Jeremy Clarkson has revealed that cyber criminals stole £27,000 from the pub he owns in the Cotswolds.
The TV presenter, who earlier this year admitted to sleepless nights over the future of his Diddly Squat farm, said he had become the latest victim of hacking.
Writing in The Sun, Clarkson explained: “So, Jaguar Land Rover had to shut down its production lines this week after systems were breached by computer hackers. And we are told similar attacks were launched in recent months on both M&S and the Co-op.
“But no one thought to mention that my pub, The Farmer’s Dog, has been hit too. It was though. Someone broke into our accounting system and helped themselves to £27,000.”
It is unclear how the hackers accessed the pub’s computer system, or whether police have had any success in tracing the culprits.
The theft is the latest in a string of setbacks for Clarkson, who has frequently clashed with local councils over his attempts to earn money from ventures in Chadlington and Chipping Norton.
The motoring star turned farmer and publican – who has documented his struggles on the hit Amazon series Clarkson’s Farm – was forced to shut down the restaurant at Diddly Squat after receiving an enforcement notice, following complaints from neighbours about traffic congestion.
Although the restaurant remains closed, visitors can still shop at Diddly Squat, which only sells produce made in Oxfordshire. Clarkson has previously admitted farming is a “money pit” and a “financial burden”, saying he makes far more from television and other projects.
In August 2024, Clarkson spent £1 million buying and renovating The Farmer’s Dog pub in Burford, Oxfordshire. Since opening, he has described running it as “more stressful” than managing the farm.
Like his farm shop, the pub only serves food sourced locally, with no Coca-Cola or coffee on the menu. While some tourists have grumbled about missing staples, Clarkson insists: “We only do British food.”
