Jeremy Clarkson’s Pub: A Sunday Lunch Like No Other

Published: 09 September ‘2025. the English Chronicle Desk

Visiting Jeremy Clarkson’s pub, The Farmer’s Dog, is an experience that defies expectations. Opened just over a year ago, the pub quickly became a magnet not only for fans of Clarkson’s popular Amazon Prime series but also for those seeking a quintessentially British countryside outing infused with Clarkson’s unmistakable personality. Nestled ten miles south of his Diddly Squat Farm along the winding A40 through the Oxfordshire countryside, the pub combines a traditional English pub atmosphere with a showcase for locally sourced produce.

Arriving for a Sunday lunch reservation earlier this summer, the scene that greeted me was astonishing. Cars stretched across fields like a festival parking lot, guided efficiently by stewards in high-vis jackets. Visitors streamed towards the pub in coordinated waves, the sheer scale prompting many, including myself, to utter a stunned “bloody hell!” in unison with fellow guests. Despite expecting a quiet countryside lunch, the bustling crowds, full-blown parking operations, and visible security measures confirmed that The Farmer’s Dog is far from your average pub outing.

The pub’s expansive site includes a large shop, outdoor bar, and an enormous beer garden, all of which are thriving hubs of activity. People lounged on benches or sprawled across the grass, enjoying the sun, the views of the rolling Cotswolds, and pints of the pub’s signature Hawkstone beers. The shop offers an array of locally sourced items including beer, cider, jams, marmalades, honey, candles, and branded apparel, alongside a butcher selling produce from nearby farms. I picked up a crate of lager and a jar of honey from Diddly Squat Farm, each purchase a tangible connection to the farm-to-pub ethos Clarkson has long championed.

At our reserved time, we were greeted promptly and escorted to a corner table with glass doors overlooking the terrace, offering both a panoramic view of the bustling interior and the sunshine outdoors. The pub emphasizes its local connections, with blackboards listing local farms such as Vanessa Hartley, Nick Sinden, and Rectory Farm as suppliers. Drinks arrived promptly: a pint of Hawkstone Black stout and a half-pint of Hawkstone lager, both perfectly complementing the lively atmosphere.

The food matched the setting, with Sunday roasts served generously, staff weaving skillfully among guests and dogs alike. My starter of cold-smoked Bibury trout, thickly sliced and bursting with flavor, accompanied by horseradish cream and watercress, was an unforgettable highlight, particularly after visiting the Bibury trout farm just days earlier.

Despite the overwhelming scale of the crowd, the operation ran smoothly. Reservation holders were seated immediately, queues for the shop were manageable, and the energy throughout the pub was overwhelmingly positive. The crowd’s enthusiasm and the palpable sense of enjoyment among visitors underscored the pub’s appeal: it is as much about the experience and atmosphere as it is about food or drink.

A year into its operation, The Farmer’s Dog has become a phenomenon, blending Clarkson’s distinctive flair with the charm of the Cotswolds, the quality of local produce, and the warmth of a traditional pub. It is a place that leaves a lasting impression, a testament to how pubs are about more than meals—they are about moments, laughter, and shared enjoyment. Despite the crowds and the logistics of the parking and queues, the experience is overwhelmingly rewarding. For anyone seeking a Sunday lunch that is as much an event as a meal, Jeremy Clarkson’s pub is unforgettable.