Jeremy Clarkson is reportedly planning to purchase a local pub – but has no intentions of turning it into a party hotspot.
Insiders suggest that the Diddly Squat Farm owner is keen on acquiring the Grade II listed Coach and Horses Inn in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, to champion British farming. Councillors who have been in talks with Hawkstone Brewery, the current leaseholders of the pub, revealed that Clarkson, 66, plans to use the venue to support the local farming community.
To keep respecting the wishes of local residents, he plans to keep noise levels down. The Coach & Horses Inn, located just across the road from Hawkstone Brewery, had its new premises licence approved by Cotswold District Council earlier this year.
The 18th-century pub, owned by The Stonegate Group, is licensed to sell alcohol from 11am – 11pm seven days a week. The pub is said to be tenanted, meaning it will be leased to a tenant at some point in the future and is currently being advertised on Stonegate’s website.
Earlier in March, Clarkson reportedly visited Gloucestershire County Council to discuss potential highway issues concerning the site. Cllr Jon Wareing expressed that traffic concerns in the area are already a ‘huge headache’, and if Clarkson were to take over the pub, there would be a significant increase in traffic that would need to be addressed.
Cllr Wareing commented: “As far as Jeremy Clarkson’s (Hawkstone’s) intentions with the pub are concerned, I understand he’s passionate about championing British farming and one way to do that is to ensure that a local pub serves locally produced food and drinks in a family atmosphere with affordable pricing.”
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“I’m totally supportive of measures that support our local farming community, they continue to have a really tough time of things, and we have great local meats, cheeses and other fresh produce that we should be celebrating.”
(Image: PA)
With regards to the highway concerns, Cllr Wareing explained they are already a “huge headache”, and lack of parking availability does pose a significant problem. He explained: “On a sunny weekend, particularly Bank Holiday weekends, the Fosseway is frequently gridlocked between Moreton-in-Marsh, through Stow-on-the-Wold and on to Bourton-on-the-Water.”
“With Jeremy Clarkson’s popularity, if he were to have bought the Coach & Horses, who knows how much more additional traffic would be generated. And then there is the issue of parking once they get here.”
“Bourton-on-the-Water already has major issues with visitor traffic and we desperately need a park and walk/ride car park on the periphery of the village so that the centre of the village does not get gridlocked. It can easily take you 50 minutes to traverse the village.”
(Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
“Imagine if you need an ambulance in an emergency. It doesn’t bear thinking about.”
However, some residents are concerned about noise complaints – as initial plans for events across the road at Hawkstone Brewery have been withdrawn after they sparked concerns among locals. The licence extension application for the tap-room at the Brewery was put forward to cater for larger scale events up to 4,000 people, explains Cllr Wareing.
But it was withdrawn by the Brewery as it was ‘recognised as being excessive’. Cllr Wareing said: “I’ve found the management at Hawkstone Brewery to be really co-operative in their desire to be a good neighbour.”
“Largely the reputation of the brewery has been very positive with local people welcoming a convivial outdoor space to enjoy the locally produced cider and beers with a selection of street food offerings.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
