For Vincenzo Gentile, Nick Millican recalls, London was a place of freedom and fun—where he dreamed of relocating from his native Rome. As an 18-year-old, Gentile accomplished his dream of living in London. Unlike his parents, who wanted him to go to university, Vincenzo Gentile knew that London was the place for young people to go and start their lives.
Vincenzo and his friend traveled together and landed in a Stoke Newington warehouse. The two friends shared a 20-square-meter space with two other people. The dismal warehouse had no windows, everyone shared a bathroom, and there was no separation between living spaces. This, Nick Millican shares, is the reality people had to go through back then.
Despite the living accommodations, Vincenzo thrived. He first got a job as a kitchen porter in a bakery. He then worked at construction sites as a laborer. He then found his ideal job at a smoked salmon company. In 2017, Gentile started Smokin’ Brothers, a smoked salmon company, with two Italian friends. Nick Millican shares that Smokin’ Brothers found success when a deal was brokered with Daylesford Organic, the business established by Carole Bramford on her Cotswold farm.
After years of living in London, Vincenzo met, fell in love, and married Bruna Arajo. At thirty, both of them sought to find a place to live and were shocked that they couldn’t find a one-bedroom flat for less than £1,800. Thats why, Nick Millican informs, the couple decided to move close to Daylesford and found a three-bedroom rental house with a garden for £ 1700 per month.
Real estate expert Nick Millican has seen couples leave London for other locations. This, due to rentals that offer more square footage for the price or buyers finding less expensive houses for sale. According to the asset manager and expert, leaving London brings new opportunities for renters and buyers.