Jeremy Clarkson's much-anticipated Cotswolds village pub launch on Friday was met with mixed reactions, as some customers baulked at the prices despite the fanfare. After the event, one patron aired their frustration on Instagram, castigating the 'Clarkson's Farm' celebrity: "Really necessary to charge those prices? Absolutely ripping people off because it's on TV, it's sick."
Meanwhile, another remarked discontentedly: "Now you wonder why people go to the supermarket."
In contrast, Jeremy passionately defended the pricing during his opening speech, proudly announcing: "Every single thing was grown by British farmers, even the black pepper and the sugar! " This has prompted a surge of fans coming to Clarkson's defence, highlighting that the local, fresh produce naturally costs more than widespread, cheaper imports.
One supporter urged critics to recognise the value, stating: "Please stop complaining about the prices. You can't compare them to a 'normal' pub, where food is sourced by huge national wholesalers," and pointed out Jeremy's direct purchases from local farmers ensure both premium quality and fair compensation for British agriculture.
The same supporter reasoned these factors made the higher cost worthwhile, adding it's "worth a few extra quid in my book, as is the experience in visiting". They invited others to reflect: "Before moaning about prices, just ask yourself if you are comparing like for like."
Echoing this sentiment, another fan bluntly advised: "If you don't like the prices, don't go, it's really that simple! ", reports the Express.
One patron chimed in: "Looked at the menu and the prices are comparable to both pubs in our village and the Hawkstone beer is cheaper.."
Another voiced their opinion, stating: "It's about time people started using their local butcher/grocery...not just because it's become popular all of a sudden. The supermarkets have been screwing farmers for years while importing what we grow here, it needs to change and screw the supermarkets out of it,".
The compliments continued with one pub-goer expressing that he'd "done so much for farming in the UK" and added: "If you don't like farm produce ... don't go! You wouldn't go to a Chinese and demand a Curry would you? There's always that group of people that will moan. It's a FARM produce restaurant and I can't wait to visit! ".
"For a craft beer/cider etc, the prices stand up extremely well. Peroni's average National price is £5.84. Well done to the whole team that put this together. I hope it's a huge success," another supporter added.
Meanwhile, many patrons who heard how he'd banned Labour leader Keir Starmer from his premises until he took a fairer stance towards farmers cheered him on heartily, suggesting he runs for the PM role himself.
His commitment to an all-British menu means Jeremy has also banned ketchup from his pub, as Heinz moved production to Poland and Spain - and he's vowed there will be no Coca Cola either.
Rather, he's introduced fans to his partner Lisa's home-made apple juice brand, alongside his range of Hawkstone drinks - and even the sausages and mash are enhanced with gravy from his beer brand.
Property Prices Surge Near Clarkson's Pub
The pub in Asthall, near Burford in Oxfordshire, reopened to the public on August 23 after being renamed The Farmer’s Dog.
Hundreds of people queued to wait for the doors to open on the first day of trading.
Rightmove said that August 24, the day after the pub’s opening, saw the highest number of searches for homes for sale in Burford in more than a year.
Across the pub’s first bank holiday weekend, the number of searches for homes for sale in Burford was 63% higher than the same period a year ago, the website said.
Pubgoers hoping to live close to Clarkson’s new business venture will typically need to have around half a million pounds available to them because the average asking price in the Burford postcode area is £537,827.
Clarkson recently described the impact of his new pub on British farming as a “tiny pinprick”, but added: “If everyone does it, if all the farmers get together and buy a pub – as you can get a pub for chicken feed these days – it might work.
“If this works – it is a co-operative of farmers we have formed – it might work, it might not, I’m the trailblazer.”
It is not the first time that Clarkson’s ventures appear to have inspired property searches.
The launch of series one and series two of Clarkson’s Farm led to a spike in searches for Chadlington, in the area where the programme is set, Rightmove said.
Rightmove property expert Tim Bannister said: “The Cotswolds will always inspire people to search and explore what living in one of its many areas of beauties could be like, and Jeremy Clarkson’s ventures have added further intrigue.”
Clarkson's Pub: A Success Story in the Making?
The opening of The Farmer's Dog has certainly generated a lot of buzz, attracting both praise and criticism. Whether it will be a financial success remains to be seen, but Clarkson's passion for British farming and his willingness to buck the trend of imported goods has certainly made a statement. The pub's focus on locally sourced ingredients and Clarkson's own brand of humor have already made it a unique destination, and it will be interesting to see how the venture unfolds in the months to come.
