You guys have a bunch of good mail order shops in the UK - do they have a brick and mortar shop front? like http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/
I read Singletrack Magazine and they seem to have lots of shops in the back.
I would save your money and look for a Giant or get a frame and build it up yourself.
Maybe a nice On-one frame like a 456 and a Reba fork or Pike.