The Farmer’s Dog has become one of the most popular pubs in the UK after its appearance on Clarkson’s Farm — I went to see what all the fuss was about
Bethany Whittingham Showbiz & TV Reporter
07:58, 12 Oct 2025
I enjoyed my experience at Jeremy Clarkson’s pub — but 3 things left me disappointed(Image: Express)
Celebrity pubs are a growing trend which sees stars throw themselves and their fortunes into hobbies and businesses that they have dreamed about for years. And it’s probably fair to say that Jeremy Clarkson’s pub is the most famous of the lot in the UK right now.
I decided to pay the lauded venue a visit after reading about the mass of fans descending on pub to try out the presenter and journalist’s watering hole.
As a northern lass, I had certain expectations of what constitutes a good English pub and, surprisingly, Clarkson missed the mark on three of them. One of the biggest no-nos the presenter missed the mark on for me was the walk-in service.
When we decided to make the four-hour trip to try out his hugely popular pub, I went directly to The Farmer’s Dog’s website to place a booking. Unlike most pubs dotted around the UK, you can’t just walk in or phone up and book a table for the weekend.
Oh no, to get a place at one of Clarkson’s tables you will need to book at least one month in advance and eagerly wait for the next four-week slots to become available. And even then, the tables get booked so quickly it’s almost as hard as trying to get your hands on a pair of Oasis tickets. The only booking we managed to secure was for 8.45pm. on a Tuesday. With grumbling tummies, we arrived at the venue at 8.25pm, where fairy lights lined the trees and welcomed us to the spacious car park.
It was wonderful but it’s more like a tourist attraction with a restaurant than a pub (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)
Despite being 20 minutes early, the staff were very strict on timings and escorted us over to the bar for a drink while we waited for 8.45pm to roll around. We waited outside on the decking, which was fitted with enormous heaters, its very own bar and tables with blankets on offer to wrap up warm outside.
Once the countdown ended, we joined the six other couples queuing up for their own 8.45pm booking before we were shown our table in the corner of the room. Thankfully, because we brought the pooches with us, our table was tucked away from the crowd, which gave us a bit more room to stretch out.
Jeremy Clarkson behind the bar at The Farmer’s Dog(Image: PA)
But most of the other patrons were forced to get comfortable with their neighbours during their meals, with little room to stretch out between each table. It appears the team had squeezed in as many tables as they could to hold the mass of fans looking to get the full Clarkson’s Farm experience.
The well-rehearsed waiting staff came to each table within minutes, taking our orders and delivering them within 15 minutes. Although the food was delicious and thoroughly celebrated all the local produce on the place, the experience felt a lot more like visiting a restaurant rather than popping in for a pub meal.
Not only that, but the service was also so quick that we’d finished both our meals and a shared dessert in under an hour, meaning our stay was cut unexpectedly short.
I know this pub is popular but for many of the other celebrity-owned pubs you can just walk in and enjoy a pint at the bar or pie and chips without needing to call six weeks in advance.
But to be fair there are options for those who didn’t manage to get a table at the exclusive venue. Fans can still indulge in an evening meal at The Farmer’s Puppy, which sells burgers and light bites outside the pub. However, this is an outdoor service only, meaning you’re at the mercy of the British weather.
The venue is missing the classic pub traits like a fireplace, a TV, and a darts board (Image: Express)The quaint pub in the heart of Oxfordshire looks like the perfect pub from the outside(Image: Express)
And in that same vein, another major complaint I had about the venue was its lack of pub warmth. This establishment, lovely as it is, is not the sort of place you can drop by and watch the football at. There isn’t a 10-year-old darts board hung up on the wall or a sticky pool table in the corner to enjoy a game with your friends at. It was also lacking a significant number of sofas and fireplaces for you to cosy up by after a long country walk.
Maybe my northern side is showing, but is a pub really a pub if you can’t watch the footy there with your mates and cheer on your favourite team? There wasn’t a single screen inside, depriving the venue of one of the biggest community aspects every pub needs.
This really hammers home its feel of a restaurant rather than a proper pub. It makes the venue and the service feel a lot colder and upmarket instead of the homely, comforting feeling you look for in a pub.
The Farmer’s Dog is also so much more than a pub. It also boasts a butcher, a burger shack, a separate bar, a bread stall, an ice cream shop and another Diddly Squat Farm shop.
You can easily spend a few hours walking around the site, sifting through the merchandise, indulging in the local delicacies, or sipping on a cold one while looking out over the gorgeous Oxfordshire countryside.
With Diddly Squat Farm a short 20 minutes away from the pub, the visit feels much more like a tourist attraction than a pub. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and definitely worth a visit for any Top Gear fans — but don’t go in expecting a traditional pub.
