Authorities became involved after Jeremy Clarkson barred Keir Starmer and more than 400 others from entering his land.

Jeremy Clarkson has never been known for doing things quietly, and his latest venture in the Cotswolds is proving no exception. After turning his hand to farming and transforming rural life into prime-time television, the Clarkson’s Farm star has added another chapter to his expanding countryside enterprise: a pub.

The former Windmill pub in Asthall, near Burford, was purchased by Clarkson for around £1 million and reopened in August 2024 following months of renovation. Now renamed The Farmer’s Dog, the venue has quickly become a destination in its own right, fuelled by its close ties to Clarkson’s Farm and the chance for visitors to experience a pub linked directly to the hit Amazon Prime series.

From the outset, demand has been intense. Fans have travelled from across the UK to visit the pub, often queuing for the opportunity to enjoy a pint or a meal in a setting made familiar through television. The combination of Clarkson’s name, locally sourced produce, and a traditional countryside atmosphere has helped turn the pub into one of the area’s busiest attractions.

However, success has brought complications — and Clarkson has responded in characteristically forthright fashion. Despite the steady flow of customers, he has made it clear that not everyone is welcome. According to Clarkson, more than 400 people are currently barred from entering The Farmer’s Dog.

A significant portion of those exclusions are political. Clarkson has publicly confirmed that all Labour MPs are banned from the pub, with a single exception: Penrith and Solway MP Markus Campbell-Savours, who opposed his party’s stance on changes affecting family farms and was later removed from the Labour Party. The ban includes senior figures, among them Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Politics, however, is not the only reason names appear on the blacklist. In a move that surprised many viewers, Clarkson has also barred his long-time Top Gear and The Grand Tour co-hosts, James May and Richard Hammond. May now runs his own pub, while Hammond has previously joked that he has little interest in entering another costly hospitality venture.

Clarkson has framed the bans as a matter of principle and practicality, arguing that running a pub requires firm boundaries as well as a clear sense of purpose. Supporters say his approach reflects a desire to protect staff, customers, and the pub’s identity. Critics argue that a village pub should remain open to all, regardless of politics or personal disagreements.

As with many of Clarkson’s projects, the debate has only added to the attention surrounding The Farmer’s Dog. For some visitors, the strict rules are part of the attraction; for others, they raise questions about what a modern British pub should represent.

Whether seen as boundary-setting or provocation, Clarkson’s latest venture has once again ensured that a quiet corner of the Cotswolds is firmly in the national conversation — and that The Farmer’s Dog remains as talked about as it is busy.