BACK OPEN FOR BUSINESS! JEREMY CLARKSON'S DIDDLY SQUAT FARM SHOP WELCOMES BACK VISITORS FOR THE SUMMER WITH JUST OVER A MONTH UNTIL NEW AMAZON SERIES AIRS - BUT GRIM SPRING WEATHER KEEPS HUGE CROWDS AWAY AT START OF THE EASTER BREAK

Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm Shop has welcomed back visitors in time for the Easter break although crowds were put off from visiting due to the grim weather.

Most Bank Holiday weekends see customers queuing up to get into the overspill car park and some parking on the road verges, annoying locals.

But following recent downpours across the Cotswold countryside, the usual bumper crowds were noticeably absent.

The overspill car park wasn't even open and there were just a few vehicles in the main car park outside the shop where potholes had transformed into pools following a deluge last night.

A staff member in the bar and cafe overlooking the TV presenter's fields had hardly seen a customer all day.

She said: 'This is supposed to be one of the busiest weekends of the year - where is everyone?

'The weather has been dreadful but that hasn't put people off in the past.'

The shop, opened by Who Wants To Be A Millionaire presenter Clarkson in 2020, is firmly on the tourist trail for anyone visiting the Cotswolds.

It gained national notoriety through the former Top Gear presenter's Amazon TV show Clarkson's Farm, which is set to return for its third season on May 3.

After reopening on March 1 following a winter break, a trickle of fans of the show have been arriving hoping to catch a glimpse of the man himself or his co-star Caleb Cooper.

Instead they leave with a Diddly Squat keyring or a copy of Clarkson's book about his agricultural adventures.

Bacon, sausages, bread, cans of Diddly Squat lager and other produce are all marked up at eye-watering prices.

But Clarkson fans are happy to pay up for a souvenir of their visit to the farm shop near the village of Chadlington, Oxfordshire.

This year, Clarkson’s Diddly Squat farm reported currents assets had fallen to £467,829 from £1,146, 587 last year.

However in the same period his net assets have actually risen, to £305,941 from £211,254.

Father-of-two David Charge, 38, from Bedfordshire, made a 60 mile detour while on the way to a family holiday in Cornwall.

He said: 'I'm a big fan of the farming TV show and I've never been here before so I thought we would call in.

'It's a long way off our route but it was worth it to have a look around.

'I've been looking around for hedges and things that may have been the scenery of Clarkson's Farm.'

'I bought a keyring and a glass milk bottle in the shop. It's not cheap here but I've enjoyed the visit.'

A grandmother who gave her name as Anna from Manchester said: 'We are on holiday in the Cotswolds and called in because we're big fans of the show.

'I bought some perfume, some drinks and two dozen eggs. I'm giving half a dozen to friends and family. At £4.20 a time they must be the most expensive eggs in the country but I'm sure they'll be nice.'

Retired James Palmer, 65, of Chipping Norton said: 'I was just driving past the shop, I said to my wife I'd never seen it so quiet.

'Usually people are queuing up to get in the car parks. Maybe it's the weather or perhaps the novelty has worn off.'

2024-03-29T13:34:48Z dg43tfdfdgfd