Canterbury homeowners turn WWII bomb shelter into a secret bar during costly renovation

While undertaking a major extension of their 1930s former B&B in Canterbury, homeowners KJ and Mike stumbled upon a Second World War bomb shelter beneath their garden. The discovery was showcased on Channel 4’s Extraordinary Extensions, hosted by Tinie Tempah. Opting to preserve the historic structure, they fashioned a secret bar reachable via a hatch in a newly built outhouse, also using the space as an office and gym.

The renovation, which began in November 2024, escalated from a £700,000 estimate to roughly £780,000 due to unforeseen issues such as roof re-tiling, lead-paint exposure and flooding. The bar’s interior features vivid red and pink paint, a patterned carpet, and portable furnishings to address water-tightness concerns. The project blends Scandinavian and Korean design influences and adds modern technology like voice-activated blinds. Their story follows a similar recent find of a German bunker turned games room in Guernsey.