Stratford suppliers are giving Jeremy Clarkson’s new pub the wow factor
DRINKERS at Jeremy Clarkson’s new pub are in fine spirits, thanks to Ilmington.
Pensioners Bill Buckley and Rupert Wyles say they’re “very happy” to see the pink gin and damson liqueur made at their artisan distillery in Ilmington served at the Farmer’s Dog, near Burford.
The pub, which was opened by the former Top Gear and Grand Tour presenter on Friday, 23rd August, is already making national headlines after drawing a 400-strong crowd who queued for hours to have a pint.
Bill, a retired accountant in his 80s, hasn’t met Mr Clarkson face-to-face.
But his Spirit of Ilmington-branded gin and apple brandy is stocked in the tap room at the Hawkstone Brewery in Bourton-on-Water, which brews and sells Hawkstone Lager created by Mr Clarkson using ingredients grown at his Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington near Chipping Norton.
Bill rocked up to the new pub, which was then called the Windmill, while it was still being revamped, and spoke to staff.
He said: “This was about five weeks ago when it was still a complete mess in there.
“There were electrical engineers all over the place, busily re-wiring so it’s impressive how Jeremy Clarkson managed to get everything finished and ready for opening so quickly.”
When Bill moved to Ilmington a decade ago he was intrigued to discover the village is renowned for its orchards and heritage apples.
He struck up a friendship with Rupert, 72, who’d recently stepped back from running his family’s wine merchant business, Bablake Wines, and they started making cider together to use apples that would otherwise have been left to rot.
This hobby blossomed into a successful enterprise, and they now make various fruit gins, apple-spiced rum, apple brandy and fruit liqueurs.
Spirit of Ilmington’s drinks are also stocked in a string of local venues including the Hook Norton Brewery, the Cotswolds Distillery shop and across the UK including at Hambleton Hall on Rutland Water and Turin Castle in Scotland.
With the Farmer’s Dog already a huge hit with pub-goers, Mr Clarkson may have had some expert help.
The Herald understands pub guru Sue Hawkins was brought in to help with the creative side, including style, décor and atmosphere.
Ms Hawkins and her niece Rachel are pub entrepreneurs with a Midas-touch.
The Phoenix in Guild Street, Stratford, with its sophisticated but laid-back vibe, was her tenth project and the fifth in the town.
She takes pubs with a poor record or that are closed, and breaths new life into them.
She worked her magic on the Church Street Townhouse, bought as a dental practice, and transformed into a hotel.
Earlier projects include No 6 Union Street, Bar Humbug, Embargo, the Fox and Goose at Armscote, the George in Shipston, the Bell at Stow, Stuart House and the Milton Hare.
This outstanding track record might have impressed Mr Clarkson after he bought the run-down ex-carvery Windmill.
Earlier this year he complained the cellar was too small, the gable end was falling down, the decking area was “dangerous, the water is unfit for human consumption, the loft is full of dead rats and the lavatories are illegal”.
Sounds like he may well have been tempted to call in Sue Hawkins.
