Jeremy Clarkson has revealed that his Cotswolds country pub was targeted by cybercriminals, who he claims managed to steal £27,000 by breaking into its accounting system.
The former Top Gear host, 65, purchased the Oxfordshire pub in Asthall last year, relaunching it as The Farmer’s Dog after a major renovation. But according to Clarkson, what began as a hopeful new business venture has quickly been marred by unexpected challenges — including now a significant financial loss.
Writing in his column for The Sun, Clarkson drew attention to the rising wave of cyberattacks sweeping across the UK’s retail and hospitality sectors. He noted that major names like Jaguar Land Rover, Marks & Spencer, and the Co-op had all suffered from recent breaches — but insisted that his pub had quietly joined the list of victims.
“So, Jaguar Land Rover had to shut down its production lines this week after systems were breached by computer hackers,” Clarkson wrote.
“And we are told similar attacks were launched in recent months on both M&S and the Co-op. But no one thought to mention that my pub, The Farmer’s Dog, has been hit too.”
According to the broadcaster, the hackers managed to “break into our accounting system and help themselves to £27,000.”
It remains unclear exactly how the attackers gained access to the pub’s systems, whether law enforcement has been contacted, or if the stolen funds can be recovered. The Independent has approached Clarkson for further comment.
A Wider Cybercrime Trend
Clarkson’s revelation comes amid a spate of large-scale cyberattacks in the UK. Just last week, a hacker group claimed responsibility for targeting M&S, Co-op, and other high-profile British retailers, as well as Jaguar Land Rover — a breach that disrupted the company’s global production.
Industry experts have warned that businesses of all sizes, including smaller independent establishments, are increasingly vulnerable to such attacks, with criminals often targeting accounting and payroll systems.
From Farmer to Publican — Clarkson’s Struggles Continue
Clarkson, who found unexpected success as a farmer after buying his 1,000-acre Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington in 2008, purchased the pub for under £1 million last summer. The decision followed the runaway popularity of his Amazon Prime series Clarkson’s Farm, which documents his struggles and triumphs in agriculture.
However, Clarkson has been candid about the difficulties of running a business, admitting that he has little understanding of how to navigate the financial side of his ventures.
“I’m done with business now,” he told The Times recently. “I am not starting another business as long as I live. I don’t understand it and am not motivated by money. I just want a good craic.”
Since taking over The Farmer’s Dog, Clarkson has often spoken about the less glamorous realities of being a pub landlord. He previously described the role as “terribly stressful,” recalling frustrating moments such as customers vandalising the facilities soon after its grand reopening.
“When you go to a festival and go in the bogs, you think, does your bathroom at home look like this? How can you break a bathroom door?” he remarked last year, baffled by the behaviour.
Uncertain Future for Clarkson’s Pub
Now, with the additional blow of cybercriminals siphoning off tens of thousands of pounds, Clarkson faces yet another setback in his attempt to expand beyond farming and broadcasting.
Whether The Farmer’s Dog can recover the stolen money remains uncertain, but for Clarkson, it adds to a growing list of frustrations that may solidify his vow to steer clear of future business ventures.
