Jeremy Clarkson Opens Up About the “Bleak” Reality of Running The Farmer’s Dog

Jeremy Clarkson has never been shy about voicing his opinions, but his latest comments about life as a publican strike a noticeably darker tone. Less than a year after opening The Farmer’s Dog, his Cotswolds pub, the Clarkson’s Farm star has admitted that running the business is becoming “pretty terrible,” blaming rising business rates, higher wage costs, and what he sees as an increasingly hostile environment for small businesses.

Clarkson, now 65, opened The Farmer’s Dog in 2024 with hopes of creating a traditional countryside pub that supported local producers and reflected his growing commitment to rural life. The venue quickly became popular, drawing visitors from across the country—many of them fans of his Amazon Prime series. Yet behind the packed car parks and full tables, Clarkson says the financial reality is far grimmer than it appears.

Writing in The Sunday Times, Clarkson described the current state of the pub industry as bleak, pointing to sharp increases in business rates as a major threat. He cited fellow celebrity chef and pub owner Tom Kerridge, whose burger restaurant in Marlow is reportedly facing an increase in annual business rates from £50,000 to £124,000. Quoting Kerridge’s frustration, Clarkson wrote: “What’s the point in being open?”

While Clarkson admitted his own situation is not quite as extreme, he made clear that it is heading in the same direction. “At my pub, the Farmer’s Dog, things aren’t quite that bleak but they’re still pretty terrible,” he said. According to Clarkson, the pub’s rateable value is set to rise from £27,250 to £55,000—effectively doubling the amount used to calculate business rates.

That increase alone would be painful, but Clarkson argues it is only part of a much larger problem. He claims that recent changes to national insurance contributions have added an extra £42,000 a year to the pub’s wage bill. Combined, these costs place enormous pressure on a business that already operates on tight margins.

The fundamental question, Clarkson says, is how pub owners are expected to survive when they cannot realistically pass these costs on to customers. “How can you pass this on to customers,” he asked, “when they have a £2 billion gas bill to pay and they can’t get there anyway because of the new drink-driving rules?” In his view, the combination of rising living costs for consumers and tighter regulations makes it almost impossible for pubs to raise prices without driving people away.

Clarkson has directed much of his frustration at the Labour government, accusing it of failing to understand—or actively disregarding—the realities of running a business. Last month, he made headlines by banning more than 400 Labour MPs from The Farmer’s Dog in protest against what he described as a “tax raid” on pubs. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was reportedly barred from the pub when it opened last year, with the ban later extended to the entire Labour Party after Clarkson’s business rates bill rose from around £28,000 to more than £50,000.

The move sparked predictable backlash online. In response to the ban, at least one user on X suggested that people should boycott Clarkson’s pub altogether. Supporters, however, applauded him for speaking out, arguing that many publicans across the country share his concerns but lack his platform to voice them.

Clarkson’s comments come at a sensitive moment for the hospitality sector. Pubs across the UK have been closing at an alarming rate, squeezed by rising energy costs, staff shortages, and changing consumer habits. Industry groups have warned that without meaningful reform to business rates and taxation, many independent pubs simply will not survive. Reports suggest that ministers may now be preparing to rethink planned increases following mounting pressure from landlords and backbench MPs.

For Clarkson, the issue feels deeply personal. What began as a passion project tied to his love of farming and rural life has turned into a daily battle to keep the numbers working. His experience echoes the central theme of Clarkson’s Farm: enthusiasm and hard work alone are not enough when systems and regulations appear stacked against you.

Despite his combative public stance, Clarkson’s underlying message is less about politics and more about survival. He argues that pubs like The Farmer’s Dog are not faceless corporations but community hubs, employers, and cultural landmarks. When costs rise faster than revenues, something has to give—and increasingly, that “something” is the pub itself.

Whether Clarkson’s outspoken protest will lead to meaningful change remains to be seen. For now, he has made it clear that behind the humour and controversy lies genuine concern. Running The Farmer’s Dog, he says, is no longer a romantic countryside dream, but a stark lesson in how unforgiving the current business climate has become.