Formula 1 photographer and travel vlogger Kym Illman has returned to Jeremy Clarkson's Cotswolds pub, The Farmer's Dog, for a second visit, praising the food but revealing the one thing that 'irks' him: the difficulty of getting a reservation.
Second Attempt at The Farmer's Dog
Kym Illman, who travels to every Formula 1 race worldwide, also runs a YouTube channel documenting his journeys. After missing out on his first attempt due to not booking far enough in advance, he recently made a second trip to the pub, located near Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds.
During his visit, Illman sampled several dishes, starting with the £13 buffalo mozzarella salad, which he described as 'small side' but 'very fresh' with 'beautiful' mozzarella. He then enjoyed a 'very tasty' soup and sourdough, followed by a main course of two steak pies (£26 each) and a Cotswold sausage (£22).
Food Review and Verdict
Illman praised the steak pie highly, saying: 'First mouthful. Oh, I love it. I absolutely love it. This is not a traditional meat pie you get in Australia at a bakery. This is elevated. This has got a beautiful red wine taste to it. Got some lovely mashed potatoes here. This is food that makes me happy.' He rated the pie 9.1 out of 10.
He also found the sausage 'well above average' but admitted he would 'rather' opt for the pie. For dessert, he had an Eton mess, calling it 'beautiful' and 'gorgeous,' and declared the entire meal 'sensational.'
Atmosphere and Clientele
Illman noted that The Farmer's Dog attracts 'normal, run-of-the-mill people' rather than 'high-flyers with big wallets,' and observed guests from around the world. The total bill for two diners came to approximately £140, covering six dishes, a glass of white wine, a bottle of mineral water, and a 12.5 per cent tip. Illman called it the best lunch he had eaten in Britain.
The 'Irksome' Aspect
When asked if the pub was 'overrated,' Illman replied: 'No, I love the place, and I can tell you every one of these thousands that come here every day will say the same thing. Yes, you're going to have to fork out a few dollars, but if you want quality food and a great experience, it's going to cost you money.'
He added: 'I've been to this place twice, and what irks me a little bit is that I'll probably have to wait another year to come back for my third visit.' The difficulty of securing a reservation due to high demand is the one aspect that frustrates him.
