Jeremy Clarkson, the famously opinionated Grand Tour host and now publican, has unleashed a blistering attack on what he perceives as the death of traditional pub culture, and he's pointing the finger squarely at his own customers.
In his latest column for The Sunday Times, the Clarkson's Farm star bemoaned the modern trend of ordering food and drinks via smartphone apps while seated at a table, labelling those who do so as profoundly 'lazy'. His ire stems from the struggles faced by his own Cotswolds pub, The Hawk and Buckle, which he runs with his partner, Lisa Hogan.
'It's Killing the Atmosphere'
Clarkson passionately argued that the very soul of a British pub is being eroded by this digital shift. He believes the simple, social act of walking to the bar, exchanging pleasantries with the staff, and chatting with fellow drinkers is an irreplaceable ritual.
'The bar is the heart of the pub,' Clarkson wrote. 'It’s where you meet people, where you have a chat, where the banter happens. That's all being lost.'
The Financial Strain on Pubs
Beyond the social critique, Clarkson highlighted a stark economic reality. He revealed that for every pint sold through a third-party app, the pub itself loses a significant chunk of the profit. These services, he explained, can take up to 30% of the sale price, a margin that many struggling landlords simply cannot afford.
'It's a financial disaster,' he stated, adding that this model is pushing beloved locals towards closure at an alarming rate.
A Personal Plea from a Pub Owner
This isn't just a theoretical rant for Clarkson; it's a daily battle. Since taking over the pub, he has witnessed the direct impact of changing consumer habits on his business's bottom line. His column serves as both a lament for a dying tradition and a direct plea to patrons: put your phone away and support your local by ordering the old-fashioned way.
True to form, Clarkson didn't mince his words, concluding that the convenience of app ordering comes at a far greater cost than people realise – the cost of losing a fundamental British institution.
