North Yorkshire Escape to the Country

CHEERFUL TUNE

Fantastic sound, isn't it? So quintessentially British.

There's nothing like a "pum-pum-pum" of a brass band on a summer's afternoon.

DULL, TUNELESS SOUND

Who am I kidding? I can't even get a note out of it.

But I'm in the right place to learn

because this county is synonymous with cloth-capped music.

Any idea where I am? Stay tuned and you'll find out!

On today's show, we're attempting to help a couple

find a new vocation and a new house.

We have some great rural propositions to tempt them with.

-You're saying all the right things!

-Yeah!

We've not been trained, either!

And we'll be cooking up some really hot properties.

-Your catering empire would be founded here.

-It would build from here, from that very range!

Tell you what, that tuba weighs a ton!

Today I'm in North Yorkshire

and this fine posse behind me are the Harrogate Brass Band.

Brilliant, aren't they?

Unlike other bands, they didn't emerge from the coalmining industry

but bands in North Yorkshire originated from the Victorian temperance movement,

a movement that encouraged ordinary young folk to pick up musical instruments

instead of picking up pints!

So I'm rather glad that happened because they're really fantastic.

What's obvious is that I can't blow my own trumpet!

But today I'm in a county that really deserves to.

North Yorkshire is England's largest rural county

covering a massive 3,000 square miles of truly beautiful countryside.

There are two national parks within its borders,

the pastoral scenery of the Dales spread across the west of the county

with an intricate network of dry stone walls.

And the wilder North Yorkshire moors lie towards the east,

blanketed by the largest expanse of heather moorland in the country,

which provided the eerie backdrop for Emily Bronte's novel, Wuthering Heights.

The area between the national parks is made up of gently rolling hills - the Vale of York.

This patchwork of rich agricultural land is dotted with villages

and market towns full of handsome sandstone and limestone houses

which make for some of the most sought-after properties in the north.

Over the last ten years, the Regional Development Agency

has pumped an impressive £189 million into the local economy.

North Yorkshire has benefited from a number of town centre and seaside regeneration schemes

bringing new investment into the region.

All of which has had a positive effect on the property market.

Here, for a detached house, you'll pay seven per cent above national average.

With spectacular views over the breathtaking Dales,

this delightful two-bed detached cottage in Skipton

is on the market for £225,000.

Despite its old stone appearance,

it's been recently converted and features a modern galley kitchen.

This impressive Grade II-listed barn conversion in Thorpe Willoughby

is divided into three stylish properties.

It's the central terrace that's up for grabs.

Laid out over three floors, it has three bedrooms, a large sitting room,

and a slick kitchen/diner.

All this for £345,000.

Lastly, how about a slice of this converted Victorian mansion?

Priced just under half a million, situated a few miles from Harrogate,

the attached three-storey mews house has three bedrooms,

two receptions and a large galley kitchen.

So, a great selection of property there in this beautiful county.

But what will today's buyers be after? Let's find out.

Kyle and Rebecca met a year ago when both were working as teachers in Holland.

They've been inseparable ever since.

Now back in England, they're renting a flat in central London

and planning a future together involving a complete change of lifestyle

and buying their first property together.

We see it as a relationship that's got a future

and it would be a nice place for us both to settle

in an area that we're both familiar with.

I think Yorkshire particularly because Kyle used to live there.

I'm from south Yorkshire so we've still got family and friends there,

contacts, people we know.

So it'll be a bit more like going home rather than going to a totally new place.

But it's not just a house they're looking for.

Both Kyle and Becky want a new career. What type of business are they planning?

We've had certain ideas about businesses alongside the property.

We've looked at varying things, haven't we,

from bed and breakfasts, cafes attached to a property.

The other consideration is to set up a sort of deli/ farm shop on site

within the property

or maybe have a house with a separate business and keep the two separate.

They're certainly not short of ideas for the new enterprise. But what about the house itself?

What we wouldn't consider is somewhere devoid of character.

So we're steering clear of modern houses.

A finished project, as well,

a house that's done and there's nothing more to do to it...

We'd like to avoid that.

I think quite obviously a large detached country house

in its own plot, ideally between two and five acres

but if you throw a bit of extra land our way, that's fine.

-Five bedrooms.

-Yeah, definitely.

I've just spent the last year at a catering school in West London.

I've just got my diploma from there.

But ideally I'd like a much larger kitchen, preferably the size of this living area now.

The style, I very much love the country style with the range

and an island unit where I can work.

And a lot more storage space as I'm running short!

They've both sold properties to fund the move so what final figure

do we have to work with?

Our budget for a house is £850,000.

This is a huge move for Kyle and Becky.

We're finding them their first together home, and a brand new business also.

What that business is going to be, your guess is as good as mine!

It's a maverick approach - I like it. Plenty of room for manoeuvre.

In terms of location, though, they know exactly what they want.

That's to be close to Harrogate, no further north than Ripon.

Thanks to their healthy budget, we've found some stunning country houses to tempt them with.

But as ever, I'll keep my lips sealed as to the prices.

And to top it off, there's the mystery package,

where we'll be mixing business with pleasure.

-Kyle, Rebecca, welcome to Yorkshire.

-Hello! Thank you.

-Coming home for you?

-Yes, it is.

You've got family in this area?

I'm from south Yorkshire originally, so I do have family still in the area.

You're a bit of a chef, by all accounts. Is the plan to come and start a catering firm?

I'd like to do something with catering. I haven't decided yet.

But with a background in education, it would be nice to do some teaching as well - cookery teaching.

And do some catering functions as well.

-So, 850 is the budget.

-Yes.

-Yes.

We could go up to about 900 without a business.

Then with a property with a business, maybe to go over a million.

-The pressure is on to find somewhere?

-Absolutely.

My lease on the flat runs out in about a month's time.

So after that we're homeless!

-We don't want you to be homeless!

-No!

-We don't, either!

-We need to find somewhere.

We've got some fantastic properties to show you.

It's a great area to live in and you've got a great budget as well.

-And there's the mystery property as well.

-Ooh!

-Shall we get going?

Looking forward to it.

For a budget of £850,000,

Kyle and Rebecca are looking for a large detached family home.

But they're willing to stretch to just over £1 million if the plot has business potential.

They're hoping to put their own mark on the property

so will definitely consider redecorating and minor alterations.

But it's a big move from where you are now.

You're bang in the heart of London.

-Every sort of shop and restaurant right on your doorstep.

-I know.

-It's not like that here.

-No.

I think that's why we've said to be able to access a town

and also Harrogate is quite a cosmopolitan town.

There seems to be quite a bit going on

in terms of nightlife, restaurants.

-Culture.

-Yes.

So to be able to access that but also have the best of the countryside.

And we have some prime countryside to offer up in our first property

which lies towards the Yorkshire Dales, 13 miles north-west of Harrogate in the village of Wilsill.

Located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,

Wilsill is a quiet, rural place surrounded by countryside

with incredible views across the Dales. The house itself

is Grade II listed and was originally three buildings -

a farmhouse, cottage and barn dating back to 1630.

-Let's take in the house. What do you think?

-It's lovely.

I love the traditional stone style.

-It's got a bit of history as well.

-Nice to hear.

-Alan Bennett, the playwright, was evacuated here during the war.

-Wow.

-OK.

-Interesting.

-Shall we go in?

-Let's have a look.

-Let's go.

-Thank you.

The original features on the exterior

include attractive stone mullion windows

and the York stone details continue inside.

-Mind your head!

-OK.

-You might be OK, actually.

-Yes!

-Perfect!

-I'd definitely bump on that.

-Wow.

-This is your dining room. The thing that hits you is that fireplace.

-That is lovely.

-It's amazing.

It's the original fireplace.

You've also got the original wood panelling.

-That's why the property is Grade II listed, the fireplace and panelling.

-OK.

-And a lovely little window, looking out onto that view.

-Gorgeous. Very nice.

-This is your dining room.

-Absolutely. I love this fireplace.

-You can't take your eyes off it!

-I'd have two little high chairs there.

-Yeah.

-Armchairs, even.

-Could have nice little parties in here.

-Yeah.

-Nice.

-You're saying all the right things.

-Yeah.

-We've not been trained, either!

Next to the dining room is the main sitting room, again with a huge fireplace,

heavy stonework and another cosy window seat.

Then beyond this room is the kitchen/diner.

-Ooh, that's nice.

-It is, isn't it?

-Yes. This looks very new as well.

It's the original flagstone, and again, the original windows.

And more granite than I've ever seen in my life!

Just through there, a utility room as well.

Plenty of room for everything you'd need.

-It's very practical.

-Yes. For a family.

-Is it too modern for you?

It's something I'd have to think about a little bit.

Get my head round it. I've always thought a more traditional style.

I have to say it's finished off beautifully.

It seems the main living areas downstairs are hitting the spot.

It's time to tour the upstairs, where there are five bedrooms,

including a single room, two double rooms,

one of which is used as a study.

There's also the family bathroom and a master bedroom

featuring beautiful unspoilt views, and a spacious contemporary en-suite with separate bath and shower.

Kyle and Becky said they'd ideally want somewhere they can put their own stamp on.

There's plenty of scope in the last room on this floor.

-You wanted a project?

-Wow! This is amazing.

-It's a big space.

-Loads of original features.

-Absolutely.

-I love that window up there.

-That's fantastic.

-Yes and the lower windows give you that...

-Opens out the view.

-Wonderful view.

There's planning permission to put a bathroom in here.

So this could be a very generous master bedroom, I would say.

-Yes.

-It would be a nice bedroom.

But the potential doesn't end here

as there's more planning permission for further residential accommodation

and even business possibilities.

Come on in. Don't look so frightened! It's OK!

-Directly above us is the potential master bedroom.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Well, there's planning also for this part of the house. This is the old barn.

-Right.

So you could transform this into living space as well,

-if you wanted to.

-That's nice. This is a really good space.

The current owners have an office there, a modern office, in keeping with the rest of the house.

I think this adds quite a lot more to it.

Also, this may be throwing you a curveball too many now,

you could use this as a separate building entirely, upstairs as well,

and have it as a holiday let.

-Yeah.

-OK. OK.

-Although it would be nice to have this as a bigger drawing room, living room.

-Yes.

-You're being greedy now!

-Yeah.

Well, there's a turn up for the books. I thought a holiday let with income potential might appeal,

but it looks like home comforts are taking top priority.

The garden starts with a large patio area

which leads out onto beautiful landscaped gardens

with a vegetable plot and formal lawned areas.

You've seen the view from afar.

Wow, that's amazing.

-It is, yes.

-Beautiful.

-It just keeps going.

Your plot of land is basically the wall. Follow the wall down there.

-It's about 1.77 acres of land.

-OK.

-That's enough.

-Yes, that's just an enormous space down there.

It is, isn't it? I sense that you like it, so let's talk money.

-What do you think it's on the market for?

-Shall I go first?

-Yes.

I think about 825,000.

OK. For all that?

-Yeah.

-Okey-dokes.

-Why not?

I'm thinking so near to Harrogate, I'm going to say 860.

-Ooh. OK. You're both way out.

-OK.

-But which way?

-Hopefully the right way!

Yes, it is the right way. Currently on the market for £785,000.

-Wow. That's a lot cheaper than...

-Yeah.

-Gives you plenty of money to spend.

-To do the conversions you'd need to do.

-And go on holiday while it's happening!

-I like your style!

Go and take it all in. Have a look at the downstairs space.

Draw up a few plans in your head.

-OK.

-I'll catch up with you.

-Lovely.

-Good.

-Thank you.

-Pleasure. Thank you.

A surprise to both our buyers. Our first property is well under budget.

The grounds overlook the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.

I really love the house, particularly at the price it was at.

I thought it would be higher, being near to Harrogate.

Got some wonderful features, like the fireplace.

And the fact that we can do some renovating work as well.

Although the kitchen is a bit snugger than you'd have liked,

-we could have this as the dining room.

-It would make a lovely dining room.

I think the house is very nice.

It's the sort of house anybody would be happy to just move into and live in.

You've also got that potential to do whatever you want

with the area above the garage and below the garage.

-A-ha.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-Seen enough?

-Yes.

-You're still smiling.

-Absolutely.

-I was catching some rays.

-Let's not idle, though. Let's carry on.

-Lovely.

100 years ago, the Victorian tourist looking to rejuvenate

came to North Yorkshire in search of a very specific elixir - water.

However, it wasn't the coast or country they escaped to.

It was the spa town of Harrogate.

Back in 1571, natural springs were discovered by William Slingsby

which tasted similar to those in a Belgian town called Spa.

So Harrogate became the first place in England

that had the name Spa applied to it.

Becky and Kyle met up with local historian Malcolm Neesam

to find out more about the town's therapeutic properties,

starting in the Royal Pump Room, created back in 1842.

The strong sulphur well is the most celebrated in Europe.

For a time, they said it was the strongest in the world.

But once the curative power of the water was proven,

then people started coming in dozens, hundreds, thousands,

and eventually the visitor numbers exceeded the population.

Harrogate's popularity as a tourist destination really took off during the 18th century

when a physician called Timothy Bight claimed the sulphur and iron-rich waters

had medicinal healing qualities.

By the mid-19th century, over 30,000 visitors a year

came to take the waters.

The secret is

keep it away from your nose until you're ready to drink.

When you are, bring it to your lips quickly and then down it.

-Mmm! Delicious!

-Easy!

-You must try some.

-OK.

I can smell it.

Go on, then.

-Ooh, it's...

-Down in one?

I didn't quite do it!

It definitely tastes of boiled eggs!

-It's quite salty.

-I couldn't do that every day, to be honest!

There are 88 official springs in Harrogate.

36 can be found in the beautiful Valley Gardens.

The gardens formed an exercise element of the visitors' health regime,

providing an attractive walk in-between drinking the waters.

To quench the Victorians' growing desire for entertainment as well as health,

Harrogate grew into a fully-fledged resort. The Royal Hall was built in 1903

as a place of day and night amusement for the town's discerning guests.

It was originally called the Kursaal, or Cure Hall.

It was designed by England's greatest theatrical designer, Frank Matcham.

I believe he had about 1,200 buildings to his credit, a phenomenal amount.

The reason this place is here is to do with the treatments and the spa.

The third facet of the Victorian spa

-was enjoyment.

-OK.

You came here to be entertained. Have your stresses lifted.

With many high-quality establishments, it's clear to see why Kyle and Rebecca

want to tap into Harrogate's fashionable leisure industry.

So hoping we've inspired them with some distinguished ideas

for their future business, it's time to get on to our second property.

We're travelling ten miles further north than they wanted to be

in order to find a property they can get their teeth into.

Our destination is Pickhill, still only half an hour from Harrogate

should they choose to set up a business here.

Pickhill is a quiet, charming village with a church and a pub.

But the nearest shops and amenities are eight miles away.

Our second property is another Grade II listed family home,

built at the start of the Georgian period and later used as a vicarage

in the mid-1800s.

-Wow. Lovely.

-It is.

-Yeah. Large.

-I know.

-It's a chunky house.

-Yeah.

-Do you like it?

-Outside.

-From here it looks lovely.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Looks impressive.

-I like the style.

-Doesn't it.

-I suppose you'd like to see inside?

-Definitely.

-Come on, then!

Moving away from the rustic style of our first house,

this elegant property showcases those great Georgian symmetrical proportions.

We're starting the tour in the first of four reception rooms.

This is a...

snug, TV room, whatever you want it to be. It's one of the receptions.

One of the many reception rooms.

-It's a nice space, nice size.

-There's lots of it.

-A totally different feel from the other property.

-Complete opposites. It has lots of potential.

The snug is just one of the rooms that flow off the grand hallway

with its impressive wood-burner.

There's also a study, a large dining room with a window seat in the bay,

and a bright and very well-proportioned drawing room.

But next up, we're heading to the kitchen.

-Wow!

-Ooh!

-This is lovely!

This is a nice size.

This is what you'd call a what, a country kitchen?

-Yes, definitely.

-You wanted one of those, didn't you?

-Absolutely.

-It's a lovely size.

-And great views out of the window.

-That's your walled garden.

-Yeah.

-Right. I like it!

-Yeah?

-Very nice.

-Good party room.

Oh, definitely. You could just spend most of your time in here, actually.

-Mmm!

-Your catering empire would be founded here.

-It would build from here.

-The hearth.

-From that very range!

"Becky's Cakes"!

The kitchen comes complete with a big utility room

and a huge walk-in larder, an ideal bonus for our chef.

Let's see what's in store up on the first floor

where there are five of the seven bedrooms.

Two bedrooms are presented as singles,

though one of these is quite large.

There's also a twin room, a double bedroom and a family bathroom

which could benefit from some modernisation.

This is the master bedroom at the moment. Again, very bright.

-That's lovely.

-Nice view into the field.

His'n'hers storage.

-That's handy.

-Or hers'n'hers!

-Yes!

There's an en-suite as well, if you want to look.

-This is a good size.

-It's big, isn't it? Again, it could do with updating, but it's a big room.

Nice.

It may require a bit of vision and work to make this their own,

but the bones of this period Georgian house are fantastic.

On the top floor lie the last two bedrooms,

one of which is used for storage,

and the other presented as a further guest room.

-Welcome upstairs.

-Ooh, wow.

-This is OK!

-You two giggling away.

-A big room.

-Another big room.

-They had to make the most of the space, didn't they?

They didn't have enough!

-What do you think?

-I think it's different. Quirky.

-Yes.

I think it's got... It's the sort of house you'd take on as a project and put your heart and soul into it.

It could become something really quite special.

That's why we've shown you it. It's basically got nearly everything you wanted.

It's a big project. It's something we'd really have to think about.

The brief Rebecca and Kyle gave us was that they didn't want a finished house.

They'd prefer somewhere they could make their own.

This place certainly delivers on that front.

But will it be too much of a project for them to take on?

Time to get outside and see if the garden will persuade them.

In the beautifully tended mature grounds

there are formal lawned areas with topiary hedging,

an orchard with a variety of fruit trees, some bee hives and an ice house. In total,

the land extends to 1.5 acres.

Again, just what they're looking for.

-It's almost too much, really.

-So much to take in.

-Yes, so much to take in.

-I'll let you take in that part of the garden later, for a romantic stroll.

-I don't want to be a gooseberry.

-No?

OK. Everything comes at a price.

-Yes.

-What do you reckon?

I'm going to say 890.

890,000.

-OK.

-I think it will probably be less than that.

I'm thinking again about 820.

-It's actually currently on the market for £775,000.

-OK.

-I'm way out again!

-It's a lot of house, isn't it?

For that money, yeah, a lot of house.

-Go and take that romantic stroll.

-Yes.

-And that might sway you.

-You never know.

-Have a look?

-OK.

-I'll be at the front.

-See you in a bit.

Ah, they're holding hands already!

Under budget yet again at £775,000,

this grand period family home is full of character charm.

It has everything our buyers requested, and more.

There's potential to make cosmetic improvements, exactly what they'd hoped for.

It is probably a bit further north than I'd have liked to have gone.

However, I do love the potential for the house.

In terms of running a business from here

or even from near here

we'd have to think long and hard about that.

It's got lots of space, lots of land,

a good mixture of the Victorian and the Georgian, really.

We've got the lovely country style kitchen, the pantry, the cellar.

Fabulous gardens with all the fruit trees.

And just so much space

to play around with.

So it ticks all the boxes.

You certainly took your time!

-It was a big 'un!

-It's a big house!

Don't know about you, but I'm exhausted!

-That was a lot of house to see.

-A lot of house.

Two very different houses. A lot to take in.

-I think we should call it a day.

-Yes.

-Certainly.

And regroup tomorrow, yes?

-Definitely. It's been a great day.

-You look totally whacked!

-What are you trying to say?

-Come on, let's go.

With Rebecca and Kyle reflecting on the two contrasting properties they've seen so far,

the first day of our journey comes to an end.

Ex-teachers Kyle and Rebecca are looking to build a fresh life together in North Yorkshire

which entails both a new house and new livelihood.

So far we've shown them two great options.

With their very fluid plans about their dream lifestyle, we've had our work cut out.

It's a big project. It's something we'd really have to think about.

But coming up, we're hoping to strike the right notes.

Our mission is to find Kyle and Rebecca their first together home

here in North Yorkshire.

They're after a lifestyle change that will also hopefully afford them a new business.

Yesterday, we concentrated mostly on the houses.

We got mixed emotions. At one point they're ready to take on a project,

then all of a sudden they're not!

Well, they do say you shouldn't take your work home with you.

That's what we're going to show them today. Will it get the creative juices flowing

or will it leave a bitter taste in the mouth? Let's find out!

For the mystery house, we're going all out for a home-cum-business.

It should give our buyers a real shock when it comes to the price.

We're travelling about half an hour from Ripon to the market town of Middleham.

It's well within an hour's drive of Harrogate, just over a mile from the boundary of the Dales.

Middleham is a small rural market town at its best,

with less than 1,000 residents.

It's surrounded by the wonderful Wensleydale countryside

and dominated by the ruins of the magnificent 12th-century castle

which was the childhood home of King Richard III.

For over 200 years, Middleham has been a premier location for training thoroughbred racehorses.

There are about 600 horses currently being trained here.

This industry attracts many visitors to the town as well as those coming to explore the Dales,

resulting in a wealth of shops, restaurants, pubs and hotels.

I'm here to show you this.

-OK. Wow.

-What you've got here is a totally different scenario.

It's currently a home. It dates back about 300 years.

Currently the owners have two successful businesses running from it.

A bed and breakfast, three bed.

And also a very successful shop as well.

-OK.

-OK.

-I'm very intrigued.

-Best get in.

-Let's have a look.

-Hope you're smiling by the end of it!

The mystery package is a Grade II listed three-storey building

that sits right in the heart of the cobbled market square,

a prime position to take full advantage of all the passing trade.

Let's get straight down to business.

This is currently used as the guest lounge and breakfast area.

-Lovely big fireplace.

-Huge fireplace. It's a working fireplace.

Fabulous.

-Lots of potential, I think.

-This is a nice room.

-It's lovely.

-Very nice.

-Good. You're saying all the right things.

-Good.

-Shall we carry on?

-Yes.

-Let me squeeze past.

Down the hallway lies the kitchen/breakfast room,

the smallest we've seen so far. What will Becky think?

-Right.

-First thoughts?

I think we'd want to update it slightly.

But it's got potential.

-It's a bit snugger than you would have liked.

-Possibly.

-The size.

It depends what sort of kitchen you're thinking.

If it's going to be part of the business, it's different than if it's...

We'd have to think about what we were going to do.

Next to the kitchen is a decent-sized utility room.

This is currently the owner's sitting room.

-That's lovely.

-Aw! Very lovely.

-Original beam here.

-Very nice.

-Fantastic.

-I like this room.

-This is cosy.

-Very cosy.

I'm intrigued to see how they're doing the business upstairs

and with the shop.

So, yes, I'd like to see more.

Let's go upstairs. Maybe we'll talk facts and figures as well.

-Great.

-Great. Thank you.

-Let me squeeze through.

-I really like this staircase.

-Yeah.

-Yes.

-Great feeling of grandeur.

-I know.

-The window sets it off.

So...

This is the - presently, anyway - the bed and breakfast side of things.

But you've got three bedrooms to sell nightly on this floor.

Two for £80 a night and the main one for 90. They're all en-suite.

-OK.

-And they're all a large size, as well.

So if you work it out, that's probably about £250 a night.

At the moment, the current owner runs it to about 30%, 25 to 30% capacity over the year.

Up here there's also a family bathroom and a single guest room.

That wraps up the commercial first floor.

But there's more to come. The next two storeys are given over to the owner's quarters.

I'm glad you're good with stairs!

-Wow!

-This is where the current owners live.

-Right.

-A little sitting area and a little mezzanine area upstairs

which has some gym equipment in it and storage.

-OK.

-This has potential to develop into whatever you want.

-Yeah.

-The pipes are in the corner so you could put a bathroom up here.

-Oh, it's lovely.

-Nice beams.

-I like this up here.

-It feels completely different from the rest of it.

-Absolutely.

-Which is a good thing.

-It's lovely.

There are another two bedrooms up here, the largest of which has an exposed brick chimneybreast.

That concludes the tour of the residential side of the house

as well as one of the two businesses that currently operate here.

Being in the town centre, this plot doesn't have a garden.

But we do have one last stop which is back down on the ground floor.

-Off the downstairs hall...

-Wow!

-..you have your very own shop.

-Wow.

-This is lovely.

-It is, isn't it?

-What a fabulous space.

-I love the windows and the door. Very pretty.

-It's got a very good frontage.

-Yes.

There are options. Keep it as two businesses and a home.

-Keep that part as your home and this as business.

-I know. So much to think about.

-The big question is, can you afford it?

-We don't know!

-You can go first cos you're really good at this.

-You've done so well so far.

-Do I get a clue?

-Make it three out of three. No, no clues!

OK. I'm going to go... I'll probably be hopelessly wrong, 820.

OK. 820,000.

I'm thinking maybe a bit more than 820.

Probably thinking somewhere between 850 and 870.

-It's catching, obviously.

-Have I lost?

-No, you're closer.

-Yes!

-But neither of you are anywhere near close enough.

It's currently on the market - the whole thing -

for £545,000.

-Is it?!

-You're smiling now!

Look at that face. And breathe!

-Crikey, that's...

-We're not good at this game!

-No!

-I suppose the fact that it's without land.

-Do you have any figures on the shop?

-Yes, the shop currently turns over about 30k a year.

-30k.

Go and have another look around.

I'll be out the front on that lovely little bench.

-Lovely.

-I may be asleep.

-That's fine.

-Be gentle with me if I am, OK?

-Take your time.

-See you later.

-Absolutely.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

They're still being polite. I think this property is everything they asked for.

It's a lovely home. It also affords them plenty of business opportunities as well.

So in this gorgeous market town where horses are prime,

I wonder if this will be a yay or a "neigh"!

For £545,000, the mystery lot offers great value for money.

It's set over three floors and comes with...

A home and a ready-made enterprise all in a great location.

I think the mystery property has surprised me a lot.

Totally not what I thought it was going to be.

I think it's given us a lot to think about.

The mystery property was certainly interesting as a business idea.

It presents itself with a lot of possibilities.

I don't think we will be looking at this place as somewhere to live.

But it could be a good building to have as a business. It's interesting.

-Hello.

-I can't tell you how close I was falling asleep on that bench.

-Idyllic. Seen enough?

-Yes.

You've seen everything we've got to offer

so you should regroup, have a good chat, try not to fight,

-and we'll catch up with you later. How's that?

-Sounds like a plan.

-Great idea.

20th-century conductor Sir Thomas Beecham once said,

rather patronisingly, I should add,

"Brass bands are all very well in their place. Outdoors and several miles away."

Well, the ordinary Victorian folk up north couldn't have disagreed more

as the brass band was at the very heart of countless towns and villages.

In the heyday of the mid-19th century, there were over 100 brass bands in North Yorkshire alone.

I went to meet the Harrogate Brass Band's musical director, Steve Morland,

during rehearsals in the Valley Gardens.

Probably because I'm from Wales, I thought brass bands were associated with coalmining and so on.

It's not the case here.

In most parts of Yorkshire and Lancashire that's definitely the case.

In Harrogate, we have a very different kind of industry

and the industry became tourism in Victorian times.

People come to take the waters and the treatments and so on.

Bands were needed to entertain them.

So a number of bands sprang up around the turn of the century in Harrogate.

None of them exist to this day, sadly, but we've reformed in the last 40 years

and we carry on the work of entertaining people.

In 1835, the British Association for the Promotion of Temperance

was formed by Christian groups as a society promoting personal morality

with a pledge not to drink spirits.

Playing in a brass band was seen as a positive pastime for the working classes and society as a whole.

'Music was very elitist at that time

'so for any one person to be able to come along, pick up an instrument and have a go

'was a really big thing in music in this country.'

What about nationally? Is the brass band movement in a healthy state?

I wouldn't say healthy. Bands are still on the drop nationally.

But the quality they produce is fantastic.

Bear in mind these are exclusively amateur musicians.

Everybody here, music is their hobby, not something you do professionally.

-They're not paid.

-Absolutely not. Some of the best bands in Britain perform at the highest level

with top professional musicians.

Brass bands have a long tradition of competition.

There are about 20,000 players nationwide, playing in some 500 competing bands.

In fact, participating in contests is one of the main highlights for players.

But it takes a lot of practice to become champions.

OK, from the key change!

Nowadays, it's not just men. There are many women and young people involved.

Learning to play an instrument is a great discipline

and it's up to the younger players to get involved early to ensure the future of brass bands.

Despite the tee-total origins, playing in such a band is a great social event.

And if you'll pardon the pun, they've horned me in to join them in the pub.

How could I refuse?

And that's it. Our property search is over.

It's fair to say we've shown Kyle and Rebecca three very different properties,

all of them with huge potential.

The question now is, which one of them, if any,

will be their first together home?

Time to find out.

We've done quite a bit of travelling over the last few days.

-We have.

-I suppose every house has been different.

Absolutely. It's been very interesting.

A lot to think about from that point of view.

-The first one was a bit of a shock for you.

-I think so.

When we saw it initially, we thought it might be a little bit too small.

But when we saw the possibility of converting the garage,

it suddenly became very attractive.

-And it was in a very good location.

-Yes.

-Close to Harrogate and the views were superb.

-Spectacular.

-They certainly were.

-And overall, the way they'd improved the house,

-as far as they'd got, was perfect.

-The only point was the kitchen,

being that it was a modern kitchen rather than an old-style country kitchen that I would like.

-OK. Let's move on.

-Yes.

-What about the Georgian property?

-Rather big!

-Huge!

-Enormous. It was enormous.

Even though a lot of the work was mostly decorative work,

I still think it was going to be an enormous task to undertake.

For me, even if the decorative work had been done,

I'm not sure if the style of the house would have suited me

even if it was brought up to the best spec.

-But it ticked so many of your boxes.

-It did.

And I did see the potential in the property

in terms of the country-style kitchen, the larder and the cellar.

-But I think the location was possibly not...

-That was the fundamental flaw, really.

-How come?

-It was in the wrong place.

-A little bit too far out of Harrogate.

-OK.

And there wasn't enough immediately around it.

It was in that flat hinterland between the Dales and the moors

-that wasn't where we wanted to be.

-No.

Let's talk about the mystery property, where her work came home.

Hmm. Yes, that was surprising.

Initially we were thinking of living there.

It was a bit hard to see that

especially as there was no outside area.

But once we realised it could just be a business,

-it did seem a bit more attractive.

-It opened it up a bit more.

I thought the downstairs area was fantastic.

A very good double-fronted shop.

It had got the possibility of a cafe,

and the B&B opportunities in the property were very good.

We just need to check out the location a bit more

to make sure that we'd be able to operate what we want to operate there.

Are you going to go back and see any of them?

I think at the moment

weighing everything up for me, actually Property One would be...

-a better option.

-We'll have a look at that again.

We'll tie it in to looking at other houses in the area for the first time.

And then research the area around the mystery property.

-Has the last few days helped you at all?

-Yes, it has.

-Yeah.

We haven't seen much of the Harrogate area

so to get to know that as an area has been fantastic.

-All the best to you.

-Thank you.

-All the best.

-Cheers!

-Cheers!

You know, it can very often be tricky finding that perfect house.

But Kyle and Rebecca have the added pressure

of it being the first property they're hoping to buy together.

Of course they want it to be absolutely perfect.

They're also hoping to start a business

and the fact that they have to do all this in record time.

But it's not all doom and gloom.

The good news is they've set their hearts on North Yorkshire and they're positive people

so it's only a matter of time till they make this beautiful county their home.

Hope they do, or they could be camping on my lawn and I wouldn't wish that on anyone!

Till next time, goodbye!

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