Television presenter Jeremy Clarkson has marked the first anniversary of his Oxfordshire pub with a significant revelation about its workforce.
The 65-year-old disclosed that The Farmer’s Dog now employs 146 staff members, describing the venture as a “roaring success” in a social media post on Friday.
“Exactly a year ago, we opened the Farmer’s Dog to back British farming,” Clarkson wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Today, there are 146 people on the payroll and I’d like to thank every single one of them for making it such a roaring success.”
The announcement represents a substantial employment contribution to the local area from the establishment, which the former Top Gear presenter launched to support British agriculture.
The establishment, located in Asthall near Burford, was acquired by Clarkson for approximately £1 million.
Previously known as The Windmill, the venue underwent transformation before reopening as The Farmer’s Dog on August 22, 2024.
The launch day attracted considerable public interest, with approximately 300 people forming an orderly queue that wound through the car park and spacious beer garden. Patrons waited patiently for the doors to open at noon.
The rebranding aligned with Clarkson’s agricultural ventures featured in his Amazon Prime series, positioning the pub as an extension of his commitment to British farming.
The significant turnout on opening day demonstrated strong local and wider public support for the television personality’s latest business endeavour in the Cotswolds.
At precisely noon, Clarkson emerged to address the assembled crowd, displaying his phone to demonstrate his punctuality.
“We’re open,” he declared to enthusiastic applause, before adding: “We’re also not late. Welcome everybody.”
The television personality was joined by his partner Lisa Hogan and several familiar faces from Clarkson’s Farm.
Cast members Kaleb Cooper, Charlie Ireland and Gerald Cooper were present for the momentous occasion.
The opening marked a significant milestone in Clarkson’s agricultural and hospitality ventures.
Despite encountering various difficulties during the establishment’s first year, some documented in his Amazon Prime programme, the presenter has maintained an optimistic outlook about the pub’s performance and its contribution to supporting British farming through local employment and sourcing.
The presenter has also engaged with followers about individual staff members, responding to praise for an employee named Jasmine. When a visitor commended her work ethic, Clarkson replied: “Jasmine is indeed an angel.”
His Instagram post celebrating the anniversary featured an image of the pub’s sign and drew congratulatory messages from supporters.
One Hawkstone beer stockist revealed they had sold nearly 6,000 bottles of Clarkson’s brew in just over a year from their independent shop.
The presenter is currently engaged in production for the fifth series of Clarkson’s Farm.
The Amazon Prime Video documentary has previously featured the pub’s development, including early staffing challenges when employees staged a walkout, contrasting sharply with the current stable workforce of 146 people.
