Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone brewery has been recognized as the fastest-growing company in the West Country, shortly after his farmers' choir triumphed on Britain’s Got Talent.
Based in Gloucestershire and majority owned by the TV personality turned farmer, Hawkstone topped the regional rankings in The Sunday Times 100 list. This prestigious annual survey celebrates Britain’s leading entrepreneurial businesses and highlights the innovators behind them.
Hawkstone reported impressive sales of £44.9 million for the year ending March, marking an extraordinary average annual growth rate of 128.19% over three years.
Clarkson, 66, humorously admitted, “I know even less about brewing than I do about farming. But there are plenty of competent people who do, and mercifully, some of them work here.” He launched the Hawkstone brand in 2021 alongside business partner Johnny Hornby, 59.
Led by managing director Owen Jenkins, 45, Hawkstone exports beer to 10 European countries. It also supplies over 2,000 UK retail outlets and more than 4,000 pubs, including Clarkson’s own Cotswolds venue, the Farmer’s Dog.
Following Hawkstone, Somerset’s Sweet Bee Organics claimed second place on the West Country list. Founded in 2018 by Hollie King in her kitchen after the birth of her sons, the skincare brand generated £23 million in sales last year with 118.6% growth over three years.
Cornwall’s St Ewe Free Range Eggs secured third place, boasting 88% growth and £77.1 million in sales. It was also recently acknowledged by The Sunday Times as one of the best workplaces in the West of England.
Jon Yeomans, business editor of The Sunday Times, celebrated the milestone, saying, “Five years of The Sunday Times 100 showcases the incredible diversity of British businesses. The biggest trend is the rise of consumer brands, with food, drink, fashion, and beauty now making up almost half the list.”
The recognition coincides with fresh excitement for Clarkson as the Hawkstone Farmers' Choir recently won Britain’s Got Talent 2026. Founded by Clarkson to support farmers’ mental health, the choir made history as the first ever vocal ensemble to win the show.
Adding to Clarkson’s spotlight, the fifth season of his hit TV series, Clarkson’s Farm, has returned to screens, further cementing his influence on British rural and entrepreneurial culture.