Fans rally around Jeremy Clarkson after latest council decision

The 65-year-old former Top Gear and Grand Tour host has been given planning permission by West Oxfordshire District Council this week.

Mr Clarkson bought The Farmer’s Dog off the A40 in Asthall, near Burford, in 2024 for around £1m, opening it up to the public in the summer of that year.

And his Amazon Prime TV series Clarkson’s Farm covered the seemingly stressful opening of the pub for the August Bank Holiday.

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The Farmer’s Dog pub. (Image: David Davies / PA)

Unlike his Diddly Squat Farm Shop, the Farmer’s Dog hasn’t had the same level of planning issues with the local authority.

One planning application to put hard surfacing in both car parks was granted permission back in January.

His latest planning application sought permission to use a neighbouring field as an overflow car park ahead of the busy summer months.

West Oxfordshire District Council granted planning permission for Mr Clarkson on March 18.

The council said: “The Farmer’s Dog is an existing business on an established hospitality site, whose popularity encourages an exceptional number of visitors to the local area, in support of the local economy.

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Jeremy Clarkson. (Image: Prime Video)

“In the very unusual circumstances of this particular case, however, and noting the demonstrated present requirement for off-site parking, the public benefits of granting consent on a temporary basis are considered to outweigh the identified harms.”

Now, Jeremy Clarkson’s fans have rallied behind the latest move, praising the decision.

One online commentator via The Sun said: “I used the overflow parking a month ago and it was packed along with the pub and former Grand Tour tent. Awesome experience.

Another added via the Daily Mail: “Proves that Pubs can buck the trend.”

Via the Metro, another fan simply said: “Great!”

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The pub can be found in the Cotswolds. (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)

Concerns had been raised by neighbours and a councillor over the traffic impact on Asthall and the A40.

Asthall Manor owner Rosie Pearson said there is “no reason to think that the high demand will drop any time soon” ahead of a new series coming in May.

Ms Pearson, who is also the West Oxfordshire Green Party leader, added: “The role of traffic marshals includes ‘manage pedestrian movements’.

“Upon observation, it is clear that this is not happening, and upon enquiry, the traffic marshals admit that the pedestrians are often not co-operative in having their movements managed.”

Widford resident Mark Leslie, who lives about one mile from The Farmer’s Dog, said he has “serious concerns” about the current parking and access arrangements.

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Jeremy Clarkson and Lisa Hogan at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. (Image: Joe Giddens / PA)

He claimed they have created “significant highway safety issues” and called for them to be addressed.

But according to the district council, the highways authority, Oxfordshire County Council, disagreed.

West Oxfordshire District Council said: “The county highways team have dealt with the application on the basis that the traffic is not being generated by the proposal but is rather catering to existing demand.

“This affects what can reasonably be required in terms of supporting information.

“They have proposed conditions to mitigate traffic safety issues in terms of visibility, directional signage and ground coverage to prevent mud on the roads.”