Featured Image Credit: Amazon Prime
Topics: Celebrity, UK Food, Drinks, Social Media
Ella Scott
Jeremy Clarkson’s comment about the ‘ludicrous’ price of pints in the UK has gone viral after an ‘awkward’ community note regarding costs at his own pub was added by social media users.
After firmly cementing his legacy as a farmer with the beloved Amazon Prime Video series, Clarkson’s Farm, the former Top Gear presenter, 65, opened his Cotswolds pub in August 2024.
The establishment, which exclusively serves British-grown produce, has Hawkstone beer and cider on draught, as well as soft drinks such as Dash Water, Benson’s, and Navas tonics in the fridge.
Over the years, The Farmer’s Dog has made headlines, with Clarkson’s pub banning popular items, receiving complaints from customers, and apparently kicking guests out after they asked a particular question.
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Now, the institution is in the press again after its landlord commented online about drink prices in Britain.
Last week (12 February), a social media user posted a clip from series four of Clarkson’s Farm with the caption: “When @JeremyClarkson began looking for a pub to buy in the fourth series of Clarksons Farm, he quickly realised the desperate state of the pub scene and just how many we're losing. Without pubs, Britain ceases to be Britain.”
In reply, a fan who claimed to have been in the drinks trade for most of their working life, said that in the 1970s, he was told by a brewery representative that while the average man new ‘nothing about economics’, he was aware of the ‘price of his pint’ and a packet of cigarettes.
“The smoking ban killed off most of the drinkers pubs,” he alleged, referring to the 2006 Health Act that made smoking in enclosed public spaces illegal.
“The pubs without a food offer. The trade lost these 'daily' customers, and replaced them with people who used the pubs for occasional use for food,” the X user continued.
“The OAP's went. Then Covid taught people to drink at home. The habit was lost. £6-7 a pint works in cities, but not in the sticks.”
In response, Clarkson added: “I don’t think the £6.50 pint works anywhere. It’s ludicrous.”
Users were quick to point out that, according to the latest menu, pints of Hawkstone Session Lager, Hedgerow Dark Fruits Cider, Rhubastard, Pilsner, and Wildflower lager were all priced at £6.75 at The Farmer’s Dog.
What’s more, Hawkstone Premium Lager, Apple Cider, IPA, and Black stout all cost £7 for a glass.
Awkwardly, a community note pointing out that the ‘cheapest price for an alcoholic pint in The Farmer’s Dog… is £6.75’ has now been added underneath Clarkson’s ‘ludicrous’ comment.
People were quick to ridicule The Farmer’s Dog prices, with one quipping: “Why do you charge more than that in your pub then??”
“Price drop in your boozer then?,” replied another.
A third typed: “Then why are you charging that and more Jeremy, the cheapest pint in my local is £3-95,the most expensive £5-20.”
However, many were quick to praise the ex-Grand Tour presenter for his post, writing: “His tweet doesn’t mean he agrees with the prices set in his pub, it’s probably taxation and everything else that bolsters the price up. It probably don’t generate that much profit.”
It’s well-documented that pubs aren’t making a killing on pints of alcohol.
Earlier this year, a Scottish pub landlord revealed that his take-home profit on a beer that cost customers £6 was just 13p.
“The price of beer in pubs has been out of control for decades. Rather like everything else, daily comforts are just becoming unaffordable to a lot of people,” said someone else.
Another was seemingly fine with the prices at The Farmer’s Dog as they wrote: “I had my first draft Hawkstone a couple of weeks ago. Delicious. Well done.”
FOODbible has contacted The Farmer’s Dog for comment.