Jeremy Clarkson's Farm pub plagued by walkouts as staff quit in 'disaster'

Daily Record

4 hours ago

Jeremy Clarkson's pub The Farmer's Dog was hit with a mass walkout with staff storming out the bar and demanding to quit.
Jeremy Clarkson's pub launch was overshadowed by staff walkouts, details of which have only now come to light. The ex-Top Gear host faced intense challenges during the inaugural weekend of The Farmer's Dog in August last year.
The Farmer's Dog is located in Burford, Oxfordshire, in the heart of the Cotswolds. But in the season four finale of Clarkson's Farm, released on Prime Video last week, the 65-year-old is forced to acknowledge a string of mishaps.
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In a candid conversation with Charlie Ireland after a tumultuous opening day at his licensed establishment, Clarkson admits: "We've lost two waitresses. We lost a pot washer. After one day."
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His troubles are compounded when he engages in urgent discussions with Sue and Rachel, his front of house team, in the pub's upstairs bar.
The duo convey their concerns, indicating that the situation is dire with "too many problems" to operate a "successful business," reports the Express.
They reveal the staff's fatigue, saying: "Everyone is exhausted, even when we say go for a break, there is no staff room," and highlight the less-than-ideal working conditions: "They're weeing in a port aloo. It's not lovely conditions."
Offering some reassurance to Clarkson, they add: "They love you. They're excited about the British food," to which Clarkson insists: "I have no problem with the staff. Not one single problem with the staff. They're all brilliant. They are smiling. They are nice."
However, Sue and Rachel warn him about the impending crisis in the kitchen as they explain: "The kitchen is about to go pop, those chefs have had it.... It might be worth popping into the kitchen," they suggest.
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"I just popped in," Clarkson retorts, to which Sue and Rachel reply: "go back."
Jeremy, worn out from juggling farm duties and preparing the pub for its opening, hits back: "Do you want me to go and find a manager? Or go back into the kitchen?"
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His sarcastic tirade about his workload continues: "Or do you want me to mend the leak? Or do you want me to deal with the car parking issues? Or do you want me to deal with the neighbours?
"Do you want me to deal with the council? I've got plenty to be doing and I'll get on with it. Thank you."
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This outburst was the last straw for the pair who subsequently resigned.
However, an undeterred Jeremy insists he has a solution.
"We've worked out if we shut the lavatories and use plastic glasses instead of glass ones, we'll have enough water to serve food until six," he concedes.
"The next problem is Sue and Rachel, who brilliantly set up the pub, have now left. So it's a Sunday morning, I've managed to secure a new front of house person who is the head of sixth form at the local village school. That's good."
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