to pay for €68 worth of goods with 10 and 20 cent coins. The father of the two children – a boy and a girl – submitted a claim to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on their behalf and alleged that his children were discriminated against as they were members of the Traveler community. The identities of both parties have been anonymised due to the involvement of children. It had been alleged that the two children were refused service at the shop because they were members of the Travelling community and that the children had suffered embarrassment with both locals and friends as a result of the incident. In a decision published today, the WRC said the complaint was 'not well founded' and that the cashier was 'reasonable' in asking if the children had larger value coins to complete the purchase. The shop in question is family-owned, has operated for over 60 years and employs 70 people. The incident happened on 22 December, 2023, which the shop said is one of its busiest days of the year in the run-up to Christmas. The shop said that at around 1.30pm, two children approached a cashier with a number of items which totalled €68 and that the children initially paid in €1 and €2 coins, as well as 10c and 20c coins. The shop said the cashier counted the coins and it came to €26.80 and that this 'took some time to count'. It is the shop's position that when the cashier asked if the children had the rest of the money, the young girl said she had more coins in a small purse. The cashier said the purse contained a large amount of 10c and 20c coins and that she then asked the girl if she had notes to make up the difference – the young girl did not but said she would ask her father who was in the car. The young girl went outside and returned with her father and the cashier said a 'large queue was building up at her till' in the meantime. The shop said the children's father 'took issue with the cashier' and that the cashier 'found him to be very confrontational'. The shop said the father asked why the cashier 'wasn't taking their money' but that the cashier 'made it clear she was not refusing to take his money but asked if he had any notes as it was a very busy day'. Advertisement The shop said it has CCTV footage which shows the father 'holding large denomination notes during the interaction with the cashier but chose not to use them'. One of the store managers was then approached by the father, who said the cashier had 'refused to take the coins'. The manager said that while the complainant 'had notes, they wished to pay in full using coins'. The manager is said to have explained that given the time of the year, it would be difficult for the cashier to count that amount of coinage and asked if the father could 'count out the exact amount in coins or count it into five or ten euro batches'. The shop also offered coin bags to count the monies into but said the complainant again argued that the shop was 'refusing to accept our payment'. The shop said it tried to find a solution and that an apology was offered and that a voucher was also offered as a 'goodwill gesture' for the 'misunderstanding' but this was refused. The shop said it had never had a complaint against them and that the complainant was 'not treated in a manner less favourable than any other customer'. The shop added that when it was clear there was an intention to use small coins to pay for a balance of up to €40, the cashier asked if the balance could be paid with notes and that this was 'interpreted' as a refusal to serve. WRC Adjudication Officer Peter O'Brien said the 'core issue' is whether the cashier deliberately did not complete the transaction because they were members of the Traveller community. O'Brien deemed it was 'reasonable and not prejudicial of the cashier, with a queue building up, to ask the minors had they larger value coins or notes to complete their purchases'. He noted that the transaction was put on hold while the children went out to their father and that from the evidence supplied by the cashier, she never refused to complete the purchase but asked if there was a more convenient way to pay. O'Brien described this as a 'normal exchange between a cashier and customer' and that from the available evidence, the transaction was cancelled at the father's request. He also noted that repeated offers of apology or attempts to resolve the situation were not accepted. It was deemed that the request to pay with larger value notes or coins 'could easily have applied to a minor who was not a member of the Travelling community or indeed any adult who presented with large amounts of small coinage on such a busy day'. The WRC concluded that the cashier did not engage in discriminatory or prohibited conduct and that her actions were 'reasonable' and 'could have applied to any member of society she was engaging with in the circumstances described'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
24Casino offer: 100% deposit match bonus up to €3,000 + 350 free spins
THE 24Casino bonus offers new Irish players a generous offer that matches their deposit by In addition, a total of 350 free spins are available to boost your bankroll – at no extra cost. 🤝 How to claim this massive offer Follow the steps below to claim the 24Casino bonus in Ireland: First, visit the operator's website using Next, click 'Get Bonus' on the homepage and create a new 24Casino account. Opt in for the promo when making your first deposit. The minimum deposit to qualify is €20 or the equivalent amount in any supported cryptocurrency. Fund your account with at least that amount before making the first four deposits to claim the sign-up offer. 24Casino will immediately double your initial deposit, matching it by 100% up to €500 . A whopping 150 bonus spins will also be added to your account to play Sweet Bonanza, Big Bass Bonanza, John Hunter Book of Tut, Gates of Olympus 1000, Sugar Rush, and Hot to Burn across the first five days. 📝 Terms and conditions of the 24Casino bonus for new Irish players The welcome package is available to new Irish players who opt in during their first four real-money deposits of at least €20 or the equivalent amount in supported cryptocurrencies. The maximum bonus amount is €3,000: 100% up to €500 for the first deposit, 100% up to €1,000 for the second, 100% up to €500 for the third, and 100% up to €1,000 for the fourth. Only 50 free spins are added to the first deposit bonus. The remaining 300 welcome bonus spins are added in instalments of 20 per day for the first 5 days after making the second, third, or fourth deposit. The maximum win when playing with free spins is €1,000 . Every bonus spin must be used within five days to avoid being voided. A 40x wagering requirement applies for bonus winnings to be withdrawn. General 24Casino bonus terms and conditions apply. READ MORE SUN STORIES About the author Craig Mahood Craig Mahood is an expert in sports betting and online casinos and has worked with the company since 2020. He joined the Betting & Gaming team at The Sun in June 2022 and works closely with the leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to provide content on all areas of sports betting and gaming. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter at the Scottish Sun, covering Scottish football with particular focus on Celtic and Rangers, As well as football, he has covered horse racing, boxing, darts, the Olympics and tennis for the Sun. Responsible gambling A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry, or depressed Problem gambling – Gamble Aware – Help with gambling addiction If you have a problem with gambling, or you know someone who does, help is out there. Extern Problem Gambling is the leading provider of information, treatment, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling harms across Ireland. Most read in Betting
