A review of The Farmer’s Dog – Jeremy Clarkson’s Cotswold pub
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT IT?
I loved The Farmer’s Dog menu which only includes food that can be produced on British farms, the Hawkstone cider and the tractor hanging in the lobby!
LOCATION:
The pub is on the A40 near Burford in the Cotswolds – and the views from the terrace are stunning.
SUITABLE FOR:
Anyone who loves a good British pub meal, fans of Clarkson’s Farm TV show, families looking for a good Sunday roast, dog owners (dogs are more than welcome)
VALUE FOR MONEY:
9
FIND OUT MORE:
The Farmer’s Dog Pub
This is more than just a pub.
It’s a restaurant, farm shop, butchers and outdoor bar with fantastic views. Like most pubs, you won’t need a reservation to grab a pint from the bar, but it is helpful to book a table for the restaurant in advance. We booked 2 months in advance for a table for 2 for a Saturday evening, but there was a couple who walked in behind us with no reservation and they were still seated.
I was a little shocked when our table reservation was for an hour only. How would it be possible to enjoy a 3 course meal within an hour?! I don’t know how they do it, but somehow it works without feeling rushed. The Farmer’s Dog menu is kept small, so there is less time needed to choose and it keeps it simpler for the kitchen. And the waiting staff are very efficient with clearing your plates but at no point did we feel pressured to rush.
To have a longer experience, I’d recommend arriving early to have a drink at the bar. There’s a full range of Clarkson’s own Hawkstone beers and cider of course. My favourite was the Hedgerow cider; a delightfully fruity drink with a cider kick. I also enjoyed seeing a few favourite English wines on the menu like the English rose by Chapel Down and the fizz from Woodchester Valley in Gloucestershire.
The food at the Farmers Dog – local produce only!
The menu at the Farmer’s Dog has received a lot of media attention – you won’t find Coca-Cola or salt for example because they can’t be produced on a British farm. The one concession is tonic water (quinine is not available in the UK) and that’s because Clarkson said you can’t have a British pub without a G&T.
I love that the menu is like this because it keeps it simple and seasonal, highlighting some of the fantastic produce grown and farmed in the UK.
To start, I had the breaded Bath brie with a pear chutney. It arrived deep-fried and gooey and it was delicious. My husband had the braised ham hock with Cacklebean poached egg which was perfectly soft. It’s worth mentioning that there was a vegetarian option at every course but you may struggle a little if you are vegan or have dietary restrictions.
For the main course I enjoyed the steak pie with Hawkstone gravy though I couldn’t help but think of the cows I’d seen on the TV show (and thanked them for their service). My husband chose the sausages of the day served with mash and seasonal veg. We found no fault with the dishes.
I am a dessert person so I had to sample the poached rhubarb crumble cake but it was a little dry if I’m honest. I should have just had another drink instead!
Price-wise it was £8.50-10 for a starter, £19-21 for a main course and £9 for a dessert, or £5 just for ice cream. I think this is reasonable in the current climate and the ingredients are all high-quality.
More than just a pub – be sure to visit the Diddly Squat farm shop on site
I haven’t visited the main Diddly Squat farm shop because I’ve always been put off by the long queues. Fortunately, in the Grand Tour tent, you’ll find a mini version of it – though do check opening hours because it was only open for around 15 minutes after we arrived.
There’s also ‘Hops and Chops’ which is a butcher and bottle shop, serving whatever meat they have available from British farms at the time. And there’s a range of Hawkstone drinks and merchandise which can be purchased as well.
If you’re unable to get a table at the pub, you could just visit the Farmer’s Puppy for an al fresco burger and a drink. There are several picnic tables outside which are overlooked by the rolling green hills of the Cotswolds.
As for parking; there was a sign on the A40 which said the car park was full and to use the overflow. We did this and parked up in a field across the road and dutifully paid the attendant a few £ for doing so. Annoyingly, when we walked over to the pub there were several spaces so if you are visiting off-peak then definitely check the car park first.
If you’re visiting from further afield, make sure you read Sarah’s article on the best villages to visit in the Cotswolds, and keep up to date by subscribing to the Girl About Travel twice-monthly newsletter.
I’m a big fan of Clarkson’s Farm as a TV show, but also for the fantastic job it’s doing for raising the profile of British farming and the struggles they face. I definitely recommend a visit to The Farmer’s Dog and I’ll go back there again despite the 80 mile round trip.
Enjoy!
By Sarah Frost
