Jeremy Clarkson Warned Peer “Don’t Do It” Ahead of Charity Pub Opening
A Caution from Clarkson
Television presenter Jeremy Clarkson advised a member of the House of Lords not to open a pub, warning her of the relentless challenges that come with running one.
Baroness Monckton of Dallington Forest, a Conservative peer, revealed that Clarkson had given her a detailed list of “all the things that could and would go wrong” when she sought his advice on opening a new charity pub in Brighton.
The peer shared the anecdote during a debate in the House of Lords on the Licensing Hours Extensions Bill, which aims to simplify how the government can temporarily extend pub opening hours for major national events.
Team Domenica’s Charity Pub
Baroness Monckton’s charity, Team Domenica, named after her daughter, supports young adults with learning disabilities in gaining meaningful employment.
She told peers:
“In a few weeks’ time, my charity is opening a pub in Brighton. This has required major investment for the acquisition, refurbishment and training facilities, funded by a combination of donations and a significant mortgage.”
The new venue, she explained, would offer enhanced training opportunities for the charity’s candidates, expanding on Team Domenica’s existing cafés and coffee roastery.
Clarkson’s Honest — and Hilarious — Advice
Recalling her correspondence with the Top Gear and Clarkson’s Farm star, Baroness Monckton said his advice was blunt but heartfelt.
“When I asked Jeremy Clarkson for advice, his reply was succinct: don’t do it,” she told the chamber. “And this was followed by a list of all the things that could and would go wrong.”
She then read from Clarkson’s email:
“When you step into a pub that you are running, you immediately notice the broken light bulb and the wonky loo roll dispenser and the cockeyed picture.
As there’s no money in hospitality these days, you can’t afford to get someone in to put everything right. You must do it yourself.
Then, while you’re doing it, a food allergy enthusiast will claim they saw a potato which has made them go blind. Then the guy you employ to clean the lavatories after the pub shuts will phone in sick — and so you have to do it yourself. It is relentless.”
Yet, despite his comedic warnings, Clarkson ended on a note of encouragement:
“There will come a time when everyone sits down after work and has a drink and sausage roll, and all of a sudden it’ll make sense. It’ll especially make sense for you, because you are doing it for a very good reason.”
The Licensing Hours Extensions Bill
Baroness Monckton’s story came as part of a debate on the Licensing Hours Extensions Bill, which seeks to allow the government to temporarily extend pub opening hours without requiring full parliamentary approval.
Introducing the Bill for its second reading, Lord Watson of Wyre Forest, the former deputy Labour leader, praised pubs as “the beating heart of our communities.”
He explained that the reform would make the system more flexible:
“Under the current rules, pubs and hospitality venues must either apply individually for temporary event notices, which cost money and require 10 days’ notice, or wait for Parliament to approve a blanket extension.
If Parliament is not sitting, that flexibility doesn’t exist — as we saw during the Lionesses’ World Cup final in August 2023, when many venues couldn’t open early for fans.”
A Toast to the Great British Pub
The Bill proposes giving ministers limited powers to approve short-term national licensing extensions for events of “exceptional international, national or local significance.”
These could include royal celebrations, jubilees, major sporting finals, or national days of remembrance.
Lord Watson said the measure would “remove red tape, save businesses money, and ensure that we can respond in real time to moments that bring the nation together.”
He added that cross-party support for the proposal reflected a shared appreciation for the “cultural, social, and economic importance of the great British pub.”
