A couple renovating their home in Canterbury made an extraordinary discovery in their garden when they stumbled upon a Second World War bomb shelter, and instead of filling it in, they spent part of their renovation budget transforming it into a stylish hidden bar.
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KJ and Mike revealed the unusual discovery during the latest episode of Channel 4’s Extraordinary Extensions, hosted by Tinie Tempah. The couple had embarked on a major renovation of their 1930s former B&B in Canterbury, with plans for a two-storey timber-slatted extension.
The project, which began in November 2024, was initially budgeted at £700,000. However, the final cost reached a staggering £780,000 after the couple encountered several unexpected problems.
One of the biggest surprises came early in the renovation, when they discovered the wartime structure beneath their garden.
“We came across a little opening, and we kept digging,” Mike told viewers. “And then we found this entire thing.”
Couple turn bomb shelter into hidden bar
Rather than demolishing or filling in the historic structure, the couple decided to incorporate it into their home as a “hidden bar”.
The underground space can be accessed through a hatch in an outhouse constructed above the shelter. The building also doubles as an office and gym.
KJ acknowledged that the more practical option would have been to simply fill in the shelter and forget about it.
“The sensible approach would probably have been to fill it in and forget about it,” KJ admitted.
The conversion, however, came with its own set of challenges.
The couple discovered lead paint after power-washing the walls, while the underground shelter also suffered from flooding. Although the space has now been renovated, it is still not completely watertight.
As a result, KJ and Mike have opted for furniture that can easily be moved if water enters the shelter again.
Inside the colourful wartime bar
The transformation has given the previously tired underground structure a completely different appearance.
The shelter now features painted red and pink walls, creating a warm and striking atmosphere. A patterned carpet adds another layer of colour and softness to the space.
Two chairs and a small side table sit together, while a compact wooden bar has been fitted out with drinks and cocktail accessories.
The result is a hidden entertaining space that bears little resemblance to the utilitarian wartime shelter it once was.
Why Canterbury has so many wartime shelters
The discovery is particularly fitting given Canterbury’s history during the Second World War.
The city was heavily bombed during the conflict. According to Kent Archaeology, by the early 1940s Canterbury had shelter space for around 1,960 people in basements and another 1,540 in covered trenches.
The shelter discovered beneath KJ and Mike’s garden is therefore part of a wider legacy of wartime structures built to protect civilians during the Blitz.
£780,000 renovation combines Norwegian and Korean influences
The bomb shelter was not the only major transformation undertaken by the couple.
Their renovation turned the tired 1930s property into a modern three-bedroom home, combining elements of their Norwegian and Korean heritage.
The exterior now features pale Scandinavian-style cladding alongside the original brickwork, while bold orange-framed, floor-to-ceiling windows provide a contemporary contrast.
The couple also incorporated extensive hidden technology throughout the property, including voice-activated blinds and discreet lighting built into the staircase.
At the heart of the extension is an open-plan living, dining and kitchen area that opens directly onto the terrace.
The terrace is covered by a pergola designed to provide a visual reference to Korean gardens.
The project also created space for a new master bedroom, dramatically changing the layout and appearance of the property.
Couple go £80,000 over budget
KJ and Mike had originally set aside £700,000 for the renovation, but the final bill reached around £780,000.
One of the biggest unexpected expenses came after they discovered a problem with the roof. Retiling it cost an additional £25,000.
The scale of the project, combined with the discovery and conversion of the bomb shelter, made the renovation increasingly challenging.
“You've juggled a huge build, big design choices and a bomb shelter on the side,” Tinie Tempah told the couple. “Was there ever any point in the process where you thought — we've bitten off more than we can chew?”
“Well, probably!” KJ replied. “It's just been exhausting at times.”
Mike said the couple ultimately tried to focus on the finished home despite the difficulties.
“You have to look at the end product... the journey has its highs and lows but it's come together!” he said.
“We knew going into this that we wanted to create something that's a reflection of both of us.”
KJ added: “This is deeply personal.”
Another couple discovered Nazi bunker beneath their home
The Canterbury discovery follows another remarkable case involving a wartime bunker found beneath a home in the Channel Islands.
Last year, Shaun Tullier, 35, and his wife Caroline, 32, discovered a Second World War German bunker beneath their property on Guernsey.
The couple had moved into the house in October 2021 and knew the property had previously been used as a German gun emplacement. However, they suspected there could be more hidden beneath their garden.
After excavating more than 100 tonnes of soil from the front garden, they uncovered a structure approximately 26ft below the house.
An eerie staircase led down into two large rooms and a hallway. German phrases were also found written on the walls, including the ominous message “achtung feind hort mit”, meaning “beware, the enemy is listening”.
Guernsey bunker becomes games room
Rather than leaving the bunker untouched, Shaun and Caroline decided to give it a new purpose.
They converted the underground structure into a games room featuring a snooker table and gym.
The bunker was among the many wartime structures left behind after German forces occupied the Channel Islands from 1940 to 1945.
Under Adolf Hitler’s orders, the islands were heavily fortified as part of efforts to create what Nazi Germany described as an “impregnable fortress”.
