Rachel Hawkins has spoken out after Jeremy Clarkson conceded she and business partner Sue Hawkins “had a point” about a rather contentious Clarkson’s Farm issue.
Rachel and Sue, who were introduced to viewers as pub consultants who specialised in making successes out of rundown Cotswolds pubs, were hired by Clarkson to get The Farmer’s Dog in Burford off the ground.
Clarkson had purchased the establishment near Burford, Oxfordshire as his latest profit-making scheme but after implementing a tight timeframe on his staff to open the pub, he soon realised the task had become more stressful and costly than he first imagined.
His trusty builder Alan Townsend revealed the costs of decking and other building work were escalating while Clarkson’s former Top Gear co-star Richard Hammond charged a gargantuan sum to cover a decorative tractor in chrome paint.
However, it was with Sue and Rachel where debates about costs proved rather frosty, the most notable arguably being when Clarkson heard how the auntie and niece duo planned to cover the decking with “jumbrellas”.
Explaining their plans to their new boss, Rachel said to Clarkson: “First on our list, covering the deck with some jumbrellas. We needed to sign it off about 40 minutes to guarantee them arriving.
“(They’re) three enormous umbrellas to cover the entire deck, approximately £40,000.”
Sue chimed in to assure Clarkson the price would include “electrics, lighting, and future-proofing” the asset but the former Grand Tour host sat open-mouthed in disbelief.
“Sorry, you’re saying words… £40,000 for three umbrellas. £40,000 for three umbrellas!” Clarkson eventually responded. “I’m well aware we need umbrellas, I know that, but I really genuinely believe that’s nuts.”
Rachel defended the spending plan, however, highlighting that they would need about 50 umbrellas to cover the deck “more cheaply” and that they wanted to avoid “a sea of umbrellas”.
Clarkson held his head in his hands as he let out: “How have I come around to this point? I just cannot believe I’m 64 and someone has just said to me the price of the umbrellas is £40,000. You can buy a Golf GTI for that.”
The pub owner decided to ignore Sue and Rachel’s demand, installing a canopy which proved to be an “expensive mistake” and eventually settling for a series of umbrellas.
Following a number of other clashes with Sue and Rachel, as well as a series of mishaps during opening weekend, the consultants ended up leaving their roles just 48 hours after the doors opened.
But almost a year on from that “disaster” opening weekend, Clarkson conceded Sue and Rachel “had a point” about the “jumbrellas” after U-turning on his initial decision. He’s now had them installed at The Farmer’s Dog.
“Turns out Sue and Rachel had a point. @thefarmersdogpub did need big umbrellas after all!!” Clarkson penned on Instagram alongside a snap of the “jumbrellas”.
After facing the cold shoulder from Clarkson and facing vitriolic backlash from angry viewers for their clashes with the 65-year-old, Rachel took to Instagram to sarcastically celebrate the fact that she and Sue appeared to finally be listened to.
“AND BEHOLD..” Rachel wrote as she shared Clarkson’s Instagram post onto her own story. “The EXACT 40k umbrellas that have been the topic of so much discussion.”
She added a laughing emoji before continuing: “Not blocking the view & providing a year-round weather solution with heating & lighting in order that 75 guests can dine comfortably on the terrace all year round…
“Seems like 40k well spent? (Just 10 months, 2 stretch tents & 30 sun brollies later… [laughing emoji]),” she signed off. (sic)
The decision to finally adhere to Sue and Rachel’s advice comes amid a flood of backlash from Clarkson’s Farm fans about the pair’s exit in the latest series.
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While the opening weekend was back in August 2024, fans have only now been able to see how the project unfolded, and it’s safe to say many weren’t happy with how Sue and Rachel conducted themselves.
The pair have been branded “unprofessional”, “condescending” and “rude” thanks to their interactions with the farmer-turned-pub owner. However, some fans have quickly pointed out that the show is edited for entertainment purposes.
Another moment that has garnered significant attention since the series aired was Sue and Rachel’s final clash with Clarkson in his pub following a tumultuous first few days in business.
“We are pubs, and we know how to run pubs. We’ve done pubs forever,” Rachel told Clarkson. “This building is not really fit for purpose. There are too many issues for us to run a successful business from this site, with failing water, no toilets, no gas, leaking roofs, and struggling staff.”
Sue similarly highlighted issues with Clarkson’s pub. “Everyone is exhausted. Even when we say, ‘Go for a break’, there’s no staffroom. They’re weeing in a porta-loo,” she said.
“It’s not lovely conditions. They love you and they love working here because of that, and they’re excited about the British food, and everything this pub is, they wanna get behind it… But they’re working 14-hour days.”
Rachel then said the chef had “had it” and “the kitchen is about to go pop”, before repeatedly telling Clarkson to go and check on the kitchen staff.
With tensions rising, Clarkson remarked: “Do you want me to find a new manager or go back into the kitchen? Or do you want me to get the leak mended? Or do you want me to deal with the car parking issues? Or do you want me to deal with the neighbours? Do you want me to deal with the council?
“I’ve got plenty to be doing and I’ll get on with it. Thank you.”
This was the last fans saw of Rachel and Sue in the show, with Clarkson telling the audience on the Sunday morning of opening weekend: “Sue and Rachel who brilliantly set up the pub have now left… and I’ve managed to get a new front-of-house person, who is the head of the sixth form at the local village school. So that’s good.”