Jeremy Clarkson’s new pub “The Farmer’s Dog” opens in Oxfordshire

Hundreds of people queued for hours to be among the first guests in Jeremy Clarkson’s new pub on its first day of business.

The Farmer’s Dog in Asthall, near Burford in Oxfordshire, opened to the public at 12:00 BST.

The former Top Gear presenter revealed earlier this year that he paid “less than a million pounds” for the pub, formerly known as The Windmill.

A mammoth measure was put in place to regulate traffic after parking problems arose following the success of his farm shop, Diddly Squat.

Clarkson told reporters why he wanted to open the pub.

“We wanted to open this restaurant on the farm last year but couldn’t and the pubs are all up for sale.

“So we thought, instead of building a restaurant, we’ll buy a pub.”

He described the preparations for the opening as “terribly stressful.”

“There are just so many things you don’t think about when running a bar.

“Yesterday we had the unofficial opening and someone managed to break down the toilet door.

“When you go to a festival and go to the bathroom, you think: does the bathroom at home look like this? How can you break a bathroom door?”

At the front of the queue were Lauren Hanly and Blake Jones, who had travelled from Gloucester.

Ms Hanly said they wanted to try the food after previously visiting Clarkson’s other businesses, the Diddly Squat farm shop and Hawkstone Brewery, which features in his Amazon television series Clarkson’s Farm.

“We got here just before 8 a.m. We were surprised to be at the front. We thought it would be busier earlier, but the gates didn’t open until 7:30 a.m.,” she said.

“With Jeremy Clarkson’s name on it, it will always do well. It’s a destination and people will come from all over, including the local community.”

Clarkson said he was happy with the location of his new venture: “We looked at 40 pubs. We needed some very specific things like a big car park, a big car park and lots of parking and no small roads to get there.”

“There’s no one to annoy. It’s a good place.”

As he discussed The Grand Tour, the series he hosted with Richard Hammond and James May which recently wrapped filming, he wondered if they might visit the pub.

“James probably won’t do it, but Richard will,” he said

“I spoke to Richard just yesterday. We are friends and will see each other again.”

However, he apparently expressed doubts about whether his new company, which only offers British products, will be profitable.

“I’m not very good at business plans and have never made one,” he said.

“I know that. If I take one of our pigs, slaughter it, cut it up, make sausage out of it and sell it here, it costs us 74 pence.”

“If I buy imported pork, it costs 18 pence. So there is something wrong with the food system in this country.”

Clarkson has said he plans to sell his own Hawkstone beers and ciders at the pub, as well as produce grown on his nearby farm.

The television star has been pushed back by locals in West Oxfordshire over the years when he tried to expand his Diddly Squat Farm project.

Some residents also raised concerns about traffic problems as the pub is located next to the busy A40.

However, Oxfordshire County Council said it had worked “closely and proactively” with Clarkson’s team ahead of the opening.

“Several measures have been put in place to reduce the likelihood of traffic and parking issues and to support the safe and successful opening of the site,” a council spokesman said.

Clarkson even posted on social media to thank the agency for their help.

Motorists are asked to use only the designated parking spaces away from the motorway and not to park on the streets or verges nearby.