Inside the launch of Jeremy Clarkson’s new pub and why it’s a must-see for every Clarkson’s Farm fan

Anticipation levels for the grand opening have been sky-high for months now and they skyrocketed further when Clarkson decided with just a few day’s notice to announce the August Bank Holiday weekend would be when he would finally welcome guests.

The Farmer’s Dog is located in the village of Asthall, just outside Burford, Oxfordshire and was formerly known as The Windmill to locals.

I arrive at 7:30am – which coincidentally happens to be when the gates to the car park open – and swiftly drive my way right to the front door.

In typical Clarkson fashion, the project of resurrecting this Cotswolds pub (that was once a dogging hotspot) went down to the wire as I’m greeted by a man and a woman from a nearby flower company drilling in hanging flower pots to give the pub its finishing touches.

The car park is empty this early in the morning – a surprise to me – before a few other early-rising Clarkson fans begin to stroll around the car park.

Without further ado and with a little over four hours until Clarkson would be opening the door, I begin to explore the grounds – and it becomes clear within moments why The Windmill blew Clarkson over.

As soon as you step into the garden located behind the pub, you’re greeted by fields of green as far as the eye can see.

There are some reverberations from the nearby A40 but it does little to distract from the waves upon waves of mowed grass, bustling hedgerows, and idyllic meadows ahead as birdsong rings out around – a Cotswold fairytale setting almost.

Clarkson’s peppered benches across the vast green space that presides next to the pub while the rest of the space is dominated by the iconic giant black Grand Tour tent.

The space inside has been transformed into a butchers, a mini Diddly Squat farm shop, a counter to order from the adjacent food truck, aptly named The Farmer’s Puppy, and even an off-licence where the only beverages on offer are emblazoned with the Hawkstone logo – Clarkson’s own drinks brand.

After a nosey around the grounds and some chats with diehard Clarkson fans who’ve ventured out early, 9:30am arrives and Annie – who runs The Farmer’s Puppy – welcomes punters inside the tent.

I’m first in and in the style of typical Clarkson bravado, I’m greeted by the sound of The Greatest Show from the Hugh Jackman-led musical The Greatest Showman blaring through the speaker system as wry smirks descend on visitors’ faces.

All seems to be going swimmingly on the face of it but a sense of chaos seemed to creep in among those working behind the scenes as everyone frantically makes sure things go without a hitch.

I try to grab a chat with Annie to discuss the launch of the Farmer’s Puppy only to be told there’s an issue with the “spirit prices” in the farm shop.

And Clarkson’s trust handyman Alan appears too and I see if he has a spare second. I’m told there’s a “busted toilet” situation.

These are fires that need putting out so that punters can enjoy their £7.50 sausage bap and £6.50 pint of Hawkstone without a care in the world.

Clarkson doesn’t make his arrival to the pub until around the 10:45am mark and by that point, I begin to rue my time in the Grand Tour tent when I discover hundreds of fans have began queuing for the pub.

As Clarkson’s car drives through the car park and I take my spot in line, dozens break from formation to desperately try and grab a selfie with him in his white sports car.

He drives straight past and into the private car park, a wise move given the mob-like scenes that follow with his Clarkson’s Farm cast mates.

“It’s Kaleb,” the whispers ripple through the queue as the gust of wind from camera phones being whipped out of pockets almost knocks me down.

Formation breaks again and the young farmer does his best to take selfie after selfie before being shepherded in by a member of the Amazon crew.

The same goes for Gerald Cooper – the Chadlington local who overcame prostate cancer following a heartbreaking development in the latest series of Clarkson’s Farm.

The fan-favourite is barely out of his van before crowds descend, begging for a picture with the man whose incomprehensible accent has endeared him to viewers across the globe.

Amazon crews step in and he’s escorted promptly inside the pub – we’re still an hour away from opening at this point.

Clarkson appears with trusty land agent Charlie Ireland soon after but only briefly and only in sight of the lucky few who managed to bag a spot at the front of the queue.

He’s armed with a tray of mushrooms for the kitchen as fans count down the final few minutes until he opens the door.

Conversations ripple and it’s soon revealed that fans have come from all corners of the globe for the grand opening. “St Albans,” graduate Jack tells me in the queue, an hour and a half journey I wince at.

Then I speak to Clarkson fan Roy. He’s travelled “668.9 miles precisely” from the Orkney Islands off Scotland specifically for the grand opening – he rather needlessly tells me he’s a “massive Clarkson fan” soon after.

However, he’s soon trumped when a family from Auckland, New Zealand reveals a trip to the pub was one of the main reasons for their holiday to the Cotswolds.

As I begin to try and comprehend the far-stretching global appeal Clarkson possesses, the former Top Gear host bursts out the doors with partner Lisa, Cooper, Ireland and others in tow to declare the pub open.

Queue formation breaks as people scramble for a photo and I luckily manage to grab a few words with Clarkson before he takes his seat for lunch.

I ask him what difference his pub will have on British farmers after he pledged to only use British produce. He replies: “A tiny pinprint. But if everybody does it…

“I keep thinking if farmers get together – because you can buy a pub for chicken feed these days – get together and they share the workload it might work. I’ll let you know in a year.”

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Our chat is interrupted when a fan grabs Clarkson’s hand to show his gratitude for what he’s done for the British farming industry.

The man reveals himself to be a farmer and the impact Clarkson has had on him is palpable, although the Top Gear host is quick to bring levity to the situation as he quips: “I’ll give you a tenner later.”

Inside, Clarkson takes his seat on the upper deck of the pub, although before long he’s up and dealing with an issue inside the kitchen.

I make my way to the bar, not before being taken aback by the ginormous tractor hoisted from the ceiling of The Farmer’s Dog and positioned over a grand piano.

An array of Hawkstone beverages are presented to me and following the recommendation from the head barman, the IPA is the tipple of choice.

Inside feels incredibly homely. Despite the levitating tractor and piano whose keys will never be played, there isn’t a sense of grandeur or superciliousness.