Jeremy Clarkson opens Diddly Squat farm restaurant with Pip Lacey
Clarkson tried earlier this year to get planning permission to open a restaurant on the farm in Chadlington, made famous by the Amazon Prime show Clarkson’s Farm, but the proposals were thrown out by West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC).
However, Clarkson has now proceeded with the project having 'found a loophole' in the regulations.
"We had planning permission turned down but we're opening anyway," Clarkson told The Sun.
"Everyone at Diddly Squat has spent the last three months becoming an expert in planning regulations and we've found a delightful little loophole.
"We're going to sell all the stuff we produce on the farm and finally make some profit from the stuff we grow rather than run up losses."
The 40-cover Diddly Squat farm restaurant is housed within a small barn in the middle of a barley field, with the majority of its tables outside.
Pip Lacey, who runs Hicce in London's King's Cross with Gordy McIntyre, is overseeing the food, which is almost entirely sourced from the farm and focuses on beef from shorthorn cattle.
While there is no menu available online, The Times reports that dishes include sticky beef croquettes with aioli and pickled chilli; grilled courgettes with bone marrow; and roasted topside of beef with vegetable.
Prices start at £49 per head, with the set menu costing £69.
On the online restaurant booking service OpenTable, information for Diddly Squat reads: “Before making your booking, you should know it’s small, mostly outdoors and very rustic.
“Ordering a beer or going to the lavatory isn’t as easy as in your local pub and we don’t cater to the faddy.
“We’ve done our best to keep you warm and dry, but this is England.
“On the upside, the view is enormous and almost everything you eat was grown or reared on our farm, so it’s fresh with minimal food miles.
“There is no menu as such – we simply serve what’s available that day.
“But worry not, your table will be given a selection of snacks and starters followed by a roast and a pudding.
“Our bread, made with Hawkstone lager is absolutely brilliant.”
