Jeremy Clarkson had been quite open about the fact that the opening of his pub, The Farmer’s Dog, was a disaster.
That is not a controversial opinion either, as the Clarkson’s Farm presenter has himself called it exactly that.
Speaking in Clarkson’s Farm, the former Top Gear star said: “Opening weekend was a disaster… Opening day and yesterday were absolute disasters. I never want to relive them.”
This eventually led to several staff walking out on the first and second day of service including two pub consultants who worked with Clarkson to open the pub and were operating as front of house staff.
The Farmer’s Dog’s ‘disaster’ opening weekend covered in Clarkson’s Farm
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One of the biggest issues with the pub’s opening would be a dream for nearly any other venue – the sheer number of people who showed up.
The pub’s opening saw thousands visit, straining the staff far beyond what they were ready for.
Many of the issues were detailed by pub contractors Rachel and Sue Hawkins, both of whom quit just 48 hours in.
They said of the opening: “Everyone is exhausted, even when we say go for a break, there is no staff room."
"They're weeing in a portaloo. It's not lovely conditions… The kitchen is about to go pop, those chefs have had it.... It might be worth popping into the kitchen.”
There were a number of issues with the kitchen’s equipment, including electrical faults that saw extractor fans tripping and flickering lights.
Clarkson’s opening was almost an even worse disaster until, just 45 minutes before it even began, Charlie Ireland pointed out that no one had done the pricing.
The presenter has since admitted that he used AI to figure out the pricing, asking it what typical pricing would be for a Cotswold pub.
This did not, however, factor in Clarkson’s rule surrounding British-only produce, leading the pub owner to admit he was losing £10 for every person who ate there.
Ongoing issues at Clarkson’s The Farmer’s Dog as he admits to one 10 months on
The pub has a number of ongoing issues which Clarkson has been similarly open about.
Speaking in his column for The Times late last year, the presenter said that one major issue he hadn’t prepared for was how many issues would arise surrounding toilets.
He said: “No amount of festival visits would prepare you for the horror of what had been produced at the Farmer’s Dog.
“[Shit] was everywhere and in such vast quantities that no ordinary plumbing or cleaning equipment would even scratch the surface.
“So a whole team of chemically trained hazmat engineers had to be employed. That’s a cost I’d never factored into any of my business plans.”
Amongst the costs he had not factored into his business plans was the amount of thefts, saying that at one point £104 a day went missing.
He also spoke in the column about the various other costs he did not factor in or expect, saying: “That cost must be added to the £100 a day we spend on fuel for the generator, the £400 a week it costs to provide warmth on the terrace and the £27,000 a month we must spend on parking and traffic marshals to keep the council off our back.”
Clarkson also admitted to another mistake they made in the opening in a recent Instagram post.
Rachel and Sue, prior to leaving the project, recommended decking umbrellas worth £40,000 to Clarkson, a cost he rubbished and suggested was far too high.
As confirmed on his Instagram however, the presenter ended up getting them installed anyways – saying they were actually needed.
Topics: Jeremy Clarkson, Clarkson's Farm, Entertainment, TV, TV and Film, Pubs
Michael Slavin