Jeremy Clarkson, the renowned host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and ex-Top Gear star, has announced a significant two-month closure at his Diddly Squat Farm Shop.
The announcement was made on the shop’s official website, informing customers that the store would be closed throughout January and February, and that December 29 was its last day of trading before the hiatus.
A notice prominently displayed on the website’s homepage states: “The original Farm Shop at Chadlington is closed for January and February. The pop up farm shop at The Farmer’s Dog Pub is open Wednesday to Sundays, 10am – 4.30pm.”
This temporary shutdown was also highlighted under the ‘opening hours’ section of the site, which reads: “We are open on the 27th, 28th and 29th December. We will be shut in January and February, reopening on 1st March.”
Clarkson has yet to reveal the specific reasons for this extended break. This news comes on the heels of the Grand Tour tent at his pub being forced to close due to damage from Storm Darragh.
Additionally, just days prior to the closure news, Jeremy opened up to The Times about various challenges he’s encountered since taking over The Farmer’s Dog in August, including the struggle to turn a profit. He recounted the “horror” found in the pub toilets, remarking: “No amount of festival visits would prepare you for the horror of what had been produced at the Farmer’s Dog”, reports the Express.
Facing an array of challenges at his gastropub, he has to deal with a plumbing catastrophe that needed a specialist hazmat crew’s intervention. He reflected on the incident: “It was everywhere and in such vast quantities that no ordinary plumbing or cleaning equipment would even scratch the surface. So a whole team of chemically trained hazmat engineers had to be employed. That’s a cost I’d never factored into any of my business plans.”
Additionally, Jeremy reported that customers have been stealing glassware, leading to further unexpected costs.
Jeremy is closing his super popular farm shop for two full months, but didn’t offer a reason why
(Image: (Image: PA))
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Writing in his column for The Times, he outlined his financial woes: “That cost must be added to the £100 a day we spend on fuel for the generator, the £400 a week it costs to provide warmth on the terrace and the £27,000 a month we must spend on parking and traffic marshals to keep the council off our back.”
Despite a steady influx of patrons, profitability remains elusive for the TV star. He conveyed his exasperation: “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.”
In a more positive light, Jeremy reminisced about when Marco Pierre White, the renowned chef, visited and complimented the pub’s extensive menu.
He wrapped up his thoughts with a blend of pride and resignation, stating: “And it’s warm and there’s a fire and the staff are friendly and young and happy. It’s a proper, traditional pub. By which I mean you’ll love it, and I’ll lose a fortune and develop a skin disease from the stress of running it.”