Jeremy Clarkson CLOSES restaurant on Diddly Squat farm after local council ruled against the venture
Jeremy Clarkson CLOSES restaurant on Diddly Squat farm after local council ruled against the Top Gear star’s venture – as neighbours hail move as a ‘win for the community’
- The former Top Gear presenter opened the eatery in a farmyard barn last July
- But residents in Chadlington, Oxfordshire, lodged complaints with the council
- West Oxfordshire District Council has now served a closure enforcement notice
Jeremy Clarkson has reportedly been forced to close a restaurant on his Diddly Squat farm in the Cotswolds after being served with an enforcement notice from the local council.
The former Top Gear presenter opened the eatery in a farmyard barn last July on land he has owned since 2008, following the success of his hit Amazon series ‘Clarkson’s Farm’.
But residents in Chadlington, Oxfordshire, complained that the establishment was a ‘nightmare’, causing heavy disruption and traffic jams not in keeping with the quiet rural surroundings.
Clarkson, 62, saw his plans for the restaurant temporarily scuppered last year amid complaints from ‘jealous locals’ – whom he branded the ‘red trouser brigade’ – and a row over planning permission.
Jeremy Clarkson arrives at a town hall meeting in Oxfordshire called to discuss his farm shop, September 9 2021
The former Top Gear presenter opened the eatery in a farmyard barn last July on land he has owned since 2008
Clarkson, 62, saw the restaurant temporarily shuttered for a short period last year amid complaints from ‘jealous locals’ who he branded the ‘red trouser brigade’ and a row over planning permission (Diddly Squat farm shop and cafe is pictured)
He managed to get the restaurant opened via what he called a ‘delightful little loophole‘ that allowed him to circumvent traditional planning laws.
But West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) has now brought the hammer down once and for all, with the petrolhead admitting defeat this week, according to the Mirror.
The restaurant’s closure will likely cause a dent in profits for Clarkson, after it was revealed the farm Diddly Squat Farm recorded its best year yet in 2022 ahead of the season two premiere of his hit Amazon series.
On Clarkson’s Farm, Jeremy works on his 1,000 acre plot of land, located between Chipping Norton and Chadlington in the idyllic Cotswolds countryside in Oxfordshire.
After just three years of trading, the TV personality’s farm has already amassed £1.34 million in assets and 17 employees, while in 2021 the business had just £44,000 in assets and six employees.
MailOnline has approached Jeremy Clarkson, WODC and Diddly Squat Farm for comment.
Locals residents were this week celebrating their hard fought victory after more than a year of lodging complaints.
One resident of Chadlington told the Mirror: ‘It is a win for the community. I would like the whole thing shut down. We are just a small village and Diddly Squat Farm is in the wrong place.
‘We don’t need a theme park in an area of natural beauty. The new year was ridiculous. You’d spend about 20 minutes trying to get into town.’
Another added: ‘We have been plagued with traffic since he arrived. He caused massive upset with these restaurant plans. It’s just the arrogance of what he thinks he can get away with.’
Wooden tables adorn the outside of the Diddly Squat restaurant that was opened by Jeremy Clarkson in July 2022
Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm recorded its best year yet in 2022 – ahead of the season two premiere of his hit Amazon series
A starter of steak tartare, assembled with a chopped mixture of rump, skirt and fillet steak, (left) and roast topside of beef with vegetables (right) are served at Clarkson’s Diddly Squat restaurant
On Clarkson’s Farm, Jeremy works on his 1,000 acre plot of land, located between Chipping Norton and Chadlington in the idyllic Cotswolds countryside in Oxfordshire
However, others have argued Clarkson’s Farm brings business to the area and raises awareness for difficulties facing farmers in Britain.
Energy company boss Dan Duffy, 36, told MailOnline: ‘I feel sorry for him facing all these rules. They don’t make it easy for business people in this country.
‘I think the objections must be down to jealousy as I don’t see how anyone could complain about a restaurant on the farm], it’s a beautiful spot.’
Engineer Grant Filer, 60, recently went to visit with friends and was disappointed to find farm’s restaurant and cafe shut.
‘We rode down from Oxford after work so it is disappointing,’ he said, ‘I don’t think they should be closing it as I am sure it would be very popular.’
Another woman, who arrived to buy some milk from a ‘cow juice’ machine outside the Farm Shop, said she thought the council were being ridiculous.
‘I don’t see what the problem is,’ she said, ‘he is bringing business to the area. They queue to get into his shop so it would be bound to be a success.’
And Parish councillor Ann Gate also backs Clarkson, having written to WODC on behalf of ‘quietly supportive local residents’ to say he has ‘used his celebrity status to highlight the difficulties of the farming community’.
Jeremy Clarkson and his Clarkson’s Farm co-star Kaleb Cooper enjoy drinks at Clarkson’s Hawkstone Brewery
Jeremy Clarkson is pictured at the Diddly Squat farm
Though Amazon Prime viewers are treated to plenty of hi-jinks and entertainment as Clarkson and his rag-tag band of agricultural associates set about running the farm, the presenter also speaks very highly of British farmers and sheds light on the difficulties facing the sector amid government bureaucracy.
Speaking at the British Farming Awards in late 2021, Clarkson said: ‘Every time you sit down to eat something you are eating something that is made by British farmers.
‘If there is a Red Tractor on your food packaging it was grown in Britain so buy that because it has not come a long way to get here.
‘The Government is stopping subsidies and grants so if they are not going to pay us to grow food they have now lost their right to tell us what to do.
‘They have to back off and allow us, I say us but I am still learning, but allow people like Kaleb and Charlie (members of Clarkson’s team who appear on the show), people like everyone in that awards room to make decisions that are best for where they live.’
