Ever since it opened its doors in August last year, I’ve been itching to visit The Farmer’s Dog. Why? Because it’s owned by none other than Jeremy Clarkson! A pub run by the man who’s famously opinionated about everything—what’s not to love? Situated in the charming village of Asthall, near Burford in Oxfordshire, the pub was formerly known as The Windmill. With glowing reviews everywhere and everyone talking about how packed it always is, we knew we had to see what all the fuss was about. So, this January, we ticked it off our bucket list.
The Drive There
For us, this wasn’t just any old lunchtime outing. From Cardiff, it’s a 1-hour and 35-minute drive—roughly 85 miles. That’s not exactly a casual hop in the car for lunch, but hey, when it’s Clarkson’s pub, you make the effort. We booked just a week in advance and snagged a lunchtime slot at 13:15 on a Tuesday. Perfect timing too, since Jeremy had just announced that they’d started taking lunchtime bookings from January. Clearly, the stars aligned.
Parking
Finding The Farmer’s Dog is as simple as it gets. Plug it into your sat nav or Google Maps, and you’re good to go. We’d heard that on busy days, marshals are on hand to direct traffic in the car park, with an overflow lot available for £2. Thankfully, being a quiet January weekday, we didn’t need to deal with any of that.
The main car park had plenty of space, though it was a bit muddy from the recent wet weather. It’s a minor thing, but worth noting if you’re visiting during winter. It felt very “farm chic”—mud and all.
There is also parking near to the enterance with some disabled spaces, but parking is extremely limited and was full when we arrived. On the plus side, get a space here and there is no mud.
First Impressions
The pub is beautifully situated, with sweeping views of the Oxfordshire countryside. Honestly, you can’t blame Clarkson for snapping up this spot. Outside, the Grand Tour tent caught my eye, but alas, it was closed during our visit—a bit of a downer. There’s also a generous amount of outdoor seating, which I’m sure would be glorious in the summer sunshine. Mental note: come back when it’s warm.
The shop was closed, which was a disappointment. I’d been hoping to grab a bottle or two of Hawkstone lager and maybe a tankard to commemorate the visit. Sadly, that wasn’t an option in the restaurant, which felt like a missed opportunity. Come on, Jeremy, take my money!
Inside the Pub
The Farmer’s Dog oozes history and charm. Originally built as a barn for a large farm, it once served as a soup kitchen run by the Mitford sisters during WWII. Then in 1983, Alan and Jackie Walker transformed it into The Windmill pub. Fast forward to today, and it’s thriving under Clarkson’s ownership.
The rustic charm has been wonderfully preserved, with exposed brickwork, wooden beams, and a cosy log fireplace. The bar area is especially inviting—I mean, there’s a tractor hanging from the ceiling! How many pubs can boast that? It’s quirky, it’s fun, and it’s exactly what you’d expect from Clarkson.
Seating is split across two levels. We opted for downstairs because we had a pram in tow, but if I’m honest, I wish we’d gone upstairs. The downstairs dining area, while perfectly nice, lacked a bit of the bar’s rustic charm. Next time, we’re ditching the pram and heading up.
If there’s one area that fell short, it was the toilets. Look, I get that toilets aren’t the main attraction, but these were ridiculously small for a place that can get so busy. The men’s room had just two urinals and one cubicle, with barely enough space to turn around. Not ideal.
Food, Service, and Prices
We arrived 15 minutes early and were greeted by a friendly waitress who promptly showed us to our table. Service was quick, attentive, and efficient—before we knew it, our drinks were on the table, and our food order was in. You’re given 1.5 hours for your table, but we breezed through two courses in about 45 minutes.
Here’s what we tucked into:
- Soup of the Day (£7): Leek and potato, served with Mark’s sourdough. I have no idea who Mark is, do you? Let us know in the comments. The soup was piping hot and absolutely delicious. The bread added a smoky, peppery twist to the flavours. Once the bread was gone, the soup was still tasty, but it didn’t quite hit the same heights without it. Note to self: ration the bread better next time.
- 12-Hour Slow-Cooked Braised Beef (£19): This came with mash, carrots, black cabbage, and crispy onions. The beef was so tender it practically melted in my mouth. The crispy onions were a nice touch, adding a bit of texture. If I had one complaint, it’s that I wanted more carrots and gravy. Can you ever have too much gravy? I think not.
- Steak Pie (£20): A pub classic, served with the same sides as the beef dish, but with Hawkstone gravy. The beef inside was just as tender, and the pastry was fresh and flaky. However, there was a lot of pastry, and it did get a bit dry. Again, more gravy would’ve solved everything.
Portions were generous, and prices felt reasonable given the quality of the food. It was refreshing to see that the pub’s celebrity status hadn’t resulted in sky-high prices.
Our total bill came to £66.04, including a 12.5% service charge. Here’s the breakdown:
- 1 x Blackcurrant Fizzy – £2.85
- 1 x Steak Pie – £20
- 2 x Soup of the Day – £14
- 1 x Raspberry Dash – £2.85
- 1 x Slow-Cooked Beef – £19
- Service charge – £7.34
Final Thoughts
So, does The Farmer’s Dog live up to the hype? Absolutely. It’s authentic, high-quality pub grub in a charming setting. Would we usually drive almost two hours just for lunch? Probably not. But this isn’t just any pub—it’s Clarkson’s pub, and that makes it special.
Would I go back? In a heartbeat. Next time, though, it’ll be in the summer, when the outdoor seating and shop are open. I’ll be ready to soak up the sun with a pint of Hawkstone lager in hand. And who knows? Maybe Clarkson will be around for a chat.
For more information or to book a table, visit The Farmer’s Dog website.
