Jeremy Clarkson’s pub, The Farmer’s Dog, opened its doors in August 2024 in Burford, Oxfordshire, quickly becoming a favorite spot for fans and farmers alike. Located near Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm in Norton, the pub is renowned for its strict policy of serving only food, drinks, and ingredients sourced exclusively from British farms.
The Farmer’s Dog prides itself on championing British produce, with menus featuring 100% British meats, dairy, and vegetables and even limiting condiments to maintain the local-only ethos. However, a recent visitor’s experience revealed how easy it is to overlook this unique feature.
A couple visiting the pub shared a humorous TikTok video capturing their cringe-worthy moment when they nervously ordered a Diet Coke, forgetting the entire point of the pub’s dedication to British-made products. The video shows them shaking their heads and hiding their faces, accompanied by the caption: “When you panic and order a Diet Coke at Clarkson’s Farm and then instantly remember the whole point is to promote local producers.”
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Their story resonated with many viewers. One commenter shared, “Did exactly the same and asked for coffee.” Another wrote, “Had this issue! Had to have water as I didn’t drink anything else there.” Others noted similar awkward moments—one struggled because the only option was elderflower sparkling water, and another was surprised to find shandy unavailable due to the lack of lemonade on the menu.
The Farmer’s Dog addresses these limitations openly on its website. Clarkson explains that everything on the menu—from pork, beef, lamb, and venison to milk, butter, eggs, fruits, and vegetables—is British. Even the cooking oils are locally sourced. However, some challenges exist, such as the classic gin and tonic. Since tonic water contains quinine, which cannot be grown in Britain, it isn’t served. Instead, the pub offers British alternatives, like British-made fizzy drinks crafted from homegrown fruit, British-grown tea, and even British wine.
Clarkson humorously notes that while serving gin with water and a slice of turnip or potato peelings wouldn’t appeal to customers, avoiding imports like avocado or Coca-Cola is non-negotiable. This commitment is vital in supporting British farming—a mission Clarkson and his team are proud of and appreciate their patrons joining them in.