My mid-week lunch at The Farmers Dog
It was a cold wet Wednesday afternoon, and I had planned a day off. I was taking my friend and Mum out for lunch, except my mum stood me up for WI (women’s institute)! So, my friend and I headed out for lunch with a beer. “Where are we heading” he asked, “The Farmers Dog” I replied. If you have not heard of it, it’s better known as Jeremy Clarkson pub. “Have you booked?” “Of course not, it’s a cold mid-week November afternoon, there won’t be a problem”. We pulled up to the The Farmers Dog only to see Marshall’s guiding cars to a field to try to park, it was at this point I changed my tune! The queue to eat in there was absolutely crazy, but we managed to get a pint quick enough and sat soaking up the atmosphere. When chatting to other people, we found out that they had booked a month in advance so before we ordered another pint of Clarkson’s own brand beer, we asked for any cancellations, the look they gave me said it all. But as we were halfway down our beer, somehow, we were offered a table right by the open fire and were told that we only had the table for one hour 15 minutes … wow! Whilst we were there people were constantly coming in, it did not stop and after chatting to the waiter we found out the turnover was £200k per week!!!! Yes two hundred thousand pounds a week! And of course, Mr Clarkson serves his own beer (well not literally) at great margins and don’t forget the over priced merchandise in his shop – Diddley squat everything. Clarkson has a great big advantage and it’s called a TV show that helps promote the pub to over 17 million followers on his social media channels. I do like Jeremy Clackson for his outspoken stance, not that I agree with all he says but farmers are definitely getting a raw deal and after reading up about his pub, he claims he does not make any money from it due to using British ingredients, people taking glasses, and the price of electricity bills (we can all relate to that one!). In all honesty though, I don’t believe a word of it from what my eyes and ears showed me. So how about the quality of food, well, it’s no better than any other county pub but obviously a lot dearer with bangers and mash being £22.00, which was the cheapest meal on the menu – which, may I add, we had to pay upfront. And of course, you will have to use good ingredients Jeremy, as £22 for two Richmond sausages and smash mash would never sell, even with your marketing! What was upsetting, Jeremy championing farmers and hospitality yet he did not accept cash. Would I go back, the answer is no, but we enjoyed the afternoon, and it was great to see how the other half live in the hospitality world, even if they claim not to make a profit!! BS.
