Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat farm shop causes parking chaos as it reopens

Jeremy Clarkson's farm shop has reopened to the public - and once again, the area has been plagued by huge queues and parking chaos.

The Diddly Squat farm shop has been closed over winter, but it reopened at the weekend, coinciding with the much-anticipated release of Clarkson's Farm season two.

Fans have flocked to the shop, bringing congestion to a country lane in Chipping Norton, near Chadlington in the Cotswolds.

On Sunday (12 February), cars could be seen parked on the grass verges into the farm after Oxfordshire County Council warned the public earlier this week to park 'safely and considerately' near the farm.

The council said on Facebook: "Don't park on the A361. It's just too dangerous. And please avoid parking on the verges of the narrow Chipping Norton Road as it causes damage.

"The farm will be doing what it can to deal with the influx of visitors, so please follow signage on the day. But bear in mind the car park is small.

"If you are directed by staff, whether you are through traffic or visiting the farm shop, please be patient with them – they are trying to keep you safe and allow traffic to flow."

PA/Alamy

The second series of the hit Prime Video show follows Clarkson as he continues to farm - or attempts to farm - his 1,000 acres of land, which he purchased in 2008 and began running himself in 2019.

This time around, he faces challenges in the form of cattle, badgers and bird flu, but his biggest headaches are caused by the council.

The 62-year-old faced stiff opposition when attempting to open a farm restaurant, with plans to build a car park and a farm track also being thwarted.

Indeed, Clarkson told LADbible that 'government is the biggest disease' farmers have to contend with.

"You just wouldn't believe how many things they tell you you can't do," he said.

"And if there are one or two things they've forgotten, they've got the council to tell you you can't do them."

PA/Alamy

The broadcaster received a poor reaction from some villagers when he expanded the business to include a farm shop and restaurant, though he said there were 'plenty' of other locals who were more receptive, and even encouraging of his work.

An order for the closing of the restaurant was appealed by Clarkson last year following two planning applications being rejected by West Oxfordshire District Council.

He subsequently said he 'no longer wished' for a restaurant and wanted to develop on-site parking in a letter to the council in January.

Topics: Jeremy Clarkson, TV and Film, UK News

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey