Jeremy Clarkson has revealed the secret to keeping his pub lawn looking luscious and green despite the hosepipe ban. Following a lack of rain and five heatwaves this year, the government announced that more than two-thirds of England are now in drought, with land severely dehydrated across the country.
After weeks of extremely hot weather, several UK water companies have enforced temporary hosepipe bans, leaving gardeners struggling to revive their brown and patchy lawns.
Green Lawns at The Farmer's Dog
Despite this, new photographs reveal green lawns at Jeremy Clarkson's pub - in sharp contrast to the parched fields that surround it. The TV presenter's pub, the Farmer's Dog, falls within an area covered by a hosepipe ban introduced last month by Thames Water, which remains in effect.
Yet in striking contrast to the scorched, brown fields around the Cotswolds venue, drinkers at the popular establishment have been able to relax on lush green grass. Clarkson defended its appearance and spoke out following criticism directed at other celebrities over how they had managed to beat the ban and defy the drought conditions.
Defending Rod Stewart
Among those in the spotlight was Rod Stewart's expansive estate in Essex, which led many to question how the grounds had remained so green. Clarkson, who purchased and restored the former Windmill pub before reopening it as The Farmer's Dog in August 2024, came to the singer's defence amid the backlash - and shared his own method for keeping his pub lawn in fine condition.
He wrote in his newspaper column: "An aerial photograph of the lush green lawns outside Rod Stewart's sprawling mansion in Essex prompted the nation's bitter people to ask: 'How did you manage that, mate, when there's a hosepipe ban in force?'".
"Well, let's think. Could it be, perhaps, that Rod, here with wife Penny, probably has a borehole? It's not a difficult concept to get your head round."
"You dig a hole maybe 100 metres down into the ground, put a pump in it and water comes out. Water that's not subjected to any kind of government interference."
"That's what we did at my pub, which is why the lawns there are also weirdly verdant."
Borehole Method
The hosepipe ban was introduced following an extended spell of dry weather which has persisted into August, with temperatures remaining consistently high. Clarkson also owns Diddly Squat Farm near Chadlington, which has gained fame through the Prime Video series Clarkson's Farm.
