Clarkson’s Pub Pulls Crowds and Controversy: A First-Hand Look at Britain’s Most Talked-About Country Tavern
Cotswolds, UK — Arrive early or risk missing out. That’s the reality at Jeremy Clarkson’s latest countryside venture: The Hawkstone Arms — the pub and food hub that sits alongside the TV star’s already iconic Diddly Squat Farm Shop.
Arriving at 11 a.m. — the moment doors open — visitors are already forced into the overflow car park under the canopy of century-old trees. The shade is welcome, given the searing summer heat, and by nightfall, festoon lights twinkling overhead promise a picture-perfect rural escape.
A Bite and a Banter
Getting a table inside? Forget it — unless you booked weeks ago. Many settle for the bustling food trucks parked outside. The simple menu doesn’t pretend to be anything fancy: a bacon roll for about $9 USD and pork sausages for a bit more. The verdict? Excellent bacon, a dry bun, and one unexpected quirk: no ketchup.
Why? Clarkson insists only 100% British-made products be served — and apparently no ketchup brand qualifies.
Chips, Beer and British Pride
Inside the Diddly Squat Farm tent — once the filming base for Clarkson’s Amazon show The Grand Tour — shoppers snap up local sausages, pasties, and the headline attraction: Hawkstone beer and cider. Prices hover around $9 a bottle — but at least there’s no tipping, a point of national pride here.
The lager wins out for light refreshment, while a darker ale is described as pleasantly coffee-like. For the curious, a mixed four-pack costs around $12 USD, while a dozen bottles run up to $41 USD.
More Than Just a Celebrity Sideshow
Employing 146 locals, the pub has become a rare rural jobs powerhouse. Many visitors come not just for the food, but for a brush with the Clarkson phenomenon — and maybe a pint of his famously hard-to-find lager.
Yet it’s not without drama. Notoriously outspoken, Clarkson has made headlines for banning patrons who complain about prices — or, famously, dislike smoking in pubs. One customer’s “£24 steak pie” gripe even got him blacklisted — joining the ranks of Richard Hammond, James May, and opposition leader Keir Starmer, all (half-jokingly) banned for one reason or another.
Championing Local Farmers
Despite the celebrity circus, there’s real substance behind the hype. The farm shop stocks goods from neighboring farms, supporting a network of local producers. Each dish served comes with the names of the farmers behind the pork, lamb, or potatoes — a small detail that’s become a big part of Clarkson’s farm-to-fork story.
From Top Gear to Beer Garden
Once a Top Gear mainstay and Grand Tour frontman, Clarkson’s new audience is families, foodies, and fans eager to see if the outspoken TV star might appear in person. He does, sometimes — though visitors today weren’t so lucky.
Still, with F1 teams like Alpine and Red Bull hosting staff dinners here, the motoring connection remains strong. The pub’s tractor dangling from the ceiling says it all: this is a country boozer with a big personality.
A Pub for the People — and Their Dogs
There’s one group who’ll never be banned: dogs. The garden bustles with four-legged guests, lapping up leftover sausage ends under picnic tables. And in true Clarkson style, visitors are warned not to test the durability of the plastic handles on their beer packs — a hard-earned lesson for many hauling cases to distant car parks.
Verdict? Worth the Trip — With a Caveat
While not cheap — and certainly no quiet village pub — the Hawkstone Arms and Diddly Squat remain a testament to Clarkson’s unique brand: equal parts mischief, marketing, and genuine support for British agriculture.
For fans, the chance to taste the “bee juice” honey or sip a pint under the Cotswold sun is worth the pilgrimage. Just don’t forget to book ahead — or risk having your bacon roll in the car park.