Nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds in the picturesque market town of Burford is The Farmer’s Dog, the pub owned by the one and only Jeremy Clarkson.
As viewers of Prime Video’s Clarkson’s Farm will know, Clarkson was looking to take on a new ambitious project after the local council closed down his Diddly Squat Farm restaurant in season 3. And so, he decided it was time to become a pub landlord, with season 4 documenting this venture.
Since The Farmer’s Dog opened in August 2024, it has attracted crowds of customers every week. But what can you expect from a trip to the Clarkson’s Farm pub? I took a train to the Cotswolds to find out.
Not only is The Farmer’s Dog a must-visit for fans of Clarkson’s Farm, but it is one of the most friendly and charming pubs I’ve ever been to (which is quite the statement given that I’m British, where pubs are our specialist subject).
Where is The Farmer’s Dog pub?
Travelling from London, I jumped on a train to Oxford, which is only a 30-minute drive from the pub’s location in Burford. It would have been quicker to take a train to Charlbury and then a taxi, but in typical UK fashion there were issues on the line that day.
Driving through the countryside, it felt like my taxi driver was perhaps taking the scenic route, but it was the Cotswolds after all.
Eventually we reached the roundabout on which The Farmer’s Dog is tucked away. I was being dropped off, but for those driving and parking, turn down Windmill Venue Road to reach the car park and a marshal will helpfully direct you to a space.
Although it had been raining in London that morning, the sun was shining in the Cotswolds – perfect pub weather! Walking up to The Farmer’s Dog, the main building was immediately impressive and steeped in history.
Originally built as a barn for the local farm, the building was then used as a soup kitchen during the Second World War before being converted into a pub in 1983.
Standing outside the entrance were two signs, one featuring Clarkson holding a pint of lager from his Hawkstone brewery (stating “f*ck me that’s good beer”) and the other welcoming visitors to the pub. The latter clearly emphasised the pub’s mission – to proudly back British farming.
That means that everything The Farmer’s Dog serves, whether it is food or drink, is locally sourced right here in the UK - from the beef to the oil that your meat is cooked in. This means there are some things you won’t find at The Farmer’s Dog such as coffee and ketchup, which the sign warns you about before stepping inside. But trust me - you won’t miss them.
The bar serves Clarkson’s Hawkstone beer and cider
Stepping inside The Farmer’s Dog you’re greeted with a charming setting that captures the essence of a traditional British country pub, from the exposed brick walls to the red leather armchairs. However, quirky details remind you this isn’t just any pub – this is the Clarkson’s Farm pub.
Right next to the traditional wooden bar is a piano, which isn’t too unusual for a pub. However, hanging from the ceiling above is an old-school tractor, a nod to Clarkson’s Farm.
With the sun beating down on us, it was time to order a drink, with the bar proudly boasting a range of beers and ciders from Clarkson’s Hawkstone brewery. Whilst my colleague Margo opted for the classic Hawkstone lager, I decided to sample their stout, the Hawkstone Black, which was silky-smooth.
One of the friendly bartenders challenged me to “split the H”, a popular game where drinkers attempt to get the black line to hit the middle of the “H” in one mouthful. Always up for some fierce competition I gave it a go but alas, it didn’t even come close! However, that just gives me another reason to come back as round two awaits (not that I needed an excuse really).
Relaxing in the armchairs, I soaked in the cosy atmosphere, settling my pint on a coaster emblazoned with a warning from Clarkson himself not to steal his pint glasses (these Hawkstone branded glasses can be bought at the shop next door).
In the bar you can enjoy various pub snacks, from sausage rolls to crisps, all proudly made using produce from Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm. Whilst indeed tempting, I wanted to save myself for the main event – the pub lunch.
Checking out ‘The Farmer’s Dog’ menu
Heading into the dining room, the first thing that stood out was how light it was, with the sun bursting through the arched windows. It’s a lovely space, with branches wrapped in fairy lights covering the ceiling and local flowers adorning the tables.
To the left of the main room is a smaller, cosier space, which features a lovingly painted mural that depicts some of the animals featured on Clarkson’s Farm – the cow could have been fan-favourite Pepper.
The menu features a range of classic British dishes, from sausage and mash to gammon steak, with prices ranging from £20 to £24 for a main meal. I asked what the most popular dish was and the waiter recommended the steak pie and the dessert special, an Eton Mess. Both were absolutely delicious, with the steak pie being suitably hearty and the meringue of the Eton Mess melting in the mouth.
The menu does change seasonally so make sure you check the website for the latest before your visit.
The beer garden has ‘the best view of the Cotswolds’
Despite being absolutely stuffed, it was time to explore the outdoor space, which is split into two: a decked terrace and a huge (seriously though, it’s massive) beer garden. There’s room for hundreds of guests, which is great news given how popular The Farmer’s Dog is. The views are also stunning, with Clarkson telling us on the day we visited that it has the “best view of the Cotswolds” – looking at the rolling hills, he’s probably right.
We enjoyed the rest of our pints outside, before playing a game of Aunt Sally, another popular attraction at the pub. The traditional English game involves throwing batons at a ball, which is known as a ‘dolly’. It’s pretty fun and you can keep track of your score on the chalkboard – if you’re the competitive type!
If you want something more bitesize for your lunch or you can’t get seated within The Farmer’s Dog, there’s no need to panic as Clarkson has you covered with The Farmer’s Puppy – a food van that can be found to the side of the beer garden. Designed to be a small but mighty version of the pub, you can get yourself a pint of Hawkstone and a burger. Best of all, this van opens early for brunch, serving classic bacon and sausage rolls on brioche buns.
Checking out at The Diddly Squat Farm Shop
Luckily for us, the sun was shining for our visit, but if the British weather strikes, there is a tent which has even more seating inside. As well as enjoying your burger from The Farmer’s Puppy here, you can also shop at the two stalls inside, a must before you depart.
First up was butcher and bottle shop Hops & Chops, where you can buy Hawkstone brewery goods - I picked up some lager as a gift for my beer-obsessed partner. Here, you’ll also find a deli where you can purchase a bite to take away (the sausage rolls were very tempting) or pick up some British-reared meat to cook at home.
The last stop on our trip was perhaps the one I was most excited about – the Diddly Squat Farm Shop. Whilst this isn’t the store that you see on Clarkson’s Farm (that is actually a short drive away from the pub), there is still an impressive range of produce and merchandise on offer, and it’s all reasonably priced.
For about £12 I managed to get some chilli oil, a jar of strawberry jam, some of Clarkson’s famous ‘bee juice’ (a rather creative name for honey), and some delicious fudge which may or may not have been eaten before I even finished writing this article. Clarkson clearly likes to have fun when it comes to ‘juice’ as I noticed a ‘cow juice’ station dispensing fresh milk on my way out.
My visit to The Farmer’s Dog really was a perfect day in the English countryside – and I’m already craving another trip out there to check out the cheese board I spotted on the dessert menu.
The Farmer’s Dog pub opening times and address
The Farmer’s Dog pub
Monday: 5pm - 11pm
Tuesday: 11am – 11pm
Wednesday: 11am – 11pm
Thursday: 11am – 11pm
Friday: 11am – 11pm
Saturday: 11am – 11pm
Sunday: 11am – 10.30pm
For up to date opening hours, please check their website.
The Tent: (The Farmer's Puppy, Hops & Chops, and Diddly Squat Farm Shop)
Wednesday to Sunday: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Address
The Farmer's Dog, Asthall Barrow Roundabout, Burford, OX18 4HJ
All seasons of Clarkson’s Farm are available to watch on Prime Video and more is coming, with season 5 already announced.
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