Jeremy Clarkson Balances Farm Life, Festivals, and Pub Success in the Cotswolds

Taking a Break at the Big Feastival

Jeremy Clarkson, the 65-year-old broadcaster best known for Top Gear, The Grand Tour, and Clarkson’s Farm, recently took a break from his Cotswolds farm duties to enjoy fellow celebrity Alex James’ annual food and music event.

The star was spotted relaxing in the Cheese Hub at the Big Feastival in Kingham, Oxfordshire, where he sipped a pint with celebrity chef Thomas Straker. Dressed in a tan Yellowstone Dutton Ranch jacket, Clarkson blended into the lively festival atmosphere.

The event, hosted on Blur bassist-turned-cheesemaker Alex James’ 200-acre farm, featured headline performances from Nelly Furtado, Faithless, Travis, The Wombats, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Alex himself closed the weekend with his special show Brit Pop Classical, backed by a live orchestra.

Clarkson’s Pub: One Year of Success

In addition to farming and television, Clarkson has also made a mark in the hospitality world. Last year, he reopened the Windmill Pub in Asthall, renaming it The Farmer’s Dog.

The opening on August 22, 2024, drew a crowd of 300 people eager to be among the first through the doors. Clarkson, joined by his partner Lisa Hogan and his Clarkson’s Farm co-stars Caleb Cooper, Charlie Ireland, and Gerald Cooper, welcomed guests personally.

One year on, Clarkson announced the pub has been a “roaring success”, now employing 146 people. Posting to X, he proudly wrote: “Exactly a year ago, we opened The Farmer’s Dog to back British farming. Today, there are 146 people on the payroll, and I’d like to thank every single one of them.”

When a customer praised one of his staff members, Jasmine, Clarkson responded warmly: “Jasmine is indeed an angel.”

From Farm to Formula 1: Hawkstone Beer Takes Off

Clarkson’s farming ventures have also crossed into motorsport. His Hawkstone lager, brewed from barley grown on his farm in Chadlington, has struck a deal with Formula 1 to be sold at Silverstone.

For the former motoring journalist, who built his career around cars and speed, supplying beer to F1 events marks a fitting crossover between his old life on the track and his new life in the fields.

A Life of Contrasts in the Cotswolds

From battling rain to harvest crops, clashing with political convoys, pulling pints at his pub, and enjoying live music with fellow celebrities, Jeremy Clarkson continues to prove he’s one of Britain’s most unpredictable public figures.

Whether he’s making beer deals with Formula 1 or sparking headlines with Caleb’s blunt humour, Clarkson remains firmly at the centre of British farming, entertainment, and controversy.