Jeremy Clarkson’s pub The Farmer’s Dog in the Cotswolds has been open to the public for almost a year now – but it seems not all visitors have enjoyed their experience
Jeremy Clarkson’s countryside pub in the picturesque Cotswolds remains a magnet for hundreds of daily visitors. The former Top Gear presenter launched The Farmer’s Dog in Burford last summer, with the pub’s creation featured on Amazon Prime’s hit series Clarkson’s Farm.
Located approximately 10 miles south of the star’s Diddly Squat Farm, the venue describes itself on its website as “more than just a pub,” providing guests with a “restaurant, one-stop butcher and bottle shop, bar and so much more.” The pub, nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds near Burford, Oxfordshire, has drawn tourists and admirers of Clarkson, 65, from across the country to sample what’s on offer.
However, despite its broad appeal, the presenter confesses he’s keen to “ban” a particular type of patron, reportsGloucestershire Live.
He’s also grabbed attention by prohibiting items such as coffee, lemonade and ketchup from his venue.
While The Farmer’s Dog boasts a 4.3 rating on TripAdvisor, not all patrons appear satisfied with the establishment.
A review of TripAdvisor feedback reveals that while numerous customers have posted glowing five-star reviews describing it as “excellent” and a “real gem,” others have labelled it “soulless” and “pretty dire.”
One reviewer commented on TripAdvisor: “Made a detour here to have a beer (after riding in the glorious Cotswolds for a couple of days). We were SO disappointed!”
“I’m a JC fan and have read his words for many years, watched all the shows and been impressed with the development of the ‘pub’…
“Love the idea and the principle, but the overall experience was pretty dire. Soulless, very busy (on a poor-weather Thursday afternoon), queues for everything, devoid of any character, already looking a bit worn in places (inevitably given the footfall), expensive.”
Another posted: “The food is very loose. Hard lamb. Lots of spice. Beer’s fine, but you find that in any pub. All made in GB, but they cook very badly.”
A third said: “Very disappointing experience and we definitely will not be returning. The food was obviously plated up ahead of time as it arrived in less than five minutes of ordering and looked like a school dinner.”
However, other visitors heaped praise on The Farmer’s Dog and awarded it five stars. One diner wrote: “Really, really good food properly cooked and all local — a proper pie, some lovely veggies, tomatoes to start and Eton Mess to finish. You have to book in advance, but it’s well worth it.”
A second said: “The Farmer’s Dog is a real gem! Excellent local food with fresh produce, and the quality really shines through. We ate in the restaurant and the staff were so attentive — even though it was really busy, they were calm, friendly and made everything feel effortless.
“The food was absolutely excellent, and I was pleasantly surprised by just how high the standards were. A brilliant experience all round!”
Finally, another commented: “Fantastic from start to finish. The bar staff were really helpful and told us all about the different ciders.
“We were seated on time and our waitress was very welcoming. The food itself was amazing — big portions and great taste. Will be going back!”
