December 22nd 2024.
Jeremy Clarkson, the former star of Top Gear, recently shared some challenges that his pub, Farmer's Dog, is currently facing. As the Christmas season approaches, Clarkson has admitted that things have not been going smoothly for his new venture.
Despite the success of his Diddly Squat farm and shop, which led him to open the pub in Oxfordshire back in August, Clarkson has already faced some backlash over prices. He also expressed concerns about not being able to make his money back after spending a whopping £1 million on the pub.
The holiday season has only brought more problems for Clarkson. He recently faced criticism over his Christmas plans, which include giving diners a one-hour time limit to finish their meals during the early to mid-evening hours. But this is just one of the many issues that The Clarkson's Farm star is dealing with behind the scenes.
In his column for The Times, Clarkson listed the numerous difficulties he has encountered at The Farmer's Dog in the lead up to Christmas. He described the situation as a "total disaster" and admitted that he had been naive when he bought the pub, not fully considering the challenges of running a profitable business.
One incident that Clarkson shared involved a phone call from one of his employees who made "retching noises" for several minutes after an "accident" in one of the outside toilets. He also revealed that the pub has faced theft, with some customers taking home the glasses they were served pints in.
The cost of running the pub has also been a major concern for Clarkson. He mentioned the expenses for fuel, heating, and parking and traffic marshals to appease the council. Plus, the cost of employing people in today's economy has added to his financial worries.
Despite the challenges, Clarkson reassured readers that the customers are still coming to the pub. However, turning those visits into a profit has been nearly impossible. He also mentioned other issues such as a fire safety problem with the pub's neon sign, accusations of someone living in the unheated rooms in the attic, and a "disaster" with Christmas turkeys.
Clarkson also talked about the struggles with his beer, which resulted in the bar staff looking like they worked at a foam party in a nightclub in Corfu. His Christmas tree plantation, which he planted 10 years ago, has also become a source of frustration as the trees have become "absurd."
As for his plans for a Christmas grotto with reindeer and a Santa, Clarkson has faced difficulties finding a reindeer and is using a normal deer with antlers taped to its head instead. The electric fence used to keep the deer in place has also caused concerns, as it is not compatible with children.
Even Christmas carols have become a problem for Clarkson, as he fears that the artists will demand a hefty sum of £500,000 for playing their songs during filming.
Despite all these challenges, Clarkson ended by saying that despite everything going on behind the scenes, customers would not be able to tell when they visit his pub. He also addressed the fears of not being able to make his money back, which he has previously mentioned in an interview with The Daily Mail's Tom Parker Bowles.
In August, when the pub first opened its doors, Clarkson admitted that it had been a "disaster." However, he has remained optimistic and open about the financial strain that the pub has put on him.
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