“No More New Ventures”: Clarkson Reveals the Truth Behind His Business Exit
Jeremy Clarkson Says He’s “Done With Business” as Brewery Rises to Success
Jeremy Clarkson has declared he is finished with launching new ventures, even as his brewing company and pub continue to thrive.
“I am not starting another business as long as I live,” the 65-year-old told The Times, adding that despite public perception, he is “not motivated by money” and simply wants “a good craic”.
The comments come at a moment when Clarkson’s pub, The Farmer’s Dog, has become one of the most talked-about hospitality projects in the Cotswolds. Opened over the August Bank Holiday last year, the pub drew queues of hundreds and now employs 146 staff — a remarkable expansion for a venture that began almost as a side project.
A Pub Built on Chaos and Charm
Running a pub has proved far more turbulent than Clarkson anticipated.
Series four of Clarkson’s Farm, released on Prime Video in June, revealed staff walkouts, unexpected power cuts and even a now-infamous disagreement involving £40,000 worth of umbrellas. The difficulties remained largely unseen by the public until the new series aired.
Still, despite the chaos, the former Top Gear presenter insists the pub will be his final business endeavour.
From Motoring Columns to Millions
Clarkson’s declaration stands in contrast to the financial trajectory that made him a household name.
Born in 1960 and once a motoring journalist at the Rotherham Advertiser, he rose to international prominence through Top Gear alongside Richard Hammond and James May. His subsequent career — including The Grand Tour and ITV’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? — has earned him an estimated £55 million.
Hawkstone: A Brewery on the Rise
If Clarkson is done with business, his brewery certainly isn’t. Hawkstone, his rapidly expanding beer brand, has tripled its revenue to £21.3 million in the past year and was recently listed among Britain’s fastest-growing private companies by The Sunday Times.
With typical bravado, Clarkson even joked about wanting to take over the lager market and see rival Peroni “out of business”.
Peroni, founded in 1846, remains a global favourite — but Hawkstone’s growing presence in pubs across the UK proves it’s becoming a serious competitor.
Farming Fame and Financial Frustrations
Despite multiple business successes, Clarkson maintains that farming is the hardest enterprise of all.
He has repeatedly voiced frustration at how little profit Diddly Squat Farm generates compared to the labour required.
“There is a huge demand and the customers are always there,” he wrote in a Christmas column, “but turning their visits into a profit is nigh-on impossible.”
The farm shop and pub may not appear particularly lucrative on their own, but they form the backbone of his hit Prime Video series Clarkson’s Farm, which has become one of the most influential rural documentaries in the UK.
A Future Focused on the Farm – Not New Ventures
With no new businesses on the horizon, Clarkson appears committed to evolving what he already has: the farm, the pub, the animals, and the ongoing narrative that has captivated millions.
He recently reassured fans on X after criticism that his pub “wasn’t part of the farm”, replying simply: “The pub IS farm related.”
Filming for series five is already underway, with series six confirmed. Clarkson and his partner Lisa Hogan say they will continue the show “for as long as it is educational”.
For a man who insists he is “done with business”, Clarkson’s existing empire — and its ever-growing list of animals — suggests there is still plenty to keep him busy.
