“More than just a British pub. The Farmer’s Dog is a whole day out”, reads Jeremy Clarkson’s website for his pub in West Oxfordshire.
Set across five acres of land in Burford, The Farmer’s Dog is the latest piece of property, alongside Clarkson’s Diddly Squat farm and farm shop, to star in the latest season of his Amazon Prime TV series.
To judge the pub for themselves, viewers of the hit series will be flocking to Asthall for a big Burford day out. But perhaps a roast dinner is not enough to entice the masses to the middle of Oxfordshire. So, how can you make the most of your trip to The Farmer’s Dog and make it a visit worthwhile?
See also: Is Clarkson’s Farm in danger of becoming too scripted?
The Farmer’s Dog
Starting with the main attraction, the pub itself was originally built as a barn for the local farm, before being used as a soup kitchen during the Second World War. It was converted into the Windmill pub in 1983.
The sample menu features British classics like sausages and mash for £21, steak pie and mash for £24, and spring chicken and sausage casserole for £21. Starters include ham hock terrine for £11 and heritage tomato salad on focaccia for £10.50, with desserts such as poached rhubarb cake and summer fruit pudding being offered at £10.50.
Impressively, the menu is made entirely with ingredients produced on British farms, though it’s worth noting anything not British is simply not up for offer. Say goodbye to avocados, ketchup, and coca cola.
Clarkson’s own brewery Hawkstone has several offerings on the drinks menu, including lagers, pilsners, IPAs, and vodka, as well as the Diddly Squat BeeJuice Whisky and apple juice made from Diddy Squat fruit.
Opening times and reservations can be found via The Farmer’s Dog website.
Shop, pop, and chops
In addition to a boozer, The Farmer’s Dog has a butcher, a bar and kitchen, and the Diddly Squat farm shop.
Named Hops & Chops, the butcher and bottle shop offers British-reared and farmed meat as well as a chance to stock up on Hawkstone’s cider and lager.
The bar and kitchen, aptly named The Farmer’s Puppy, is a pint-sized version The Farmer’s Dog offering beers and burgers.
And, finally, the Diddly Squat Farm Shop is a chance to take a piece of Clarkson’s farm home with you, whether it be in the form of blackberry jam or Clarkson’s homegrown potatoes.
All three additions are open from Wednesday to Sunday from 9:30am to 4:30pm.
Local pubs
Carrying on your crawl is easy; there are numerous pubs in the area all serving Hawkstone, including Clarkson’s Hawkstone Arms, located at his brewery around 27 minutes away.
There are numerous other non-Clarkson pubs located within 5 miles of The Farmer’s Dog, including The Swan and The Bird in Hand.
Asthall’s attractions
Food, drink, and beer aside, the picturesque village of Asthall has other nearby offerings, including the Tolsey Museum, a local and cultural museum; golf courses in Burford and Chipping Norton; the Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens; and Burford town centre.
Manfred Schotten Antiques is also located in proximity and specialises in antique sporting goods, equestrian artwork, taxidermy, and furniture.
There are also plenty of walking routes that zigzag between farms and Cotswold villages.
How to get to The Farmer’s Dog
Travelling to The Farmer’s Dog is a small mission. Via public transport, it’s easiest to get the Great Western train from Paddington to Hanborough. From there, you’ll need to take two buses, namely the S7 and the 234, followed by a four minute walk.
Failing that, it’s probably easier to brave the 2.5 hour drive from London.
Many of the inns and pubs have B&Bs and a few boutique rooms for those that wish to stay a night.
