A Year at the Chateau: As seen on the hit Channel 4 show

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Read this book if you really want to know about their wedding invitations and the vintage napkins they set out. I wouldn't make all the same design choices, but it's really fun to read all about what they did in much more detail than the TV show allows.

The book is well organised (as, it seems, was the work they carried out on the chateau) and very informative - bringing the renovation to life. Dick and Angel are optimistic troopers who take everything in stride and seem to actually enjoy the myriad challenges along the way. Last time we sat inside and the glow from the red lights as the evening descended was really rather magical. Keeping a huge home warm takes lots of heating and the drama of finding a suitable boiler, numerous radiators for numerous rooms, making holes in metre thick stone walls and laying hundreds of metres of water pipes - yes, literally hundreds of metres, for running water are not problems that the average home owner has to deal with.It explains the background of the story and how they went on to find the Chateau of their dreams and went about restoring it. Dick Strawbridge is an engineer and an environmentalist and began his TV career years ago as a team leader on Scrapheap Challenge. I have never seen this show before, and I didn’t think watching it would be a prerequisite, but I think this book is better suited to show watchers who are looking for more behind the scenes information.

A Year at the Château covers just that—the first year of ownership and renovations and, finally, their first event. By using the Web site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions.I was expecting a book about a families first year at a chateau, the ins and out of renovating a chateau and maybe even a little history about the historic building. We're always happy to answer any questions or queries you might have, please get in touch using one of the methods below.

I've read the book, learnt a lot about owning a château and enjoyed hearing about their story from two different view points. In fact it made me nostalgic for the early episodes (which unfortunately aren't currently available to me for streaming - I'll wait). Along the way we'll read glorious descriptions of rural life in France, with charming characters, delicious food and wonderful seasonal produce, together with the extraordinary list of renovations and restorations Dick and Angel completed, many of which were never shown on TV. Le Bonaparte brasserie glows with red warmth in the fall and winter and is a great place to eat right in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près.Angels parts of the book were a tad easier to to read although she seemed to think she is only person in the world with alternative taste (I’m having mismatched chairs at my wedding oh my god I’m so wacky) she sees Dick with rose coloured glasses and can also join in with him on his bullying. He is a man of many interests, some of which are reflected in his successful and varied television career. When Nicola's husband, Dominic, retires they decide not to spend their days finding hobbies to fill the time until Countdown is on.

No missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, no underlining or highlighting of text, and no writing in the margins.At the halfway point, it is fair to say the Strawbridge’s might be a little too focused on the food aspects of France (and you can’t blame them), Thankfully, the aspects of the chateau eventually come back to the forefront and their journey continues. A lot of the photos seem to focus on the couples wedding, even though it was beautiful and it is a focus on their business, I felt the readers probably wanted to see the progress of each of the rooms that were spoken about instead. In 2015 they bought a derelict château in the Loire valley and became the subjects of the hugely popular Channel 4 hit Escape to the Château. All the characters have different expectations of life in France and different ties back in Britain. I came to ‘The Chateau’ late in the day; over lockdown in January 2021 and it has been my ‘happy place’ ever since!