The pub was a main feature in series four of Clarkson’s Farm, which was filmed across the summer of 2024 and launched on Amazon Prime last month (May).
The latest instalment of the programme, which came to a close on Friday (6 June), continued to document Clarkson’s life at Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds alongside his journey to becoming a publican at the Burford site.
The Farmer’s Dog, which opened on Friday 23 August last year, saw a plethora of issues including with beer coolers meaning for each pint being poured, another was being lost.
The kitchen also saw problems with extractor fans tripping, sparking concerns lunch service would be a bust.
Absolute disaster
However, this was rectified by 2pm and the first of the lunches were served.
The following day (Saturday 24 August) saw two waitresses and a pot washer leave as well as the pub running out of food while during its first carvery service and all the water in the building being off.
Clarkson said: “Opening weekend was a disaster....Opening day and yesterday were absolute disasters. I never want to relive them.”
Previous episodes highlighted some key issues faced by pub operators across the nation.
It also showed the TV presenter take advice from some well-known friends.
Top tips
After telling the cameras he was “losing sleep” over all the issues and with the pub, Clarkson called on former co-presenter James May, director Guy Ritchie, singer James Blunt and journalist Piers Morgan, all of whom have owned pubs, for their top tips.
Blunt warned Clarkson “drink-driving is an issue” at country pubs, adding recruitment could also be challenging.
While Morgan warned Clarkson about theft, for example glassware, from pubs, Ritchie and May discussed cost pressures aced by operators across the sector, including energy prices insurance, maintenance and staffing costs.
“It looks like you’re making £50,000 a week but then it transpires you are losing £10,000 a week," Ritchie said.
