Clarkson’s Farm pub consultant who ‘quit’ issues statement to Jeremy after fallout

Jeremy Clarkson has appeared to concede that two pub consultants he once strongly disagreed with were right about one of the most debated decisions at The Farmer’s Dog.

The Clarkson’s Farm presenter recently shared an image on Instagram showing large jumbrellas now installed at his Oxfordshire pub. In the caption, he admitted that Rachel Hawkins and Sue had a point, a remark that immediately caught the attention of viewers who remembered the tense disagreement from the latest season of the Prime Video series.

The comment marks a notable turnaround in one of the show’s most talked-about pub storylines. During the season, Rachel Hawkins and her aunt Sue were brought in to help prepare The Farmer’s Dog for opening. Their role was to bring professional hospitality experience to a project that was already facing major pressure, from building issues to staff strain and the challenge of turning Clarkson’s ambitious pub vision into a workable business.

One of their key recommendations was the installation of large terrace umbrellas, known as jumbrellas, to cover the outdoor dining area. The cost, estimated at around £40,000 for three enormous umbrellas, immediately frustrated Clarkson. On the show, he reacted with disbelief, arguing that the price sounded excessive and comparing it to the cost of buying a car.

At the time, Clarkson accepted that the pub needed proper cover for customers, but he clearly rejected the idea that the solution should cost so much. Instead, he chose another option, a canopy system that later proved problematic. Clarkson has since described that choice as an expensive mistake.

Now, with the jumbrellas finally installed, Rachel Hawkins has responded publicly. Resharing Clarkson’s post on Instagram, she pointed out that the exact umbrellas at the centre of the disagreement had eventually been chosen. She said they did not block the view and offered a year-round weather solution, complete with heating and lighting, allowing around 75 guests to dine comfortably on the terrace throughout the year.

Her response carried a clear message: the original recommendation may have seemed costly, but it was based on the practical needs of the business. In hospitality, outdoor seating is not simply a decorative extra. It can be the difference between a pub losing money during poor weather and operating consistently across the seasons.

The umbrella dispute, however, was only one part of a much larger disagreement. Rachel and Sue left the project after just 48 hours, a departure that became one of the more divisive moments of the season. Some viewers felt they had given up too quickly. Others argued that their concerns were justified by the scale of the problems facing the site.

Their final meeting with Clarkson showed that the tension went far beyond one terrace decision. Rachel raised concerns that the building was not fit for purpose, citing problems including water supply, toilets, gas, leaking roofs and overworked staff. Sue also highlighted concerns about staff welfare, noting that workers were doing very long days without proper facilities or a staffroom.

Clarkson’s response reflected the pressure he was under. He listed the many problems demanding his attention, including the kitchen, leaks, car parking, neighbours and the council. It was a revealing moment because it showed the gap between hospitality professionals looking at operational standards and a business owner trying to solve several crises at once.

That clash is part of what made the storyline so compelling. Clarkson’s Farm has always worked best when big ideas meet practical reality. At Diddly Squat Farm, Clarkson often learns that farming is far more complicated than it appears from the outside. At The Farmer’s Dog, he faced a similar lesson about the pub trade. A busy venue, loyal fans and a famous name are not enough if the basic infrastructure is under strain.

The jumbrellas have now become a symbol of that lesson. What first looked like an extravagant expense has been reframed as a necessary investment. For a rural pub trying to maximise covers, protect customers from the weather and extend trading capacity across the year, £40,000 may no longer look as unreasonable as it first sounded.

Still, public reaction remains divided. Some fans have criticised Rachel and Sue for leaving the project after such a short time, suggesting they abandoned the pub when the pressure increased. Others have taken a more sympathetic view, arguing that experienced consultants were warning Clarkson about serious operational flaws before opening.

The controversy also highlights one of the central themes of Clarkson’s Farm: Clarkson’s instinct is often to resist expert advice, only to later discover that the expert may have been right. That pattern has appeared repeatedly across the series, whether in farming decisions, planning disputes or business expansion.

What makes this case different is that the admission happened after the cameras captured the disagreement. Viewers saw Clarkson reject the idea. They saw the consultants leave. They saw the pub continue under pressure. Now, through a simple Instagram post, they have seen the decision come full circle.

For The Farmer’s Dog, the installation of the jumbrellas may prove to be more than a practical upgrade. It may also be a sign that Clarkson is learning how different the hospitality business is from television or farming. A pub must function every day, in every kind of weather, with staff, customers, suppliers and regulations all needing constant attention.

The dispute over three expensive umbrellas may sound small compared with the wider challenges of running a farm and pub, but it reveals something important. At The Farmer’s Dog, every decision has a cost. Sometimes the bigger cost comes from refusing the right advice too soon.

Clarkson’s public concession may not end the debate over Rachel and Sue’s short time on the project. But it does suggest that, on at least one major decision, the consultants saw the problem clearly from the start.