Jeremy Clarkson has disclosed that his Farmer's Dog pub in Oxfordshire loses around 400 pint glasses each week to theft, as he blames the high costs of running the venue on 'Starmer's Britain'. The former Top Gear host said it is 'nigh-on impossible' to turn a profit despite the pub being busy since opening in August.
In his Times column, Clarkson detailed the financial burdens, including £100 a day for generator fuel, £400 a week for terrace heating, and £27,000 a month for parking and traffic marshals to satisfy council requirements. He also noted that employing staff has become more expensive after Chancellor Rachel Reeves raised National Insurance contributions and the National Living Wage in the October Budget.
Clarkson described the pub as a 'total disaster' behind the scenes, citing not only glass theft but also a toilet incident that required a team of hazmat engineers. He said that while customers are coming in, 'turning their visits into a profit is nigh-on impossible'.
Despite the challenges, Clarkson remains determined to keep the pub running, calling it 'a proper, traditional pub' where customers will love the atmosphere even if he loses money. He also revealed that a pre-Christmas goose night failed to sell out and only five of 40 ordered turkeys were sold.
