Oxford News
Jeremy Clarkson and British Airways in exclusive deal
The 66-year-old farmer has been in Boston, USA, in recent days to watch England in the World Cup.
On his BA flight back home on Friday, June 26, though, the Clarkson’s Farm star announced a new partnership with the airliner.
British Airways will now be be serving Hawkstone lager, produced entirely from British barley made by UK farmers.
READ MORE: Historic decision reached for leading private school in 175-year first
In an announcement on Instagram, Mr Clarkson said from his flight: “Farmers of the UK, good news.
“You know we buy your barley to turn into Hawkstone lager? Well British Airways, which is where I am now, is now serving that lager on their flights. I kid you not, they are.”
The deal is the latest in a long line of contracts being signed for Mr Clarkson’s Hawkstone brand.
It is now sold in Waitrose, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Marston’s pubs.
Hawkstone, named after a Cotswold stone, was announced earlier this year as the fastest-growing company in the region in the fourth annual Sunday Times 100 rankings.
The brewery, whose largest shareholder is the 65-year-old presenter, was ranked 23rd on the list, which ranks the 100 leading entrepreneurial businesses in the UK.
The brand is led by managing director Owen Jenkins, 44, and has expanded into more than 1,500 UK pubs.
The business has nearly tripled its sales to £21.3 million in the year up to March with an average annual growth of 134 per cent over the last three years.
Loud bangs from the explosions were heard by eye witnesses in Blenheim Drive, Bicester on Friday evening, June 26.
Pictures from the garages, at the back of homes and taped off by police and the fire service, shows garage doors blown off and cars destroyed,.
One Hyundai hatchback can be seen with its windows smashed through, bodywork badly damaged and what appears to be fire or smoke damage.
READ MORE: ‘Major incident’ as ‘explosions and loud bangs’ heard
An eye witness said: “You could hear loud bangs and things popping and you can see the smoke from the houses who live right near it.”
He described it as a “major incident” when the fire broke out in one of the garages. At least four fire engines were called to help put out the flames.
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has been approached for further information.
The former Top Gear and Grand Tour host bought The Windmill in Asthall near Burford for around £1m in 2024.
He set about renovating the spot and renamed the watering hole The Farmer’s Dog in recognition of his pets and his nearby farm, Diddly Squat.
The Chadlington-based farm is the subject of the Prime Video show Clarkson’s Farm, which was initially released in 2021.
READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson could ‘cryogenically freeze’ himself amid cancer
Series four had a staggered release this time last year, with eight new episodes in total, which show Mr Clarkson’s decision to buy the Cotswolds pub, as well as the grand opening, which took place in August 2024.
The final episode of the fourth season exposed the challenges that The Farmer’s Dog’s opening faced across the August bank holiday.
Problems saw several members of staff walk out from the pub, which was addressed in a candid conversation between Mr Clarkson and land agent Charlie Ireland.
READ MORE: UK supermarket giant issues customer notice on Jeremy Clarkson beer
He said: “We’ve lost two waitresses. We lost a pot washer. After one day.”
The Express adds in a report that pressure mounted during a pub meeting with senior team members Sue and Rachel.
They told Jeremy: “Everyone is exhausted, even when we say go for a break, there is no staff room.
“The kitchen is about to go pop, those chefs have had it…. It might be worth popping into the kitchen.”
Despite the initial problems and hectic opening, the pub has found its feet and has been regularly welcoming healthy numbers of punters to the site with a full team on hand to meet the demand.
The 66-year-old broke the news during the latest series of his hit Amazon show, filmed at Diddly Squat Farm near Chipping Norton in West Oxfordshire.
In one emotional scene of season five, Mr Clarkson quietly told farm manager Kaleb Cooper and land agent Charlie Ireland: “I’ve got cancer”.
The former Top Gear host explained that the disease had been caught early, but described the treatment as intense and, at times, difficult.
READ MORE: James May’s pub wins UK award ahead of Jeremy Clarkson’s
He went on to say that around “10 per cent” of his prostate was affected and that some of the treatment had “gone a bit awry”.
Recently speaking to The Times, Mr Clarkson was asked whether his brush with serious illness had changed the way he thinks about money and tax planning.
He has been a vocal critic of Labour’s proposed inheritance tax changes, which he fears could push some farming families into selling their land to cover large tax bills.
Under current rules, one option to avoid a hefty charge is for farmers to transfer land, buildings, livestock and machinery to their children at least seven years before they die.
READ MORE: UK supermarket giant issues customer notice on Jeremy Clarkson beer
Mr Clarkson said he had no intention of giving Chancellor Rachel Reeves the satisfaction of a bigger tax take and joked that he had already come up with a solution.
“That’s easily dealt with,” he said, smiling.
He then explained that his tongue-in-cheek plan was to cheat the taxman by “cheating death” through cryogenics.
“In a word, cryogenics,” added Mr Clarkson.
“Emily, my eldest daughter, said to me the other day, ‘Don’t worry, you will survive seven years. You might be in a freezer, but you’ll survive.’”
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoJeremy Clarkson hits back with sweary response over BGT backlash
-
Student Life4 weeks agoTransgender rights protest in central Oxford following updated EHRC guidance
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoPhotos as 1979 Pontiac Firebird ‘bursts in flames’ at Tesco
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoLaw firm Roythornes Solicitors opens Abingdon office
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoOxford firm wins major backing for fin-based tidal power
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoFlex Health Hub officially opens at Milton Park Oxfordshire
-
UK News2 weeks agoTwo arrests and three police officers injured in protest at asylum hotel
-
Student Life1 week agoHome Office proposes doubling of Campsfield capacity