0:00:02 > 0:00:06- Small family farms are in trouble. - This hasn't seen any action for a while, has it?
0:00:06 > 0:00:09Business consultant Nick Hewer is going back
0:00:09 > 0:00:12to his Northern Irish roots to help them diversify
0:00:12 > 0:00:16and make radical changes before they go under.
0:00:16 > 0:00:17What can you do with 17 acres?
0:00:17 > 0:00:21But are the farmers ready for his advice?
0:00:21 > 0:00:23I'm not a farming guru with all the answers,
0:00:23 > 0:00:27but having observed many companies over more than 40 years,
0:00:27 > 0:00:32what I can offer is a great big dollop of common sense.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36This series follows eight local farms
0:00:36 > 0:00:39embarking on a long-term fight for survival.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43- You're not turning bookings down, are you?- There will be tough decisions...
0:00:43 > 0:00:46That source will pump forever and a day.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48And they're going to sell it?
0:00:48 > 0:00:52..but doing nothing is not an option.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55End of a long day. And, for me, a depressing day.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07The Harrisons have a 90-acre farm
0:01:07 > 0:01:10on the Ards Peninsula near Greyabbey in County Down.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14On the shores of Strangford Lough,
0:01:14 > 0:01:18it's a spectacular location, but the farm is failing.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Potato prices are falling
0:01:21 > 0:01:25and their plant nursery business is facing increasing competition.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29Drastic action is needed if the farm is going to survive.
0:01:29 > 0:01:34Going back to my grandfather's day, this farm kept going three families,
0:01:34 > 0:01:36then in my father's day it kept to families going
0:01:36 > 0:01:40and at the present time, it probably couldn't keep one family going.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42I've two sons who are very interested in farming.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44We've got to look at something to secure their future.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51Despite their remote location, the Harrisons have an ambitious plan.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Using a mixture of savings, loans and grants,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56they want to invest half a million pounds
0:01:56 > 0:02:00and build a farm retail complex with an 80-seat restaurant attached.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03They're risking everything.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06Nick Hewer has been called in to help.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10The Harrisons are about to press the button on a massive investment
0:02:10 > 0:02:14and I want to make sure they know and understand all the possible permutations.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18I've come here to make them think.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23- How are you?- Welcome, Nick. - Thank you.- This is my wife, Helen.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25Hello, Nick. Lovely to meet you.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27Nick will be working closely with the Harrisons.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32- Today he's joined by his dog, Jasmine.- And the shop is where?
0:02:32 > 0:02:35- The shop is going to be here in the old barn.- OK.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38They have eight months to try and save the farm.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Tell me why you think there's a demand for this restaurant.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Well, David can answer that probably better than I.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48Because we've listened to our customers who come in
0:02:48 > 0:02:51and the first thing they say is, "Isn't that a lovely view?
0:02:51 > 0:02:54"It would be nice to have a cup of coffee."
0:02:54 > 0:02:58There's nobody else has the view that we have.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01Yeah, a view's great, but do you know something?
0:03:01 > 0:03:05Do you know what drives people in is the wonderful quality of the produce,
0:03:05 > 0:03:08but also the fact that you're in the right location for it.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10You can put up the best hotel in the world
0:03:10 > 0:03:12and stick it in the Sahara, no-one would get there.
0:03:12 > 0:03:17The restaurant might have unspoiled views over Strangford Lough,
0:03:17 > 0:03:20but the local population is sparse.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24- And there's another worry. - Who's running this restaurant?
0:03:24 > 0:03:26- Who knows how to...? - That's down to Helen.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28She's the one who has the experience.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31I haven't exactly experience with working in a restaurant.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Where I work at the moment is a visitor attraction
0:03:33 > 0:03:35and they have a restaurant,
0:03:35 > 0:03:37so I have experience of working WITH a restaurant.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41I haven't experience, definitely, of managing a restaurant
0:03:41 > 0:03:43and that's what we have to learn.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47The Harrisons have no real restaurant experience
0:03:47 > 0:03:50and there's only a small local population.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52But they are financially committed.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56The nursery is already being moved to make way for the new building.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00Our move into this new area was just finished last week.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05Although the Ards Peninsula is remote,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08it is a popular weekend tourist attraction.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12The Harrisons should have the potential to capture this market.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14When do people visit nurseries?
0:04:14 > 0:04:17Mainly weekends, Saturdays and Sundays.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20Not here they don't, and that's a worry.
0:04:21 > 0:04:27Before we became Christians, we did open our nursery on a Sunday,
0:04:27 > 0:04:30but since we both have been saved and become Christians,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33we made that commitment and we haven't looked back.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37It's not negotiable - Sunday, it's going to be closed. End of story.
0:04:37 > 0:04:42The restaurant is just part of the grand scheme.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45At the back there are plans for a retail centre
0:04:45 > 0:04:47with crafts, a butcher's and a farm shop.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51That doorway is going to be the entrance into our craft shops
0:04:51 > 0:04:54in the courtyard area, so we thought this square back here
0:04:54 > 0:04:57would make a lovely butcher's department or something.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59That'll be an important element, I guess.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03- And then we hope... - Have you got experience in butchery?
0:05:03 > 0:05:07- We've no experience at all, but we...- Hmm.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10So butchery is a bit of a problem and, with respect to you,
0:05:10 > 0:05:14restaurants aren't your main interest in life and neither's retail.
0:05:14 > 0:05:19- No. We've got a bit of a challenge ahead of us.- Mm.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27The Harrisons have decided to invest upwards of half a million pounds
0:05:27 > 0:05:30into areas about which they know nothing.
0:05:30 > 0:05:35Retailing in a farm shop, a restaurant - excuse me?
0:05:37 > 0:05:41'I've always been told stick to your knitting.'
0:05:41 > 0:05:44They're leaving their knitting and it's a dangerous place to go.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57There's a huge task ahead so to help them come up with a plan,
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Nick's decided to check out the competition
0:06:00 > 0:06:02and see how successful they are.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08I love this - parsnips, look. Covered in the soil of Ulster,
0:06:08 > 0:06:11dragged unwillingly from the fields of Ulster.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13What could be fresher than that?
0:06:15 > 0:06:19Situated on the outskirts of Belfast, Linda
0:06:19 > 0:06:23and Colin McKee began with a small farm shop 13 years ago.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Today, the business has expanded.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30They now have a 130-seat restaurant.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Do you know something? I think there are probably 60 people here.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35It's not as though we're in the centre of the city, you know.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39If we could replicate even half of this it would be a wonderful thing to do.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44How important is location?
0:06:44 > 0:06:46We have a very good location. Location would be key.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48In a ten-mile radius, we have a lot of customers
0:06:48 > 0:06:51and the type of customers we want into this shop.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53And you started with - what? The shop?
0:06:53 > 0:06:56We started in a very small barn selling fruit and vegetables.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58Then we started into the beef in a small way.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00We got a butcher and killed our first animal
0:07:00 > 0:07:04and let it hang for three weeks and just very gradually build it up.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07You know, the customers come into the farmyard here
0:07:07 > 0:07:10and we have a nice view over Scrabo Tower. People said, you know,
0:07:10 > 0:07:12"Pity we couldn't get a cup of tea or a cup of coffee."
0:07:12 > 0:07:15We always felt if we could get a restaurant or a coffee shop going
0:07:15 > 0:07:17that it would be a good draw to the business.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24I feel heartened. I had real, real doubts
0:07:24 > 0:07:27about the possibility of Greyabbey's success,
0:07:27 > 0:07:30but having seen this... Given drive and good marketing
0:07:30 > 0:07:33and quality, it's possible.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Greyabbey can do it. With a fair wind behind them.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39Encouraged by his research, Nick has come up with a plan.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43The McKees grew their business slowly.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47Nick's wondering if the Harrisons could do the same.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50He's decided to tackle the Harrisons' architect, Hadleigh Jess.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53If they started with just a retail unit,
0:07:53 > 0:07:54it would really help with cash flow.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58Is there anyway that we could maybe, you know,
0:07:58 > 0:08:01not build the restaurant right now?
0:08:01 > 0:08:05The building is here to hide some of the ugly farming buildings.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07Trying to build it in stages
0:08:07 > 0:08:11I don't think will work for the success of the overall project.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14OK, OK.
0:08:14 > 0:08:20In a nutshell, the actual framework of the building has got to go up.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23- Yeah, yeah. It's all got to go up in one go.- OK.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28It looks like the Harrisons are committed to building everything at once.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36But Nick has another idea that he wants to put to the family.
0:08:39 > 0:08:45I don't want you sitting in an empty restaurant worrying.
0:08:45 > 0:08:46You know, you've got the bank - they'll lend the money,
0:08:46 > 0:08:49- but, when it starts raining... - That's what scares me.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52The thought of the bank coming and taking the thing.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55That's an thinkable. You can't even take that risk.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58- That would be the worst scenario. - And here's my suggestion.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Why don't we, in a sense, franchise it.
0:09:01 > 0:09:07Bring in operators on a short-term, maybe five-year, lease, all right?
0:09:07 > 0:09:11That five years will do two things for you -
0:09:11 > 0:09:14it'll enable you to wash your face with the bank and make a profit
0:09:14 > 0:09:17because you'll be a landlord, all right?
0:09:17 > 0:09:21But also you can stand back and you can observe and you can learn,
0:09:21 > 0:09:24see what they're doing and then you gently take that over
0:09:24 > 0:09:26when the time comes.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28And what would your job be in the meantime?
0:09:28 > 0:09:33I'll tell you what it'll be - you're going to be out there marketing like crazy.
0:09:34 > 0:09:39The one thing I do worry about is I lose control of something,
0:09:39 > 0:09:44which, you know, if I'm going to do all this and it is a success,
0:09:44 > 0:09:48you know, am I giving that away to somebody else?
0:09:48 > 0:09:50I may only be getting half the pie there,
0:09:50 > 0:09:54where as I'm a quite greedy boy and I'd like all the pie.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57- Of course, you know what your problem is.- Yes?
0:09:57 > 0:10:01- And it's common with all farmers - you've never had a boss.- That's it.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05And you get spoiled. Sometimes, needs must.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09Sometimes you've got to be in a relationship -
0:10:09 > 0:10:12a business relationship - where you've got an equal partner
0:10:12 > 0:10:15who can tell you to mind your own business.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20- You know, needs must sometimes.- Yeah.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23- You don't open on Sundays.- Yes.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26That's fine, that's your affair.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30Would that restraint apply to tenants?
0:10:30 > 0:10:34- Yes.- Yes.- It would?- Yes. - Because that...
0:10:34 > 0:10:37That's going to make life difficult getting a tenant in,
0:10:37 > 0:10:40saying you can't work on Sundays.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44The franchise model offers expertise and regular income from rent,
0:10:44 > 0:10:49but telling them to hand over the reins at this stage is a big ask.
0:10:49 > 0:10:55And that's not the only decision Nick wants the Harrisons to make.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58You've got the wonderful landmark, the mill.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Why couldn't it be The Mill at Greyabbey,
0:11:00 > 0:11:02which can be seen from miles around, and rebrand it.
0:11:02 > 0:11:07Get out there and really spread the message for the people that will be here.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17Over the next few weeks the Harrisons have been left
0:11:17 > 0:11:21with a lot to think about, but David is certain of one thing.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24Family ties, family names are very important.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27Everybody wants to come in here and they'll want to know
0:11:27 > 0:11:30that David Harrison or Helen Harrison owns this here
0:11:30 > 0:11:33and they'll want to be able to talk to David Harrison
0:11:33 > 0:11:34or Helen Harrison, the owner of it.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38They don't want The Mill of Greyabbey - who owns that or what's that?
0:11:38 > 0:11:41They want that link to the person that owns it.
0:11:41 > 0:11:42Everybody here knows everybody
0:11:42 > 0:11:45and that's just it - it's a family tie thing.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49Nick's branding idea, The Mill at Greyabbey, has been rejected.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53The family name will live on.
0:11:55 > 0:11:56After years of planning,
0:11:56 > 0:12:00work on the restaurant and retail unit is finally under way.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04For the Harrisons, it's a big day.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07I am definitely excited. There's no question,
0:12:07 > 0:12:09this has been a long time coming.
0:12:09 > 0:12:10I thought we might be emotional
0:12:10 > 0:12:13seeing all that coming down today, but amazingly no.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17No nerves, just roll on until we get it finished.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21It's been two months since Nick presented his plan.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25After much discussion, the Harrisons have decided against tenants
0:12:25 > 0:12:29although they are considering sub-letting the butcher's.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32They've also agreed to get finished by Easter,
0:12:32 > 0:12:35which gives them less than six months.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Nick's still worried about their lack of retail experience
0:12:39 > 0:12:41so he's devised a test.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46Well, you will remember that I was worried about your retail experience
0:12:46 > 0:12:50so let's have a challenge to see if you've got that retailing nous.
0:12:50 > 0:12:55It's so important. I've arranged a market stall
0:12:55 > 0:12:57and a budget for you of £250
0:12:57 > 0:13:00and you're going to stock it and you're going to market it
0:13:00 > 0:13:02and it will be a sort of one-day exercise.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06Just to, sort of, test yourself in the retail environment.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09- How would that be? - That sounds very good, Nick.
0:13:09 > 0:13:10We can do it. We will do it.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15Nick's back to look around the site.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19He is being shown around by David and Helen's youngest son, Andrew.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23Mum and Dad are busy getting ready for Nick's retail challenge.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27And now, Nick, this is the walkway heading to the farm shop.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29Through there will be a craft area here
0:13:29 > 0:13:31before you reach the farm shop, then in.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35- And this is the old barn? - Yeah, this here's the old barn.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38- That will be the butcher.- And that's the main door into the farm shop?
0:13:38 > 0:13:41- This is the main door, yes. - Gosh, it's all changed.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45- All this in four weeks?- Yes. - That's impressive, isn't it?
0:13:45 > 0:13:48- You're driving them hard, Andrew. - We have to.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52- Squeeze every penny out of them. - Yes, I'm sure you will.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59I'm beginning to see the, sort of, the sense of it.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02The business sense is eluding me for the minute,
0:14:02 > 0:14:05but anyway, I can see what a great position it is.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08Listen, I can't stay here gassing with you all day.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11- I've got to go and see what your parents are up to.- No bother, Nick.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14- Thank you.- Good man.- Thank you. - Next Easter?- Yes.- Promise?- Promise.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19In Newtonards, the weekly farmers' market is under way.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23The challenge today is to turn £250 into profit.
0:14:23 > 0:14:28It's a chance to test the Harrisons' retail skills.
0:14:28 > 0:14:29But David is not happy.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Our challenge certainly was not a good one, no.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34Cos I can't see any benefit in it for us here.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37We have been selling for 20 years to the public
0:14:37 > 0:14:39so why waste time doing this challenge here today
0:14:39 > 0:14:41when we've done something better?
0:14:42 > 0:14:47Fresh from his site visit, Nick has arrived to explain himself.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50The challenge was really to examine a number of things.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52It was about product selection and pricing,
0:14:52 > 0:14:58but also just introducing your new enterprise to the nearest town.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01This is your market. At the end of the day,
0:15:01 > 0:15:05we'll see how much profit you've made on that 250-quid investment.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07That's what I look forward to, yes.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11As well as selling seasonal products from the nursery,
0:15:11 > 0:15:15today's stall has been stocked with chutney, jams and cakes.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18A potential coffee supplier is also here.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22It's a portable prototype for next year
0:15:22 > 0:15:25and Nick was hoping for a clearer signage.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Everybody else seems to have a branding.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31I thought we were going to have a fascia on the outside.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33The reason we don't have that, Nick, is because
0:15:33 > 0:15:37whenever we started the new build, all our banners were burnt.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39OK, so where is there a Harrison's anywhere? Just here?
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Well, we start off and we give these bags.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45We're giving them a gift - a packet of daffodils -
0:15:45 > 0:15:49so when they take the daffodil home and plant it the reminder is
0:15:49 > 0:15:52when the daffodil shoots up and blooms,
0:15:52 > 0:15:55that will be when we plan to open our restaurant and farm shop.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57- Who's idea was this?- That was David's idea, I have to say.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00- Good idea.- It's lovely.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04So if you plant those daffodil bulbs,
0:16:04 > 0:16:07when they bloom that's when we will be in business.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Although the daffodils are going fast,
0:16:09 > 0:16:14a busy few hours has barely left a dent in the cupcakes or fudge.
0:16:14 > 0:16:15Nick is getting worried.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21Helen, do you remember? 2.30, yeah? You've got a lot of perishables here
0:16:21 > 0:16:23so really, under the terms of the challenge,
0:16:23 > 0:16:26you've got to get rid of them because at the end of today
0:16:26 > 0:16:29- they're no good to anybody. - That's OK.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31So you're going to have to think about pricing.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33OK. That's all right.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39OK, folks. Special offer here - a pound.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42They are reduced to less than half the OK?
0:16:42 > 0:16:46I'll give you two packets for a pound. That's a really good deal.
0:16:46 > 0:16:51Hello, would you be interested in some half-price cupcakes. No? OK.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54I'm usually quite shy person but I knew that last ten minutes
0:16:54 > 0:16:56I could not be shy and nervous. I had to go out there.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00£10? Good deal. £10. You enjoy. Thank you very much.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03- Thank you so, so much.- Bye-bye.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05- Bye-bye.- Merry Christmas.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10That pound to me is the most important pound of today
0:17:10 > 0:17:13because I can't believe that we are absolutely clear here.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15I'm delighted. Absolutely delighted.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22250 to start with and what have you taken?
0:17:22 > 0:17:26- 793.- Wow!- 793, and that was just in the morning selling.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28400, 500 and something. 540.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31You're a natural saleswoman.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33Well, I wouldn't have guessed that. If you had said that to me...
0:17:33 > 0:17:37You are. I'll tell you another thing. There's a market here, isn't there?
0:17:37 > 0:17:41- That's right.- Branding.- I'm happy to do that.- That's our next task.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43Branding next. That's good. Thank you, Nick.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52The pre-Easter deadline is now just over three months away.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55The race is on to get the roof up by Christmas.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59With building going well, the next hurdle is fitting out the restaurant and shop
0:17:59 > 0:18:02and the half million pound total budget
0:18:02 > 0:18:04is becoming severely stretched.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08Well, the budget for 300 for doing the actual building work
0:18:08 > 0:18:11probably is OK. The shocks that have actually come into it
0:18:11 > 0:18:15is kitting out the whole thing. That has come into a very big shock.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23Where we started off maybe three years ago thinking about a budget
0:18:23 > 0:18:27until today, we're definitely three or four times that budget.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30We know we have to have the product right to sell to people
0:18:30 > 0:18:33so we just have to spend the money to get it right.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35And hopefully we're going to get it right.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38Hopefully the money will come back in again.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40The size of their investment is growing daily.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43Although Nick's found it hard to get David and Helen
0:18:43 > 0:18:46to take his advice, he's determined to help with marketing.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49His first step is to get designer Alistair MacFarlane
0:18:49 > 0:18:50to work on a logo.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54With such a remote location,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57creating a strong brand image is essential.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00We want this personal feel that we're not a big company as such.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04Yeah. But I do like the handwriting. I think that's a personal touch.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06How good's your handwriting?
0:19:06 > 0:19:08That's it.
0:19:08 > 0:19:09That's it!
0:19:12 > 0:19:15Nick's still not sure about keeping the family name
0:19:15 > 0:19:20so he's decided to resort to some undercover market research.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22I've been working with the Harrisons
0:19:22 > 0:19:24on the branding of Harrison's at Greyabbey
0:19:24 > 0:19:27but I'm not satisfied that that actually is that compelling
0:19:27 > 0:19:30and so we've come up with another one - The Mill At Greyabbey.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33At this very minute my team is out testing
0:19:33 > 0:19:37the people of Newtonards to see which one they prefer.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41- I prefer The Mill. - I think it must be Harrisons.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45Nick has had both names mocked up by Alistair.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48The question now is which one will prove to be the most popular.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51- The Mill.- The Mill At Greyabbey. - This one. The Mill.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53I would go for the Harrisons.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55Nick knows he has a battle on his hands
0:19:55 > 0:19:57convincing the Harrisons to do anything.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59The Mill, definitely.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03But he's really hoping that he'll be proved right and The Mill wins.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06- The Mill.- This one?
0:20:06 > 0:20:08When we met at the market, you remember,
0:20:08 > 0:20:11we discussed the importance now of getting the branding together
0:20:11 > 0:20:14and this is where we got to at the moment.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17And what we've done here is colour coded the bottom.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19We've got farm shop, nursery, restaurant -
0:20:19 > 0:20:21three legs of the business.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24- When you turned it around I was pleasantly surprised.- Good, OK.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27But I've been a bit underhand, maybe even,
0:20:27 > 0:20:30and worked quietly away in the background, unknown to you.
0:20:31 > 0:20:38And I've come up with another design, which you may feel...
0:20:42 > 0:20:44It's not absolutely what you had in mind
0:20:44 > 0:20:46and it's The Mill at Greyabbey,
0:20:46 > 0:20:50again using the farm shop, nursery and restaurant.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52The Mill at Greyabbey, and interestingly,
0:20:52 > 0:20:54in our little survey of 50 people,
0:20:54 > 0:21:00this one out-gunned your Harrisons by 44 to 6.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03In other words, only six people preferred that one to that one.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08So that may be not really what you wanted to hear.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12Where does that leave you, David? Feeling cold, I think.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15- No, not necessarily, no. - Not necessarily.- OK.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18We've got to appeal to everybody.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22I still maintain people do not know where the mill at Greyabbey is.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24If we go Mill at Greyabbey,
0:21:24 > 0:21:27we're going to have to remarket that there, Harrisons,
0:21:27 > 0:21:30who we'd built up a reputation for the last 20 years,
0:21:30 > 0:21:32is completely annihilated in that there,
0:21:32 > 0:21:33so we're starting a new business.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35Let me show you something.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39And that is...
0:21:40 > 0:21:44We've kept in the Harrisons but we've got at The Mill in Greyabbey.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46Just so there is a, sort of, a visual connector there.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48People say, "Oh, yeah - I know where that is."
0:21:48 > 0:21:52Does that take some of the steam out of your argument?
0:21:52 > 0:21:56- Not really, no.- You've got your name in there.- Got my name in there, yes.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59And we've got The Mill, which is the visual...
0:21:59 > 0:22:02- But we're not really at the mill, are we?- No, but it's the focus.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06It is on the horizon. It actually locates you on that coast.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11Once again, it's stalemate.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15We'll definitely take on board the research that's been done,
0:22:15 > 0:22:19that's for sure, but at this moment in time
0:22:19 > 0:22:23the two of us would think it's still Harrisons of Greyabbey
0:22:23 > 0:22:28David and Helen will continue to trade as the Harrisons of Greyabbey.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32The only comfort for Nick is they will use the new branding.
0:22:38 > 0:22:39It's March.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43Over the last few months, building work has been completed.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46Remarkably, the budget is holding up.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50The builder actually saved us a wee bit of money on some of the things he did
0:22:50 > 0:22:52which took away from the free access we got.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55The actual building work here and everything should come in
0:22:55 > 0:22:58at the half million pounds, what we had anticipated all along.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02Work has now begun on fitting the building out
0:23:02 > 0:23:04and making the site clean.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10There is now just a week until their opening launch.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12Every morning I'm awake now by three.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15Four o'clock or five at the very latest we're up.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18- The phone is just a ringing constantly.- It is awful.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20It just kicks off one after the other
0:23:20 > 0:23:23and you get a wee break again and then it kicks off again.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27At this moment we haven't got a kitchen in,
0:23:27 > 0:23:30we haven't got toilets and we haven't got this tiled,
0:23:30 > 0:23:33we haven't got pots, pans, crockery...
0:23:33 > 0:23:37It's a bit nerve-wracking to think just how much has to be done.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48It's the day of the launch.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50After eight months of talking,
0:23:50 > 0:23:53it's the first time Nick will see the finished product.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55Well, today is a big day.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58I'm on my way to Harrisons of Greyabbey -
0:23:58 > 0:24:01not The Mill at Greyabbey. That got shot down.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04It's a hell of a gamble they've got on here today.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07The culmination of a dream, I guess.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10But a big, take gamble. If it works - and I pray it does -
0:24:10 > 0:24:13then the family is set for generations to come.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15If it doesn't, they'll lose the farm.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30Nick's push to open by Easter has been achieved.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37Not only that, but there is another part of the plan
0:24:37 > 0:24:40where Nick and David have seen eye to eye.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44The butcher, Noel Angus, already runs a shop in Greyabbey.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46In effect, he is a tenant.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50So the deal is then that whatever you sell,
0:24:50 > 0:24:53David gets a percentage of it by way of rent.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56The more you trade, the more rent he gets.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00- So you may well be able to drive his whole farm shop side.- True, yeah.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05Getting in experts was part of Nick's original business plan.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08He's hoping that David would still consider the idea
0:25:08 > 0:25:10for other areas of the is business.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13You brought a butcher in because butchery is not...
0:25:13 > 0:25:16- It's a skill, and you don't have it. - It's a skill.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20But you could then move that as we sort of talked about in the past,
0:25:20 > 0:25:24you know, if the gift shop area doesn't work as well as you had hoped.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27- You could replicate that.- No.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31- No?- No, definitely not. No, definitely not.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33Because we can do this ourselves
0:25:33 > 0:25:36and we are going to keep control of the whole business from here on in.
0:25:36 > 0:25:41All right, OK. Well, I just thought it might be worth thinking about.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44Once again, David is determined to do it his way.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48- But there is at least one person who is pleased to see Nick.- Helen?
0:25:50 > 0:25:53- Oh, my goodness!- How are you?
0:25:53 > 0:25:55- Hello, Nick.- What a business! - Can you believe it?
0:25:55 > 0:25:58- Barely, barely. Am I dreaming? - I think you're dreaming,
0:25:58 > 0:26:01- I think I'm dreaming as well. - Isn't it fantastic?
0:26:01 > 0:26:04- You really have... This has gone up so fast.- I know.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06Now what we've got to do - or what you've got to do -
0:26:06 > 0:26:09is make sure all the seats are full.
0:26:09 > 0:26:10Perfect.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:26:15 > 0:26:18- Can I get a kiss?- You get a big hug.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24THEY PLAY FOLK MUSIC
0:26:30 > 0:26:32Go, go, go!
0:26:32 > 0:26:35As well as press, schools and local politicians,
0:26:35 > 0:26:39it is estimated there are more than 1,500 visitors today.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Tables have had to be moved from the veranda.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45At 120 covers, the restaurant is at full capacity.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53It's also been a good day at the farm shop and butcher's.
0:26:53 > 0:26:59The Harrisons' farm has begun its new era in style.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01I could understand where Nick was coming from.
0:27:01 > 0:27:02You know, if I was him coming in and meeting us
0:27:02 > 0:27:04for the first time with no experience,
0:27:04 > 0:27:07what businessman wouldn't wonder, "Are you doing the right thing?"
0:27:07 > 0:27:09I think that - certainly for David,
0:27:09 > 0:27:12there's no doubt about it - gave David a challenge to think,
0:27:12 > 0:27:14"Oh, I am going to prove Nick wrong."
0:27:16 > 0:27:19I can't see where Nick has helped in the process.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22He went on about that mill. What a waste of time.
0:27:22 > 0:27:27I hate boys wasting my time. I think Nick broke more than he fixed.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32Right in the beginning, you know, I was sort of a prophet of doom,
0:27:32 > 0:27:34I was Job and I said, "I'm so worried,
0:27:34 > 0:27:37"I don't want you risking the whole farm," and all the rest of it,
0:27:37 > 0:27:39- "The future of the boys." - We had to hear that
0:27:39 > 0:27:42- and we had to think about it. - But I tell you what, you know.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45If you can, sort of, channel the energy and skill
0:27:45 > 0:27:48and organisational ability and all those other things
0:27:48 > 0:27:51that you've shown in getting this thing to this stage,
0:27:51 > 0:27:54you know, then frankly, you know, I want to eat my words
0:27:54 > 0:27:59because I think you've performed incredibly well.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03I've had my run-ins with David and Helen over the name of the place,
0:28:03 > 0:28:06Sunday opening, sub-letting,
0:28:06 > 0:28:09but the confidence they've shown
0:28:09 > 0:28:12in running the restaurant and the shop has surprised me.
0:28:14 > 0:28:18But one thing's for sure - they've laid out half a million pounds
0:28:18 > 0:28:22and if the farm is to be saved - that's a big investment -
0:28:22 > 0:28:26then the real hard work has got to begin today.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd