Jeremy Clarkson's pub finally serving 'banned' drink in unexpected U-turn
Jeremy Clarkson’s pub, The Farmer’s Dog, has relaxed its staunch alcoholic drink rules by introducing a new beverage that was previously snubbed on the premises.
The establishment, situated near the 66-year-old’s Costwolds farm, Diddly Squat, opened in August 2024, selling Clarkson’s crafted Hawkstone Brewery drinks, spirits from Highland Boundary and soft beverages by the likes of Dash, Benson’s, and Turner Hardy, among other delights.
While revellers can sup on British-distilled single malt whisky, zero alcohol beers, and sloe gin-spiked cocktails, visitors have never been able to order coffee or Coca-Cola as the pair aren’t made in the UK
Another popular beverage that The Farmer’s Dog left off its menu was wine, even though around a third of residents drink wine most often, as per a YouGov survey.
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Clarkson’s reasoning at the time was that English wine just wasn’t very good. And he couldn’t very well stick French Cabernet Sauvignon on there, could he?
Almost two years later, the Burford village institution has unveiled its own wine range, meaning punters can now ask their barkeep for a big glass of the good stuff… Or just the bottle with a straw, if they are so inclined.
The brand, known as Knollbury Fort, is said to have been designed to ‘champion British farming and modern English winemaking’, as per Metro.
“There was a time when English wine was like a child’s recorder playing; you wanted to like it, but it wasn’t very good. Fortunately, that time has gone,” a statement from Clarkson said.
"It’s called Knollbury Fort and it is superb. I know, I would say that. But it’s our house wine at The Farmer’s Dog so you can order it for yourself in order to find out how right I am."
Three bottles of Knollbury Fort were launched at The Great British Farm-Fest, with the first being Firelight Pinot Noir, made with grapes from the Crouch Valley, Essex.
Priced at £28.95 per bottle, the juicy red promises a red berry aroma lined with loganberry, raspberry and dark cherry, and a tiny hint of oak.
“Drink it now, or let it age for three to five years. Either way, it’s fabulous,” the website reads.
The second, Knollbury Fort Arrowhead (£21.95) is a sweet blend of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay.
Grapes are farmed from across Suffolk, Essex and Kent, with the flavour profile including white peaches, greengages, and Golden Delicious apples.
Misummer, Knollbury’s rosé, is the final wine being added to the line-up.
Priced at £22.95 a bottle, the dry, ruby-tinged rosé features subtle hints of wild strawberry and raspberry on the nose and ripe berries and red apples on the palate.
Five vineyards across Kent have supplied the brand with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier grapes which have been blended together to show off the ‘glory of modern English wine making’, as per the website.
All three bottles of Knollbury Wine are available to purchase individually or in a case of six online.
The alcoholic beverages are also stocked in the Diddly Squat Farm Shop.
The latter recently launched select products, such as Shortbread Diddly Dunkers, red onion marmalade, and oak-smoked rapeseed oil, via Ocado, the UK’s largest online grocery range.
Until next March (or until donations hit £20,000), 5p will be donated to the Ernest Cook Trust from every purchase.
Lisa Hogan, Clarkson’s girlfriend and manager of the Diddly Squat Farm Shop, said that the Ocado partnership was a ‘natural step in making our farm more accessible to customers across the country’.
“Diddly Squat has always been about celebrating British farming in a hands-on, practical way, from what we grow to how we share it with people,” she said, adding that the collaboration allows the business to ‘stay true to its roots’.
Ella Scott