DELIGHTED villagers have backed Jeremy Clarkson’s bid to renovate a rundown Cotswolds pub.
Clarkson, 64, paid “less than £1million” for The Windmill pub in Asthall and five acres of countryside near the picturesque village of Burford in Oxfordshire.
The dilapidated wedding venue is set to be totally transformed by the Grand Tour host, complete with a new name.
Clarkson has revealed plans to use all-British ingredients and ban noisy TVs along with “confusing toilet signs and slot machines”.
He opened the Diddly Squat Farm Shop in Chadlington in 2020, with the store’s website branding it a “Cotswolds-based emporium of edible delights”.
Clarkson has seen success in recent months as part-owner of the Cotswold brewer that produces his Hawkstone lager, utilising barley grown on his nearby farm.
He wrote that the next step was to find a place to sell “all that we make” on the farm, including his own lager on tap.
Clarkson said: “I just needed the pub where all this could happen. And then, after I’d looked at about 14,000, I found just the place.”
Many inhabitants of Asthall have now given Clarkson’s big plans their backing.
Tom Walker, 51, who farms livestock and arable, was confident Clarkson’s arrival would buoy the local farming community.
“He’s already spoken to some of the farmers and talked about using their produce,” Tom said, adding: “I think he does a lot of good for farming.”
Tom, who runs the farm with his cousin John, said he thinks it will “do more good than harm”.
Neighbour Derek Netherton, 79, who rents out an Airbnb in the village, was also optimistic about The Windmill’s new owner.
He said: “We are excited for the extra custom.”
Jeremy Clarkson is going to sell wood from his farm’s trees to make cricket bats, The Sun reported in April.
Clarkson, 64, discovered the 1,000-acre Diddly Squat farm is perfect for growing the type of willow used.
And each willow tree bat can sell for hundreds of pounds.
Clarkson admitted he “actively hated” cricket at school.
But he declared: “I’ve worked out how I can get my own back on these people. I’m going to take all of their money.”
After being told his Oxfordshire farm had perfect bat willow specimens, he has been working on growing them in one field for 18 months.
Writing in The Sunday Times, he said he hoped to tap into markets in India, Pakistan and the US.
He said: “So stand by, cricketists. I’m going to hurt you, but not like you hurt me (at school).
“I’m going to hurt you in your wallets.
“I’m going to become the cricket bat king of Chipping Norton and I’m going to bash your credit cards until they look like Steve Martin’s in Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
“I’ve even done a business plan. Demand is huge in India and Pakistan, where cricket has always been popular.”
“Some use bats made from Kashmir willow, but most prefer the English variety because it’s lighter.”
Derek said he had watched Clarkson’s Farm, which he praised for being very good for farmers.
In the Sunday Times, Clarkson spoke of The Windmill’s grounds as previously being “a famous dogging site”.
Derek added his understanding that the area had been used for underground bare knuckle boxing fights.
Chris Townsend, 50, a metal wall art sculptor, hoped people would flock to Clarkson’s new pub.
He said: “It potentially could be really positive for the area as The Windmill had been struggling for years.”
He added: “I have a showroom so people waiting around could be brilliant.”
Chris said the former Top Gear presenter’s plans for the pub sounded promising.
Clarkson has set out intentions to ban “noisy TVs”, encourage traditional pub games, serve only British produce, and hand out a free pint of Hawkstone to farmers.
Fiona Dunbar, 50, owner of Cotswold Home Manager, was also supportive of Clarkson’s endeavours.
She said: “If he is taking over a business that is struggling, helping British farmers by stocking their produce and raising awareness of how hard it is for them, then go for it.”
She added: “The Cotswolds is full of traffic anyway.”
Tanya Hunt, 44, who works at the same company, added: “He is brilliant for farming and is trying to help, not annoy.
“He is like marmite, and I love him.”
James, 60, who withheld his surname, also thought the pub’s new ownership would benefit the area.
He said: “It’s obviously good for the village, but I am concerned about how busy it will get.”
James had moved to the area five years ago to find a corner of peace and quiet.
The pub is not expected to open until later this year to allow time for refurbishments, and a wedding booked in before the purchase, to take place.
A renovated Windmill will drive competition with The Three Horseshoes – the quaint and only pub in Asthall, which is owned by Daylesford.
The inn is part of Lady Bamford’s Daylesford Stays collection.
