James May Celebrates Pub Success and Throws a Gentle Jab at Jeremy Clarkson’s Beer Brand
James May Says His Wiltshire Pub Is Finally Profitable — But There’s No Clarkson Beer on Tap
Former Top Gear presenter James May has announced that his countryside pub, The Royal Oak in Wiltshire, is now officially turning a profit — though fans hoping to sip on Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone Lager will be disappointed.
The Royal Oak Turns a Corner
Speaking on The Chris Moyles Show on Tuesday, the 62-year-old revealed that his pub venture, which began as a passion project during the pandemic, has finally become self-sustaining.
“It has become profitable,” May said. “The margins are small, but the pub can survive. I think the expression in business is ‘wipe its own face.’”
The Royal Oak, located off the A30 between Shaftesbury and Salisbury, was purchased by May and a friend to prevent it from being redeveloped.
“It was a selfless act of charity on my part,” he joked. “I did worry that life in the countryside would be meaningless if there wasn’t a pub within walking distance — which there wouldn’t be. So, we bought it and then we shut it immediately because of COVID.”
No Clarkson Lager Here
When Moyles asked whether the pub serves his former Top Gear co-host’s beer, May laughed and said:
“No. It sells, as far as possible, local produce.”
That means no Hawkstone Lager, Clarkson’s best-selling brew made from barley grown at Diddly Squat Farm, which has become a favorite across the Cotswolds.
Instead, The Royal Oak focuses on supporting local breweries and suppliers, aligning with May’s emphasis on sustainability and community.
From Fast Cars to Fine Ales
May’s foray into pub ownership marks yet another twist in his post-Top Gear career. Since leaving the BBC show, he has fronted the Amazon Prime travel series Our Man In…, exploring destinations such as Japan, Italy, and India — a sharp contrast to the high-octane motoring adventures he once shared with Clarkson and Richard Hammond.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Clarkson has taken a very different route, trading racetracks for tractors. His Amazon Prime series Clarkson’s Farm has turned him into an unlikely champion of British agriculture, and his Hawkstone beer brand continues to expand nationwide.
A Quiet Success Story
Though May’s pub project began almost by accident, The Royal Oak’s turnaround represents a quiet triumph for the presenter. What started as a bid to save a local landmark has become a thriving village hub, proving that even “Captain Slow” knows how to run a fast-moving business.
