Warning given to locals as Jeremy Clarkson’s Cotswold pub road is set to shut

A road near Jeremy Clarkson’s Oxfordshire pub is set to close for a week for urgent repairs.

Punters heading to The Farmer’s Dog pub in the Cotswolds, owned by the former Top Gear host, will have to find an alternative route this spring.

The Oxfordshire County Council issued a warning that a chunk of the main road in Minster Lovell will shut temporarily for works in May.

The planned closure will cut close to Clarkson’s pub, which sits at the A40 Asthall barrow roundabout outside the picturesque village.

The local Witney Town Council issued the alert on behalf of the county council: ‘Temporary Traffic Regulation Notice – S14 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

‘Temporary Road Closure and “No Waiting” restriction at Minster Lovell, B4047 Burford Road

‘In the interests of public safety, it will be necessary for Oxfordshire County Council to close the road and impose a ‘No Waiting’ restriction as detailed above to facilitate surface dressing works.

‘A temporary Notice is being made to implement the temporary closure and will operate from 1 May 2026.

‘The anticipated completion date is 5 May 2026, 04:00 to 18:00 hours.

‘A Temporary Traffic Regulation Notice is being made to implement the temporary closure and restriction and will operate on the days shown above.

‘Please note that Notices for urgent works can last up to 5 consecutive days only.

‘Access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles and for those frontages within the closure area, subject to the progress of the works and liaison with the works supervisor.’

The Farmer’s Dog opened its doors in April 2024 after Clarkson had bought and renovated it, adding outdoor seating and a shop selling Diddly Squat Farm merch.

In December, Clarkson said he had banned more than 400 Labour MPs from the pub in protest against the government’s tax changes affecting hospitality.

The move reportedly increased his yearly business rates bill from £28,000 to £50,000.

When the pub opened, Clarkson barred the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, from the establishment.

In his column with The Times, Clarkson accused the government of being anti-business and for the ‘dire’ state of the pub industry.

He said: ‘It’s not that they don’t understand business, they actively hate it.’

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