Jeremy Clarkson’s controversial rule at his pub the Farmer’s Dog may be finally solved after months of backlash.
When the former Top Gear presenter first opened the doors to the business last year he was on a mission to only sell 100 percent British grown products.
Although many cheered on the TV personality for his decision, it proved to be a challenge with many products left off the menu at the Cotswolds pub, including Coca Cola, coffee and no ketchup.
But Condimaniac, a British sauce company, decided to take on Clarkson’s challenge in a bid to create an entirely British ketchup, so fans could enjoy the traditional condiment.
After being inspired by the pub’s huge ‘No Ketchup’ sign, co-founders Kier Kemp and Jennifer Dreier finally created the home grown product and later delivered a batch to the Farmer’s Dog.
Just before they met with manager, Annie, customers flocked to try the sauce, with one quipping how ‘amazing’ it was.
‘I am not having Heinz again that is for sure,’ one said.
Another staff member at the Farmers Puppy, a ‘small but mighty version of the pub in a tent’, gave them kudos for their product.
And their meeting with Annie proved fruitful, as she quickly agreed to sell the ketchup at wholesale at their on-site butchers and at the Farmer’s Puppy, so customers could treat themselves to a bottle.
Reflecting on how impressed he was with the pub Mr Kemp said: ‘It is not just a gimmick for them they do really live and breathe this 100% British thing.’
He later dubbed them the ‘best wholesale clients I have ever dealt with’, adding: ‘Everyone I have met is super lovely.’
‘I am glad that I can report they are actually nice people. It is not always like that.’
The 100 per cent British ketchup is now available to buy via the Condimaniac website is sold out.
It comes after Clarkson came under fire for a surprising American element to his pub which punters say is an affront to its ‘100% British’ branding.
The Farmer’s Dog in Oxfordshire boasts of proudly backing UK farmers with its meat – like lamb and venison – all reared on home soil.
But while the former Top Gear star quips on his website he has ‘failed’ to make a simple gin and tonic British and joked he ‘can’t run a pub that doesn’t serve avocado or Coca-Cola’ it seems these are not the only features to have broken tradition.
Customers have taken to social media to voice their concerns about ‘spending two hours listening to American-themed music’.
James Milligan said on X: ‘Amazing birthday weekend in Cotswolds, visited Jeremy Clarkson’s The Farmers Dog which prides itself on being 100% British.
‘Food was unreal, but please change the music to suit.
‘Spent the two hours I was there listening to American-themed music.’
Mr Milligan ended his complaint with the hashtag ‘notbritish’.
Another comment read: ‘No ketchup, no coffee but also no British artists/music playing. Plenty out there available.
‘Will be returning though, food was amazing and well priced.’
The Farmer’s Dog brands itself as ‘more than just a British pub’ with its menu ‘packed with ingredients produced on British farms’.
Among the food on offer is gammon steak and Ham Hock Terrine.
In 2007, Mr Clarkson famously drove around Alabama with the slogan ‘Country and western [music] is rubbish’ plastered on the side of his car which had been painted by his co-presenters in a bid to antagonise locals.
The Grand Tour host bought The Windmill in Asthall near Burford for around £1m.
After renovating the spot he renamed the watering hole The Farmer’s Dog in recognition of his pets and his nearby farm, Diddly Squat.
