I visited The Farmer's Dog, the pub owned by Jeremy Clarkson, for a Sunday lunch and was stunned by the sheer scale of the operation. Stewards in high-vis jackets directed cars to a field with thousands of vehicles, more than at some festivals. The pub, featured in the Amazon Prime series 'Clarkson's Farm', is almost fully booked for June and July, a year after my visit.
Arriving an hour early, I wandered through the huge beer garden and shop, which sells Hawkstone beer, jams, honey, and branded clothing. Thousands of people sat on wooden benches or the grass, enjoying pints and views of the Cotswolds. I bought a crate of Hawkstone lager for £28 and a £12 jar of honey from Diddly Squat Farm.
At 1pm, a staff member escorted us to our table near glass doors overlooking the terrace. The pub highlights its local sourcing, naming farmers Vanessa Hartley and Nick Sinden on a blackboard. Clarkson originally wanted a restaurant on his farm but settled for buying this pub after planning disputes.
We ordered a pint of Hawkstone Black stout (£7) and a half of lager (£3.50), both excellent. The meal was a testament to the booming business, despite the chaos of crowds. The experience was unforgettable, from the parking field to the final sip of stout.
