Large queue forms ahead of Clarkson’s pub opening

Dozens of people have begun queuing to be the first inside Jeremy Clarkson’s new pub ahead of its opening on Friday.

The pub in Asthall, near Burford in Oxfordshire, will re-open to the public at midday after being renamed The Farmer’s Dog.

The former Top Gear presenter revealed earlier this year he paid “less than £1 million” for the pub, then known as The Windmill.

There are fears the venture may bring more traffic problems following the success of his Diddly Squat farm shop.

At the front of the queue were Lauren Hanly and Blake Jones, who had travelled from Gloucester , and had arrived shortly before 8am.

Ms Hanly said they wanted to sample the food having previously visited Clarkson’s other businesses, the Diddly Squat farm shop and Hawkstone Brewery, which features in his hit Amazon series Clarkson’s Farm.

“We got here just before 8am. We were surprised to be at the front. We thought it would be busier earlier but then the gates weren’t opening until 7.30am,” she said.

“We have looked at the menu, but we are not sure what we will go for yet. I think it depends on how many pints I have.

“Having Jeremy Clarkson’s name on it, it is always going to do well. It is a destination site and people will come from all over, as well as the local community.

“We went to the Diddly Squat farm shop and the Hawkstone brewery and Jeremy Clarkson was there filming.”

Mr Jones added: “We did think about queuing overnight. We left about 7.30am and there were no queues or traffic and we went straight in.”

Clarkson arrived in his car at around 10.40am and drove into the rear car park before re-appearing to carry a box into the pub.

A marquee has been erected within the grounds of the five-acre site ahead of the opening.

Clarkson has faced pushback over the years from locals in the West Oxfordshire area when he has tried to expand his Diddly Squat farm project.

And some residents have expressed concerns about traffic problems because the pub is located next to the busy A40 road.

“I’m delighted he’s breathing some new life into that pub,” one resident posted on Facebook.

“I do worry about traffic though. I popped by the farm shop at the weekend. It was utter chaos.

“The massive new car park was rammed as well as a new overflow one they have made in a field across the road.

“We didn’t stop as the marshals in hi-vis told us the queue was over two hours. I’ve been before on a busy day, but this was insane.”

Another wrote: “Might need three lanes on the A40 for the queuing cars and parked cars.”

County and district councillor Liam Walker said Clarkson had his full support for the new venture as it would be a boost to the local economy and tourism in West Oxfordshire.

He wrote: “There is no ‘parking row’ here.

“I am merely doing what local residents would expect and working on getting mitigations in place to reduce traffic and parking issues ensuring lessons have been learnt from the farm shop.

“Jeremy has my full support with his next venture, and I want the pub to be a success.”

Mr Walker has previously met with the local highway team to discuss the opening of the new pub.

Oxfordshire County Council said it has worked “closely and pro-actively” with Clarkson’s team ahead of the opening.

“Several measures have been taken to reduce the likelihood of traffic and parking-related problems, and to support the safe and successful opening of the site,” a council spokesman said.

“Footway improvements have been made to better link the existing adjacent bus stops on the B4047 with the site of the pub to provide a safe and more sustainable option for those visitors that are able to take advantage of the hourly bus service, but whom might otherwise have travelled by car.

“Whilst double yellow lines are not currently being considered at this time, measures have been taken to highlight the inappropriateness of parking on highway verges in the area, and to deter the same.”

The council said motorists were being asked to only use designated off-highway car parks and not park on the roads or verges nearby.

Clarkson has previously found himself embroiled in a row over his plans to allow greater visitor access to his farm and its attached shop.

The popularity of his Amazon show, which documents the workings of his Diddly Squat farm, a 1,000-acre operation in the Cotswolds , sparked interest from tourists in seeking out the broadcaster’s produce, with queues for the shop reportedly a regular occurrence.

The TV star wanted to extend the car park on his Oxfordshire farm plot to accommodate 70 vehicles, but the proposals were originally opposed by West Oxfordshire District Council.

He also found himself in hot water with his local authority over a restaurant on his farm, with the council shutting it down after it was allegedly opened without planning permission.

Clarkson has said he plans to sell his own Hawkstone lager as well as produce reared on his nearby Diddly Squat Farm at the pub.