Jeremy Clarkson’s pub, The Farmer’s Dog, has proven wildly popular.
As documented in the fourth season of Clarkson’s Farm, running a pub is extremely hard work, but few can expect the footfall that The Farmer’s Dog has seen since its August 2024 opening.
Getting a reservation is challenging in itself, especially given the international appeal of the place. With patrons venturing from as far as New Zealand to visit the famous pub, it’s no wonder competition for a table is so stiff.
The Farmer’s Dog isn’t without its detractors, however, with plenty of social media chatter and online reviews airing various disappointments with the experience.
It’s par for the course with any restaurant or tourist destination, but seeing as Clarkson’s pub is in the spotlight it’s bound to get even more scrutiny than others.
We asked ChatGPT to distil the top three complaints levelled at The Farmer’s Dog, and this is what it dug up.
1. Prices might not reflect value
The Farmer’s Dog is almost exclusively stocked with British-sourced products and ingredients, and with that commitment comes a slightly higher cost than you might find at pubs that source cheaper stuff from abroad.
That commitment to supporting British business doesn’t wash with everyone, however.
“Several diners have criticised the cost of meals, highlighting items such as a burger for £14 to £15 on a paper plate, a steak special at £28, and a roast dinner for around £24 to £26," ChatGPT said.
"Many felt the portions didn’t justify the price, describing them as ‘extortionate’ or ‘rip off’."
It cited a comment that said, “Half a carrot, a potato and a green leaf costs probably about 50p max... That’s some markup.”
Clarkson has posted to social media on a few occasions to defend the costs, even saying he can lose as much as £10 per customer over operating costs. Ouch.
2. Queues and parking problems
As Clarkson’s Farm fans will have seen on the show, queues at The Farmer’s Dog can get pretty massive. Ultimately, a pub can only cater to so many people at once, and as it has a booking system to manage foot traffic there isn’t a lot more staff can do to ease the queues.
One comment cited by ChatGPT said: “It’s like arriving at Glastonbury.”
Nevertheless, people have been bellyaching about it. The parking situation has also ruffled some feathers, with some feeling the £2 charge to park in a field is a ‘rip off’. As parking charges go that’s a pretty modest one, to be fair.
3. Portion sizes and service
Some customers have made more general complaints about portions being insufficient for their appetites, while others have said food was served ‘lukewarm’ in some cases. The mashed potato has been criticised for not being ‘very buttery’, while one condemning comment said the food was ‘pretty bang average’.
Some Reddit users have said the quick turnaround on food was cause for concern, with some plates arriving just five minutes after ordering. While some assume this means the food is either being pre-made or microwaved, it’s pretty common practice for pubs to prep popular dishes ahead of orders, especially in busy periods.
After all, if you know you’ve for 75 roast dinner orders coming on a Sunday, you might as well get cracking with them. Considering how busy the pub is, they probably aren’t sitting on a hot plate for very long.
Of course, there are hundreds of positive reviews out there too.
"We are locals so popped in on father's day," said one five-star write-up on TripAdvisor. "Forgot to write a review so doing it now. We hadn't booked but the lovely staff kindly fitted us in for food in the bar. We had the pie and mash which was honestly really good! Even our ten year old loved it. We were lucky to bump into Kaleb who was very kind and let our son have a photo with him. All in all a fab evening. Felt like a proper boozer and we're looking forward to popping in again."
Another shared: "Excellent day at The Farmer’s Dog. Had a burger, chips and salad from the Farmer’s Puppy. All staff were very professional, friendly and helpful. Beautiful views. Queues were well managed and moved fairly quickly. The beer was excellent and the shop had good merchandise."
Several reviews counter the claims made by the negative ones, too.
"An overall fab experience," began another five-star review on TripAdvisor. "Yes it was busy, but it's the summer holidays so we expected it. However, it wasn't so busy it was uncomfortable. The car park had plenty of space. There was only a small queue at the outside bar by the shop and plenty of outside seating with lovely views.
"We had a table booked in the pub and again only had a short wait in a queue to be seated. We were given the option of eating inside or out. We chose out and had a beautiful view. The food was good, tasty pub grub. Delicious puddings too. I have to mention the staff - ALL staff we spoke to in and outside of the pub were super friendly and professional. The only slight niggle is the queue for the ladies loos!
"An overall great experience, well done Jeremy and team!"
Featured Image Credit: John Keeble/Contributor/Getty ImagesTopics: TV and Film, Celebrity, UK Food, News, Social Media, Restaurants and bars
Rachael Davis