NEARLY 300 customers queued down a country lane yesterday for the grand opening of TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson’s first pub.
Fans of the ex-Top Gear and Grand Tour star came from as far as New Zealand — and one couple waited four hours to ensure they would get their hands on a pint.
8
8
8
8
Jeremy, 64, was joined by the other stars of his Amazon hit show Clarkson’s Farm — including his partner Lisa Hogan, Kaleb Cooper, Gerald Cooper and Charlie Ireland.
But Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer should avoid the venue — because he is already barred.
Jeremy explained: “He hasn’t done much to endear himself to me yet. He’s actually on a board in the hall — he’s banned.”
The Sun columnist has battled national and local politicians in his new life as a farmer and landlord.
He only bought the pub because nimby councillors blocked his plan to open a restaurant at his Diddly Squat farm just outside Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.
Now he has opened a boozer — The Farmer’s Dog — nine miles away in Burford, also selling pub grub.
But in his struggle to get the business off the ground, he has seen off doggers, shifted dead rats from the loft and repeatedly fixed up the toilets.
As crowds thronged in the picturesque limestone building, Jeremy told The Sun: “Normally, at 64, you’re supposed to buy golf clubs or fishing rods.
“I seem to have just made myself busier by buying a pub. I will let you know in a year if I regret it.”
Friends warned him against buying the bar, which used to be a wedding venue called The Windmill.
In the first three months of this year, 239 pubs closed in England and Wales, with rural inns most likely to go bust.
It came with five acres of land and cost less than £1million, but Jeremy will have spent plenty more renovating it.
He said he “doubted” the pub, with a local population of just 1,400, would make any money, saying: “I’m not very good at business plans and I haven’t done one.”
He described preparations for the first day as “chaos” and a “s***show”.
Jeremy revealed: “Yesterday we had the soft opening and someone managed to smash the lavatory door.
“How can you break a bathroom door?” It was not the first problem.
8
8
8
8
On buying the pub, Jeremy described the lavatory as “illegal”.
He also had to repair a gable wall which was close to collapse, fix plumbing because the water “wasn’t fit for human consumption” and tackle a nearby dogging area.
But there was no reason to worry about the pub’s success yesterday.
Fan Berend Oldenburger, 23, from New Zealand, said: “We are travelling through Europe, but we had to come today. I have watched all the shows.”
And Lauren Hanly with Blake Jones, from Gloucester, got there before 8am to ensure they were first through the doors at noon.
Lauren said: “Having Jeremy Clarkson’s name on it, it is always going to do well.”
So natural behind bar
By Lula White
JEREMY Clarkson is used to pulling in viewers — and he’s proved a dab hand at pulling pints too.
I was among the first customers at his boozer, The Farmer’s Dog, to try the food and drink and raise a glass to its future success.
I opted for a classic sausage roll plus a piece of apple crumble, washed down with a £6.25 pint of cider from his Hawkstone range.
Jezza fans are used to his chaos on-screen and here the punters were forced to use portable loos as the pub’s were out of order.
But the mood lifted as soon as Clarkson pulled up in his Jaguar.
He was a natural behind the bar, chatting away to customers as he served the drinks with a smile.
Asked if he likes the life of a landlord, he said: “Maybe fishing or golf would be more suitable.”