Jeremy Clarkson pub visitors share three complaints after stellar reviews

foray into the pub business has hit the six-month mark with his establishment, The Farmer’s Dog, stirring up quite the excitement in the heart of Oxfordshire.

The 64-year-old ex-Top Gear presenter has taken a staunchly traditional approach, banning modern amenities like coffee, lemonade, and ketchup at his quintessentially British pub near Burford.

With its popularity soaring, patrons have found themselves booking a month ahead to secure a coveted Sunday dinner spot, attracting even celebrity locals such as Ellen DeGeneres. A recent journalist’s visit highlighted a strict dining time limit, prompting us to delve into TripAdvisor reviews for the public’s verdict.

While many have showered the pub with “excellent” five-star ratings, a notable number – 70 out of 275 – have deemed their experience “average” to “terrible”, citing three recurring complaints.

Toilets 

Toilets seem to be a common gripe, with one customer, Charlie G, recounting a disappointing birthday meal in January. He lamented over litter in the car park and described the food as “mediocre at best”.

His review took a particularly harsh turn regarding the state of the toilets: “The toilets are very unpleasant, dirty and falling apart. We had hopes but we won’t go back. It’s a far cry from the high standards of other excellent Cotswold hospitality.”

Another disgruntled patron echoed these sentiments, branding the facilities “disgraceful” and recounting a tale of woe about the loo: “My wife had to do a 180 due to the disgusting state of the loos. Men’s toilets was saturated with pee on the floor, broken fixtures, minuscule sink with a hand dryer which sounded and performed like an asthmatic pony.”

Amanda B expressed her dissatisfaction, noting: “The mens toilets were so small you can only just squeeze into them, the ladies toilets had toilet paper all over the floor and the laminate on the sinks had been picked off.”

Parking 

Anna C meanwhile criticised the parking facilities, describing the experience as a “waste of time”. She was directed to an “overflow car park which was a churned up field” that was “deep in mud and water”.

Addressing Clarkson directly, Anna C wrote: “Jeremy sort your parking out it’s obvious you’re going to be heaving especially this time of year or do we have to camp out the night before?”.

Peter S, who visited last week, mentioned he had to park in a “grassy bog” and declared he would never return. Another customer recounted having an “okay” meal that was ruined by the need to “trod back through a muddy dark car park”.

Pricing 

On The Farmer’s Dog website, Clarkson boasts that the pork, beef, lamb, venison, butter, milk, eggs, vegetables, and fruit are all British.

Despite aiming for high-quality food, some patrons believe the prices are excessive. A reviewer complained: “For £24 you don’t expect tough cheap topside of beef, you can get that in a harvester for £9.95. The whole meal was lukewarm at best, the potatoes were over cooked and dry, and the gravy was appallingly tasteless and bitter.”

A disgruntled customer blasted the local hotspot on TripAdvisor for its “overpriced nonsense” fuming: “£19 for the gammon is a joke. I understand that everything is locally sourced but seriously?” Ironically, another patron noted the irony in the pub’s name, stating it was “full of dogs” and comparing it to “like the waiting area for Crufts” Their main complaint, however, focused on prices: “Nearly £20 for sausage and mash? ? ? Get real.”

In an interview with last September, owner Clarkson touched on the financial challenge of running his establishment, which is known for its “only British” rule and steep prices, admitting: “This place is costing us a fortune. God knows if we’ll ever make our money back.”

For those looking to dine at the former Windmill, now a million-pound gastropub, the menu’s least expensive main course is the ‘Sausages of the Day,’ priced at £18, while the ‘Steak Pie’ sits at the higher end, costing £20. The place also offers a steak night, where steak lovers can sink their teeth into an 8oz sirloin or a pricier 7oz fillet steak for £32 and £36 respectively.

High praise 

Despite some negative feedback, recent visitor Alex Ward argues to the contrary, praising the food and service he experienced during his visit.

The patron left a glowing five-star critique and said: “Reviews clearly demonstrate you cannot please everybody and some using this platform as a soap box… Booking straightforward, love the ethos of keeping produce locally sourced… Yes the menu is small, but executed flawlessly.

“If you want variety and a coke, pop down to your local Wetherspoons… Busy evening, the Farmers Dog team were slick and welcoming… Dishes were amazing… We will return without a doubt, probably when the warmer weather revisits to take advantage of the lovely outdoor area… Well done all…”

Timothy S echoed these sentiments, leaving an outstanding review himself. He “highly recommended” the establishment, praising it for its “great value for money” and excellent service.

Another satisfied diner, Mark B, declared the culinary offerings as “better than Gordon Ramsey’s” branding the joint an “absolutely amazing place”.

He said: “So well organised and served to perfection. Food was second to none, even better than Gordan Ramsey. Our waitress Siobhan made our whole experience just perfect. And a special thank you to Jeremy for taking the time to stop at our table and speak to us. Top bloke. All the very best to all the staff at The Farmeers (corr) Dog.”

has been approached for comment regarding some of the customer testimonials mentioned in this article.