Jeremy Clarkson’s dream of running a cosy Cotswolds pub has taken a knock after furious punters branded the venue a “soulless disappointment” – slamming everything from the food to the atmosphere. The Farmer’s Dog in Asthall, Oxfordshire, was snapped up by the former Top Gear star for around £1million and reopened last August following an extensive makeover. The purchase, renovation, and grand opening were all captured on camera for the fourth series of Clarkson’s Farm, released on Prime Video earlier this year.

Clarkson, 64, threw himself behind the bar to welcome customers, but while many fans were delighted, some have taken to TripAdvisor to vent their frustration. One self-confessed Clarkson supporter admitted to making a special detour just to visit the eatery but said the experience left them bitterly disappointed. The reviewer wrote: “Made a detour here to have a beer (after riding in the glorious Cotswolds for a couple of days). We were SO disappointed!

“I’m a JC fan and have read his words for many years, watched all the shows and been impressed with the development of the ‘pub’.

“Love the idea and the principle, but the overall experience was pretty dire. Soulless, very busy (on a poor-weather Thursday afternoon), queues for everything, devoid of any character, already looking a bit worn in places (inevitably given the footfall), expensive.”

Another customer didn’t hold back when it came to the food, writing: “The food is very loose. Hard lamb. Lots of spice. Beer’s fine, but you find that in any pub. All made in GB, but they cook very badly.”

But the criticism didn’t end there. A separate visitor branded their trip “a very disappointing experience” and vowed never to return.

One scathing review claimed: “The food was obviously plated up ahead of time as it arrived in less than five minutes of ordering and looked like a school dinner.”

It’s a far cry from the warm village hub Clarkson said he wanted to create. The Farmer’s Dog, formerly known as The Windmill, was touted as a place for locals and tourists alike to enjoy proper British fare, with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients.

The mixed reviews highlight the challenge facing Clarkson as he swaps the racetrack and farmyard for pulling pints. While his venture has drawn crowds of curious fans keen to say they’ve shared a drink at the TV star’s bar, others clearly feel the pub isn’t living up to the hype.

Season four of Clarkson’s Farm covered the pub’s chaotic build-up, with constant permit issues and staffing exits. His ambitious farm-to-fork approach was also proving to be problematic, as his rule of only using British produce and British drinks meant that things like Heinz Ketchup, Coca-Cola and black pepper weren’t on the menu.

Given how difficult it is to run a pub, Clarkson told The Times earlier this year that he refuses to start ‘another business as long as I live’.