The Farmer’s Dog Review
A proper Cotswold pub that’s well worth the visit
I’d been meaning to visit The Farmer’s Dog for a while, and after finally making the trip, I can honestly say it lived up to the hype. If you’ve watched Clarkson’s Farm, it feels a little surreal walking into a place you’ve seen so many times on TV. I might have been lucky, but during my visit I even spotted Jeremy Clarkson, Kaleb Cooper and Alan Townsend, which definitely added to the experience.
That said, once you’re inside, it doesn’t feel like a tourist attraction. It feels like a proper country pub.
The building itself is exactly what you’d hope for from a Cotswold pub. Beautiful stone walls, exposed wooden beams and a warm, welcoming atmosphere make it somewhere you immediately feel comfortable. The staff were friendly from the moment we arrived, and even our dog was given a treat at the bar, which was a nice touch.
The food
We ate lunch in the main restaurant, and everything we ordered was excellent.
I went for the steak and ale pie with Hawkstone gravy. The pastry was light and flaky, the filling was packed with tender beef, and the rich gravy brought it all together perfectly. It was proper comfort food done right.
My partner chose the fish and chips, which looked just as good. The batter was crisp without being greasy, the fish was fresh and flaky, and it came with chunky chips and a generous helping of tartar sauce.
To finish, we shared the rhubarb crumble with clotted cream. It was exactly what you’d want from a traditional British dessert—warm, comforting and full of flavour.
Drinks
One thing I really liked is that everything on the menu is British. There are no imported soft drinks or international beers. Instead, I had a pint of Hawkstone Lager, which was crisp and refreshing, and we also tried one of the house-made soft drinks. It’s a small detail, but it fits perfectly with what the pub is trying to achieve.
More than just a celebrity pub
What impressed me most was the atmosphere. I half expected it to feel like a tourist attraction full of people taking photos, but it genuinely felt like a local village pub. There were families enjoying lunch, locals chatting over a pint, dogs relaxing under tables and visitors like us simply enjoying the experience.
After lunch we had a wander around the rest of the site. We stopped by the butcher’s shop, had a look around the tented bar area and, like plenty of other visitors, ended up buying a bit of Diddly Squat merchandise before heading home.
Overall
The Farmer’s Dog is much more than somewhere people visit because of Clarkson’s Farm. It’s a genuinely excellent country pub serving quality British food in a beautiful setting with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.
Yes, it can get busy, and you’ll almost certainly want to book ahead, but I’d happily make the trip again. In fact, I’d love to come back in the summer and enjoy a pint in the garden.
Pros
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Beautiful Cotswold setting with a warm, rustic interior
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Excellent food made with quality British ingredients
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British-only food and drink menu is a refreshing change
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Very dog friendly
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Great atmosphere that feels like a genuine local pub
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Butcher’s shop, tented bar and merchandise add to the experience
Cons
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Booking is highly recommended as it gets busy
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Can be crowded at weekends and during holidays
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You’ll need a car to get there
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Prices are a little higher than your average country pub
Rating: 4.6/5