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Visitors to Jeremy Clarkson’s farm shop were left disgruntled after a new policy was introduced at the Cotswolds shop located in Oxfordshire. Clarkson, who gained fame as a former Top Gear host, has owned the Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington since 2008. However, it wasn’t until the farm became the focal point of his Amazon Prime series, “Clarkson’s Farm,” that it turned into a bustling tourist hotspot.
In 2021, audiences were entertained by Jeremy’s often comical efforts to manage a farm successfully. The show’s popularity led to multiple renewals, and in 2020, Clarkson and his partner, Lisa Hogan, launched the Diddly Squat Farm Shop. The shop quickly became a favorite destination for fans eager to taste the farm’s local produce.
Their venture expanded further in 2024 with the opening of a pop-up shop on the premises of their pub, The Farmer’s Dog. This addition features a butcher’s shop named Hops and Chops, a food van called The Farmer’s Puppy, and a merchandise stand dedicated to “Clarkson’s Farm” enthusiasts.
Despite the variety of offerings attracting thousands of visitors, not everyone was pleased with a significant policy change. Expressing their concern on X/Twitter, a customer questioned Jeremy directly: “Why won’t you accept cash at your shop? Do you support digital currency? Bad move, my son.”
Clarkson, known for his candidness, responded swiftly: “I’m with you. But it’s just completely impractical, I’m afraid.” Another patron echoed this sentiment, noting the difficulty: “If you take cash, you have a near impossible task of trying to find a bank on the high street that’s not been closed down, to deposit said cash.”
“The amount that Diddly Squat Farm Shop takes would be dangerous to have just lying around. Cash is king, just not practical anymore, unfortunately.”
This comes just months after Lisa weighed in on their cashless policy after one visitor penned their complaint beneath a video of the farm’s official Instagram account. The fan warned of the privacy-killing risks of a cashless society – including increased exposure to hackers and fraudsters.
In the lengthy post, they penned: “Visited the farm shop and bar on the weekend. Why card only? Please consider accepting cash, too.” They also claimed that “if cash dies, your location and purchases will be tracked automatically. You won’t be able to opt out or unsubscribe.
“People in abusive situations are often financially reliant on their abuser. If cash is removed, their way out will be that much harder or close to impossible.
They concluded: “Elderly, blind and people with disabilities will struggle. Many people can’t or don’t know how to use technology. They would also be vulnerable to scams and other technological difficulties. #keepcashalive.”
In a response from her personal account, Lisa commented: “I agree with you on so many levels.” To which the complainant replied: “Good to hear, hope you make the change.”