'I went to Clarkson's Farm - it wasn't worth the trip and left 5 minutes later'
With season four of Clarkson's Farm making a highly anticipated return to Amazon Prime, fans are eager to get a slice of the action and head to the Chipping Norton farm themselves
With the fourth series of Clarkson's Farm making a return to Amazon Prime today, it's no wonder fans are flocking to the actual location. The farm is nestled just outside Burford, a picturesque village in Oxfordshire, known for its iconic Cotswold stone and an abundance of cafes, making it an ideal day trip destination for those travelling from afar.
In the midst of a rare UK heatwave, I decided to join the throng and made my way to Clarkson's Farm. Perhaps naively, I was taken aback by the sheer number of people who had descended on the farm, reports the Express.
Arriving shortly after opening time, I was met with a queue that snaked all the way back to the main entrance, with parking attendants estimating at least an hour's wait before gaining entry to the farm shop. They revealed that such queues were a regular weekend occurrence, with Jeremy Clarkson's popularity soaring as fans clamoured to sample the produce featured in the hit Amazon series.
I had anticipated a larger venue, but with lengthy queues even for the portable toilets, it seemed my morning would be spent mostly waiting, with only a few minutes left to actually explore the farm's interior.
One couple in the queue disclosed they'd journeyed an hour and a half from Tamworth, ensuring they set off early to beat the queues. Their motivation for visiting the farm was Jeremy Clarkson's renowned Hawkstone beer, with plans to stock up before heading back home.
However, another couple who had also travelled over an hour from Bristol were less impressed by what they found. They had visited the farm shop out of curiosity but decided to leave upon seeing the queue.
The farm has a small shop and seating area for tea and cake, but options are somewhat limited, especially for those wanting to maximise their visit after a long drive and waiting just to see the famous location.
I found myself sharing the sentiments of the Bristol couple – the sun was blazing and it simply didn't seem worth it to queue for an hour just to explore the tiny shop and then queue again for a hot drink and cake.
Instead, you could be sitting in a pub garden in Burford or Lechlade, making the most of the good weather. I queued for merely five minutes before deciding to head ten minutes down the road to the Farmer's Dog instead.
Both Clarkson and Amazon must be over the moon with the success of the series in recent years, boasting sky-high ratings and the TV star launching an array of products annually.
His Hawkstone beer and cider have been a roaring success, along with his honey and jam. However, it strikes me that he could capitalise on this even more by expanding the shop to accommodate the hordes of people descending on the TV hotspot.
It's undoubtedly a win-win for him – he has more chances to sell additional products, and could even expand the food section so visitors can spend their entire day there, ensuring they don't feel their trip was in vain.
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