Jeremy Clarkson has once again found himself at the centre of controversy surrounding his pub, The Farmer’s Dog, located in Burford, West Oxfordshire. Since its opening in 2024, the establishment has faced numerous difficulties, which Clarkson candidly discussed on an episode of his series, Clarkson’s Farm.
Among the setbacks, Clarkson revealed that approximately 400 pint glasses are stolen from the pub each week. Additionally, items such as £200 worth of cooking oil, lightbulbs, and urinal taps have gone missing. These incidents compound other operational challenges, including intermittent electricity and water supply issues. To meet the increasing demand for food at the busy venue, Clarkson has also had to invest in expanding his livestock at Diddly Squat Farm.
Recently, the pub became the focal point of a provocative protest organised by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Activists positioned themselves outside The Farmer’s Dog with a lifelike dog prop and staged a mock barbecue, featuring a campaigner in a chef’s apron and wielding barbecue tongs. Their signage read: “Wouldn’t eat the farmer’s dog? Why eat a pig!”, promoting plant-based, vegan diets.
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Responding in his column for The Sun, Clarkson addressed the demonstrators, including one individual he noted had previously appeared at a farming festival dressed as a broccoli. Clarkson aimed to “educate” the protesters by clarifying dietary distinctions: “Humans only eat plants, or animals that live on plants. We do not eat animals that eat meat and that’s why we don’t eat dogs.”
He further advised that if the protester returned, “as a vegan it is perfectly acceptable and safe to put you in one of the ovens and serve you up with some nice potatoes and a couple of buttered carrots.”
PETA explained their demonstration’s purpose on their website, stating it was designed to “inspire thought for food” by drawing attention to the ethical considerations of eating pigs, animals many regard as pets. Senior campaigns manager Kate Werner highlighted the similarities between pigs and dogs, emphasising that both are intelligent, pain-sensitive, and social creatures deserving of compassion.
Clarkson’s relationship with PETA is contentious; he has previously made critical remarks about vegetarians and vegans and his Diddly Squat Farm restaurant notably does not offer vegetarian or vegan options, famously displaying a sign: “Yes, we have no vegetarian food.”
Aside from managing his pub and farm, Clarkson continues his television career, with the upcoming series of Millionaire Hot Seat airing on ITV1 and ITVX from Monday at 7.30pm.