Viewers of Clarkson's Farm have turned on pub consultants Sue and Rachel Hawkins after the season four finale, accusing them of encouraging Jeremy Clarkson to overspend on his new pub venture, The Farmer's Dog. The aunt-and-niece team were brought in to transform The Windmill near Burford, Oxfordshire, but critics claim they left the project in disarray after just two days of operation.
The duo suggested spending £40,000 on patio parasols, while Clarkson had budgeted £25,000 for the entire pub launch. Despite admitting the five-week turnaround was “daunting” and “not ideal,” they proceeded with the revamp before quitting just before the grand reveal, citing multiple issues including failing water, no toilets, no gas, leaking roofs, and struggling staff.
One viewer commented: “These two took all the money and, after just two days of operation, claimed the building was not suitable as a pub, quit, and left all the mess behind.” Another added: “These two 'pub experts' were horrendous. Anyone wanting to open a pub should give these two a wide berth.”
In the explosive finale, the pair faced setbacks including non-swivelling barstools and a poorly positioned carvery unit. Rachel explained: “This building is not well-suited for its intended purpose. There are too many issues for us to run a successful business from this site.” Sue added that staff were working 14-hour days with no staffroom, forced to use a porta-loo.
Clarkson defended his staff, saying: “I have no problem with the staff, not one single problem with the staff. They're all brilliant.” The series is available to stream on Prime Video.
