Jeremy Clarkson, yeah — the guy from Top Gear and Clarkson’s Farm — opened a pub in the Cotswolds called The Farmer’s Dog. Sounds charming, right? A countryside pub serving local food and drinks, connected to his whole “support British farming” thing. Honestly, it started off strong. People were lining up, fans were excited, and the idea just felt… right.
The pub isn’t just a place to grab a pint either. There’s a butcher shop, an outdoor kitchen, and even a restaurant area. The whole setup was clearly designed with a lot of thought. It felt like Jeremy really wanted this to be more than just a celebrity gimmick. But yeah, things didn’t exactly go perfectly.
Behind the Scenes: Money Worries and Stolen Glasses?
Even though folks are showing up, Clarkson’s been open about how tough running this place has been. Apparently, it’s costing way more than expected. Heating outdoor areas, running generators, handling parking — all that stuff adds up quick. And it doesn’t help that people have been walking off with things like beer glasses. Like, over 100 gone in a day — that’s wild.
He even said he’s probably going to lose a ton of money on the whole thing. Which is surprising, right? You’d think a packed pub run by a famous face would be raking it in. But turns out, the reality of running a business — especially one this ambitious — isn’t so simple.
Not Everyone’s a Fan of the Pub
Now here’s where it gets a bit tense. The local response to The Farmer’s Dog hasn’t all been cheerful. Some folks in the area are genuinely happy — it's brought in visitors, given the local economy a little boost, and let’s face it, it’s kind of cool to have Clarkson’s pub down the road.
But others? Not so thrilled. Some neighbors have raised concerns about things like traffic jams, noise, and even how the building work affects the landscape. There’s also been a bit of back and forth with local planning authorities — especially over expanding the car park. Stuff like this is pretty common when big changes come to quiet villages, but it’s still been a headache.