During a stage talk that will cover his career and how his air conditioning business has been revolutionising the home build industry, Dean will also be opening up about the ups and downs on the show and his run-ins with Lord Sugar.
After working his way up from an apprentice to supervisor, Dean co-founded ADL Air Conditioning during the pandemic, seeing a gap in the market and opportunity during a heatwave summer when the nation was in lockdown. The company has gone from strength-to-strength, with plans to hire more staff, build a bigger warehouse and expand the whole operation. ADL has won multiple awards since its inception, and Dean himself was awarded ‘Best Tradesperson of the year’ in 2022-23.
Dean will also be on the Daikin stand for the duration of the show.
Meanwhile, Kevin McCloud will be back for a completely overhauled Grand Designs Live, the UK’s premier home design exhibition, which will be returning in a brand-new format to London ExCeL from May 2–5, 2025.
The show promises to be the best yet, rebuilt from the ground up for an unforgettable day out. Filled with expert advice and endless home design inspiration across a completely revamped show, it promises to be the place to go for the latest and best renovation products and advice.
Over four exciting days, showgoers will have the chance to connect with a range of specialists on hand for one-to-one advice sessions, plus countless new product ranges to help spark new ideas to turn dream homes into reality.
Exciting features at this year’s show include:
The Grand House
Grand Designs Live’s star attraction is the Grand House, an immersive, cutting-edge residence that brings the world of Grand Designs to life. The inspiring build showcases state-of-the-art, low carbon emission technology in the push for net zero, offering a glimpse into the future of eco-friendly living.
The Grand House is expertly curated, and its interactive features allow visitors to see firsthand how smart design can transform a space, putting the power to create a greener future right at their fingertips.
Visitors can immerse themselves in the stunning rooms, including high-tech kitchens, serene living spaces and incredible garden retreats, all to inspire their next home project. Experts from a host of brands will also be on hand to offer advice and share stories behind their design decisions, such as Blanco, Nispero and Butler Harwell.
New Dedicated Theatre & Expert Advice Offerings
Hosting an incredible array of experts, visitors can see an exciting and engaging lineup discuss everything from sustainability to innovation, whatever the nature of your home project, and hear how others have turned their dream renovation projects into a reality.
Content Hubs:
- Build and Renovation Theatre – with panel discussions covering everything from planning to execution
- Sustainability Theatre – hosted by Max McMurdo and honing in on the best ways to achieve your home build in a sustainable manner
- Kitchens and Bathroom Theatre – with content covering all aspects of kitchen and bathroom builds from the experts
- Home and Gardens Theatre – partnering with the Society of Garden Designers and British Institute of Interior Design, this will be the place to go for advice on indoor-outdoor living
The Build and Renovation, Kitchen and Bathroom, and Home and Gardens hubs will all also host ‘Advice Centres’, which offer free one-to-one advice for projects from independent experts.
Emerging Brands
A brand-new section of the show featuring fresh talent and the newest, most exciting products breaking into the market. This area is the perfect spot to explore what’s next in the world of home design and to find fresh inspiration for your build.
Architecture Advice Centre
Grand Designs Live will also be hosting the Architecture Advice Centre, where attendees can consult with experts on a one-to-one basis on a variety of topics to help them with their own grand design plans, including architecture, structural engineering and planning for self-builds and renovations for interiors, landscaping and outdoor living. The dedicated area is proudly partnered with Royal Institute of British Architects, ensuring top tier advice from industry professionals.
Kevin’s Green Heroes
The Green Heroes are back, featuring 10 brand new environmentally innovative products and three returning heroes, all specially selected by Kevin McCloud himself: Times Gang, Gomi Power Bank and Selfish Customs. Products can be found by the Sustainability Theatre, hosted by Max McMurdo.
Grand Designs at 25
Following 25 years of Grand Designs on TV, Grand Designs Live is celebrating with a huge mix of suppliers from over the years of the show will be attending, so visitors can get advice and purchase products they’ve seen on their screens!