Jeremy Clarkson raises concerns over thefts at his pub, risking its future and profitability amid a surge in customer visits
Chadlington: Jeremy Clarkson is in a bit of a pickle with his new pub, The Farmer’s Dog. He’s been dealing with a wave of thefts that could really hurt the place. Since opening in August, the former ‘Top Gear’ star has seen loads of customers, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.
Even with all those folks coming in, the thefts are making it tough to turn a profit. Clarkson called it a “total disaster,” saying that while people are showing up, the stealing is really putting a dent in the business.
In a piece for The Times, he shared that people have been swiping the pub’s branded pint glasses, which is costing him a pretty penny. He mentioned, “The theft, for example, is extraordinary. People seem to think they can just take the glass home after a pint.”
He also laid out how much the thefts are hitting his wallet. Just last Sunday, 104 glasses went missing! On top of that, he’s shelling out £100 a day for generator fuel and £400 a week to keep the terrace warm. Not to mention the £27,000 a month for parking and traffic marshals to keep the council off his back.
To tackle the issue, Jeremy’s come up with a cheeky idea. He’s got beer mats with his face on them, saying, “Jeremy is watching…don’t steal his pint glasses!” He even shared this on social media, encouraging folks to take the mats but leave the glasses alone. It’s a bit of a laugh, but he’s serious about the problem.
In his column, he vented about the struggles of running a pub, saying, “It’s galling to see how much effort is required to make so little money on the farm. It’s worse at the pub. The customers are coming. There’s no problem there. But turning their visits into a profit is nigh-on impossible.”
On top of all this, he’s also closing his Diddly Squat Farm Shop for January and February. He announced it on the shop’s website, saying it would be shut down after December 29. The pop-up shop at The Farmer’s Dog will still be open, but it’s a tough time for him.
Even with the long break, he hasn’t said why he’s closing for so long. It’s a bit of a mystery, but it sounds like he’s got a lot on his plate right now.
