Jeremy Clarkson has admitted he was wrong after hiring pub consultants Sue and Rachel Hawkins to help with his Cotswolds pub, The Farmer’s Dog
Jeremy Clarkson has admitted that his foray into pub management during the launch of his Cotswolds pub may not have been flawless.
The former Top Gear host, who now helms The Farmer’s Dog pub in Oxfordshire, witnessed its opening in August last year. His public house features prominently in the hit show Clarkson’s Farm, which just completed its fourth series on Prime Video.
In the latest season’s final episodes, Jeremy sought the guidance of pub specialists Sue and Rachel Hawkins to ensure the establishment was primed for business by the August bank holiday, despite them considering the timing “not ideal.”
The pair reviewed Jeremy’s watering hole and recommended he spend a hefty £40,000 on a selection of outdoor patio umbrellas. This suggestion initially did not sit well with the farmer, who had earmarked only £25,000 for the launch.
Yet, in a change of heart, Jeremy has now seen the value in their counsel regarding the pricey umbrellas and has gone ahead with installing them at his venue.
Taking to Instagram earlier this week, the TV star shared a snapshot of the pub, jokingly conceding: “Turns out Sue and Rachel had a point. @thefarmersdogpub did need big umbrellas after all,” as covered by the Daily Star.
Meanwhile, on her own Instagram Stories, Rachel humorously acknowledged the advice taken, posting: “AND BEHOLD… the EXACT 40K umbrellas that have been the topic of so much discussion. [crying-laughing emoji].
Jeremy revealed that the duo had splurged £40,000 on a stretch tent, citing the reasons as “not blocking the view and providing a year-round weather solution with heating and lighting so 75 guests can dine comfortably on the terrace all year round”. However, he sarcastically added: “(Just 10 months, 2 stretch tents and 30 sun brollies later…).”
He said that Rachel and Sue “brilliantly set the pub up,” yet events didn’t pan out as hoped. The duo resigned merely two days following the grand opening, after a somewhat fraught encounter with the television personality.
Although some fans of Clarkson’s Farm were critical of Rachel and Sue online, there are those who stood up for the women, hinting that maybe Jeremy himself should be held accountable for the tribulations at the pub.
Rachel had expressed concerns about the pub, saying: “This building is not really fit for purpose. There are too many issues for us to run a successful business from this site, with failing water, no toilets, no gas, leaking roofs, and struggling staff.”
Sue said the pub staff were “exhausted” and working too much. She added, “Everyone is exhausted. Even when we say, ‘Go for a break, ‘there’s no staffroom. ‘
“They’re weeing in a porta-loo. It’s not lovely conditions. They love you and they love working here because of that. They’re excited about the British food, and everything this pub is, they want to get behind it… But they’re working 14-hour days.”
Jeremy went on to point out that Rachel and Sue left the pub shortly after and, in the process, had a bit of a stand-off with him at a tense meeting.
The former Top Gear star countered the criticism, ensuring, “I have no problem with the staff. Not one single problem with the staff. They’re all brilliant. They are smiling. They are nice.”
This statement came despite the fact that two waitresses and a pot washer had quit their positions the previous summer.
Clarkson’s Farm is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
