A popular food critic has staged a head-to-head culinary battle between the pubs owned by former Top Gear and The Grand Tour icons Jeremy Clarkson and James May, declaring a winner by the narrowest of margins.
The Culinary Challenge: A Point-by-Point Showdown
Gary Hanna, the host of the Gary Eats YouTube channel, visited both establishments to sample and score a three-course meal at each. He aimed to order similar dishes for fairness, judging them across five categories: ambience, service, starter, main, and dessert, with each worth up to 10 points for a total possible score of 50.
James May's Royal Oak: A Traditional Triumph
Hanna began his mission at James May's pub, The Royal Oak in Swallowcliffe, Wiltshire. He started with a pork, venison and pistachio terrine for £9.50, praising its "punchy flavour" and the accompanying "rich and creamy" celeriac.
For his main, he chose the flat iron steak for £28, which he described as surprisingly thick and high-quality, insisting a restaurant chain of the same name "doesn't produce steak that classy." He was particularly stunned by the onion rings, calling one "one of the best" he'd ever tasted.
He finished with a sticky toffee pudding for £9, enjoying the "incredibly light" sponge but finding the sauce a "touch too sweet."
Jeremy Clarkson's Farmer's Dog: Modern Pub Grub
Hanna then travelled to Jeremy Clarkson's establishment, The Farmer's Dog, near Burford, Oxfordshire. He noted the venue had a more "modern feel" compared to the traditional Royal Oak.
His starter was a ham hock terrine for £12, which he called "very nice" and an "excellent portion." For the main, he opted for gammon steak with crushed new potatoes and roasted vegetables for £22, highlighting the "perfect piece" of meat for its "lovely saltiness" and tenderness.
The meal concluded with an apple crumble for £12, where he declared the apple the "star of the show."
The Final Verdict: A Photo Finish
After meticulous scoring, the results were incredibly close. For starters, May scored 9 points to Clarkson's 8.5. Both main courses earned a stellar 9.5, though Hanna hinted Clarkson's gammon slightly edged it. For dessert, the tables turned, with May receiving 8.5 and Clarkson a 9.
The decisive categories were ambience and service. Hanna said he felt like one of the "family" at May's pub, awarding it a perfect 10 for ambience, while Clarkson's received a 9. Both pubs earned a full 10 points for service.
In the final tally, Jeremy Clarkson's The Farmer's Dog scored an impressive 46 points out of 50. However, James May's The Royal Oak clinched victory with 47 points, winning the culinary contest by a single point.
Wrapping up, Hanna joked that their Grand Tour co-host Richard Hammond now "has got to buy a pub" to complete the trio's foray into the hospitality industry.
