Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has made it clear he has no intention of visiting Jeremy Clarkson's pub in the Cotswolds, describing it as "not my kind of place" and acknowledging their roles as light-hearted rivals representing different facets of the region's transformation.
Cotswolds Transformation Witnessed Over Two Decades
The 62-year-old interior designer, who has lived in the Cotswolds for 20 years, has seen the area evolve into a hotspot for celebrities and tourists. High-profile names such as Beyonce and Jay-Z, David and Victoria Beckham, and Kate Moss have all purchased homes in the region. Jeremy Clarkson's Oxfordshire farm, featured in his hit series Clarkson's Farm, has further amplified attention on the area.
Reflecting on this shift, Llewelyn-Bowen admitted he is grateful not to be part of the area's "celeb end" and has no desire to join it. When asked about his relationship with Clarkson, he revealed: "We used to see quite a lot of each other actually, I haven't seen him for a while and I'm very sorry to hear that he's not well" – a reference to Clarkson's prostate cancer diagnosis, from which he is now in remission.
Contrasting Corners of the Cotswolds
Llewelyn-Bowen elaborated on the contrast between their respective corners of the Cotswolds. "I have to say I'm not that seduced by the idea of going to his pub, it's not my kind of place," he said. "But I do think it's highly amusing that [with] something recently, I think he responded to it, about the fact that you've got one end of the Cotswolds and then you've got Clarkson's Farm and his rather gritty spit and saw dust pub. And then the other side of the Cotswolds you've got my swanky shop with lovely lacey silky things."
He joked that the pair have become light-hearted rivals, adding: "It rather shows the complexion of the Cotswolds these days."
Evolution of the Cotswolds Community
Discussing the area's evolution, Llewelyn-Bowen noted: "We moved here 20 years ago, so we were well ahead of the curve. But I love the fact that things are changing. Where we are in Siddington, yes there are an immense amount of people moving in, but it's people who want to create new lives, it's people who want to start something new where they can be outside a conventional kind of city context."
He highlighted the emergence of new businesses that encourage working locally: "There are some great businesses that are starting out around us that are encouraging this idea of people being able to work where they live, and I think that's really important. I think not losing a third to your life to commuting makes a tremendous amount of sense."
Drawn to Adorn Exhibition Tour
The Cotswolds is one of the locations Llewelyn-Bowen will visit as part of his touring exhibition, Drawn to Adorn, in partnership with Buckingham Fine Art. For the first time, his artwork will travel across the country, giving more people the opportunity to experience his original pieces in person.
Speaking about the project, he said: "I love it, going on the road, it's like painting meets rock n roll. I'm really proud of these recent pieces, they're very me, but technically I feel him getting to my peak. You don't get many pensioners saying that so I'd love people to come and see for themselves."
Drawn to Adorn features a glamorous collection of works on paper that are unapologetically decorative, drawing inspiration from Baroque botanical prints to 1980s post-punk cinema. The large-scale pieces will be curated differently at each exhibition. The tour will show at various UK locations between 27th June and 11th July 2026.
