2 days ago
Jeremy Clarkson's 'weird' rule that caused controversy at his Farmer's Dog pub is finally solved
The 'weird' rule at 's Farmer's Dog pub that saw staff repeatedly let down punters has finally been solved after months of backlash.
The former Top Gear presenter opened a country pub alongside his Oxfordshire farm Diddly Squat, last year and announced he would only be using products and ingredients that were 100 percent British.
It left commonplace items including Coca Cola, coffee and even ketchup firmly off the menu at the Cotswolds pub.
Although many were supportive of the rule, so many punters would ask for ketchup to accompany their meals that staff resorted to putting up signs informing customers it was not available.
But now the problem has finally been solved, thanks to Isle of Wight firm Condimaniac.
The company decided to take on the challenge and has now successfully created an all-British ketchup, made from Isle of Wight tomato passata, apple cider vinegar from Hanmpshire, Essex salt and British sugar and onions.
The firm has been documenting its progress on the product online, and said it was especially difficult to develop as no UK firm produces tomato puree.
After successfully launching the condiment, co-founder of the company Kier Kemp said: 'Making a 100 per cent British ketchup after Jeremy Clarkson alerted us to the fact there wasn't one was very hard.
When the former Top Gear presenter first opened the doors to his watering hole he was on a mission to only sell 100 percent British-grown products
'We had to put on our big boy pants.'
In a blog post describing the process of making the ketchup, he admitted it was a 'massive faff' and said staff had 'had to go to great lengths to get the right consistency and flavour.'
Co-founders Mr Kemp and Jennifer Dreier delivered an initial batch to the Farmer's Dog in June for staff to sample.
Just before they met with manager, Annie, customers flocked to try the sauce, with one stating it was 'amazing'.
'I am not having Heinz again that is for sure,' another said.
Another staff member at the Farmers Puppy, a 'small but mighty version of the pub in a tent', gave them kudos for their product.
Condimaniac initially made 1,700 bottles of the product, with many destined to be sold at the pub's butcher and bottle shop and at Clarkson's farm.
The product, costing £7.95, has already sold out on the firm's website.
Reflecting on how impressed he was with the pub, Mr Kemp said: 'It is not just a gimmick for them they do really live and breathe this 100 percent British thing.'
He later dubbed them the 'best wholesale clients I have ever dealt with', adding: 'Everyone I have met is super lovely.'
'I am glad that I can report they are actually nice people. It is not always like that.'
A source close to Clarkson's pub told the Sun: 'Jeremy and the team support the British food and farming industry.
'So he made no apologies for not selling ketchup, no matter how many times staff had to let customers down.
'But the pub's always said that if a British company could do it with all-British ingredients, it would get on the menu.
