‘I stayed at James May’s pub and was seriously impressed by restaurant’

Jeremy Clarkson isn’t the only former Top Gear presenter to own a pub. Following his triumph with Amazon Prime’s Clarkson’s Farm programme, the Grand Tour star launched his own establishment, called The Farmer’s Dog, in August 2024.

Situated in Asthall, near Burford in Oxfordshire, it continues to draw substantial crowds eager to experience the Cotswolds pub for themselves. Meanwhile, fellow Grand Tour star James May acquired The Royal Oak in Swallowcliffe, Salisbury, Wiltshire, in 2020.

Unlike Clarkson, May owns half the pub, which originates from the 18th Century.

Recently content creator Phil Carr, who is recognised for his tongue-in-cheek reviews of towns and businesses across the UK, chose to visit the establishment himself to discover what it was like. In a TikTok video, Phil remarked that most celebrities who purchase a pub do it as a “self-indulgent folly, a bit of fun, or simply to invest in massive property in hugely valuable areas in a way that people will love them for”.

Nevertheless, James, who is a part-time resident in Swallowcliffe, and the community-owned pub “looked like it was going down”, he “decided he didn’t want to lose his local”, so he bought into it.

Speaking to Country and Town House, May previously explained his decision for buying the abandoned pub: “I was a bit browbeaten into buying it, but I also realised that if I didn’t there wouldn’t be a single pub within walking distance of our home.

“Buying it was the only way to ensure there would be. I don’t take any money out of it. I take the view that it’s like owning a nice painting or sculpture – you own it for self-gratification.”

Phil characterised the pub as “pretty cut off”, but added that this is “part of its charm”. He shelled out £175 per night for a “mid level room” in July, which he found “charming”.

He also mentioned that breakfast is included, which helps “take the edge off” the cost.

After exploring Swallowcliffe, including the fields, he concluded there’s “really not much to it” beyond “the pub, the church and 174 residents”.

However, the highlight of the pub, which truly impressed him, was the cuisine. According to Phil, patrons started arriving in the evening, but it “didn’t really get busy like Clarkson’s Pub”.

Joined by fellow content creator Ann Russell, she highlighted James’ own gin, launched in 2021 with the idea to blend the flavours of Parsnip and Asian spices. She described it as “rather nice”.

Then Phil got to the “good bit” – the food. He elaborated: “The highest praise I can give it is, Ann lives just up the road [and] she’s been here four times, and anyone who knows her knows she doesn’t suffer bulls**t”.

Having ordered bread, cured trout, soufflé, Sirloin steak, a pint of beer, Panna Cotta and Semifreddo, the £104.64 bill felt like “more than a fair exchange”, according to Phil. The quality of the breakfast food also left a positive impression on the content creator.

Phil concluded his thoughts by saying: “Don’t come here for a week on holiday or honeymoon but do stop in for a night definitely, if you’re on your way to the West Country or milling around the nearby Stonehenge. James did a great thing securing a community pub and they repaid him by making it really very good.”