Friday 7 October 2022 04:58 PM The Diddly Squat battle: Tourists praise Clarkson's farm restaurant as camp ... trends now
Local businesses and fans who travelled from all over the country to visit Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm restaurant have defended it today, after it was handed an enforcement notice to close by the council.
The 'popular' farm café and restaurant has come under attack after it was ordered to shut by the council who claimed his business breached planning laws - but Clarkson is appealing.
One local business said they were in favour of the farm, which brought people from across the world to visit after seeing it on the Amazon Prime Video series Clarkson's Farm.
And today it was heaving with people who had come from across the UK to sip pints and tuck into burgers at the restaurant.
However not everyone is happy and some angry locals have claimed the area has changed for the worse - with more traffic and tourists pouring into the village - since it opened in July.
Jeremy Clarkson is appealing an order to close his Diddly Squat cafe and restaurant after council bosses claimed the business breached planning laws
Today Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm restaurant was heaving with people who had travelled from all over the country to visit it
John and Beverley Roebuck had travelled with their children John and Bethany, and her partner Matthew Johnson to the Diddly Squat Farm restaurant in Chadlington today
Steve Tomlinson, who manages the next-door Chipping Norton Camping and Caravanning Club, told MailOnline that 'literally hundreds if not thousands' of people chose to stay there because of Diddly Squat Farm.
'Over a season, literally hundreds of people, if not thousands, come to the campsite especially for that. They come from all over Europe and even America, just for that,' he said.
'We have 30 units a week and most of them say, "I've come here because of Diddly Squat". 95 per cent of the people on the campsite go to the farm.
'We had a guy come here in the summer, he was doing an around the world trip on his motorbike, and he had come from Michigan. Diddly Squat Farm was the only place in the whole of the UK he visited.'
He continued: 'It brings in thousands of pounds worth of business every week for the area. The campsite, shops and pubs in the area, petrol stations, the market.
'I can't speak for the town but it's very popular amongst most of the businesses I've spoken to.'
'There's no objections to the farm shop from us at all, we welcome it here.
'I think the council are being petty. For the amount of business it brings to the area, it's petty. If he was farmer Joe Bloggs it wouldn't be a problem.
Meanwhile, the restaurant was heaving with hundreds of fans who had travelled from all parts of the countr to eat burgers and swill lager in a wind-swept lambing shed.
The Chipping Norton Camping and Caravan Club is next-door to Diddly Squat Farm and they say people come from all over the world and stay at the campsite just to visit the farm
And as they gazed out at a view of the Cotswold’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, most expressed incomprehension at the rules which make it impossible for local planners to give approve it.
By midday, the car park, which can manage 30 cars, was full and a greater number were parked on the Chipping Norton Road which leads off an A-road down to the village of Chadlington.
Locals have objected strongly to the development ever since Clarkson’s Farm became a sensational hit on Amazon Prime last year and brought thousands of fans to the outskirts of their tranquil village.
And the local planning committee of West Oxfordshire District Council, who rejected his application to open the restaurant earlier this year, have served him with an enforcement notice - which he is appealing.
They say he could open the business on the other side of the road which is not an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and accuse him of courting controversy for the sake of ratings.
But the overwhelming majority of punters enjoying £10 burgers and pints for £5.60 were not local and could not understand the fuss.
They came from all over the country and represented all generations, unable to resist the combination of celebrity and gorgeous views.
They sat at wicket wooden tables and gripped their plastic cups to prevent the wind from blowing them away.
The council has described an 'unlawful' use of the farm and said its 'nature, scale and siting is unsustainable and incompatible with its countryside location within the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'
Owen James, 23, and friend Ben Brown, 29, both floor layer directors, were on a day-trip from Canterbury in Kent. They had bought a litre of milk for £1.20 and were tucking into burgers.
‘There is a Ford Mustang specialist around the corner,’ said Owen, ‘so my car is being fixed and we have come in to look at the Farm and have a bite to eat.
‘I don’t see what the problem is. He is employing plenty of people and trying to make a living. I’ve always been a fan.’
Ben added: ‘I have learnt lots about farming from the programme and I think he is doing good, bringing business to the local area.’
The Roebuck family from Saddleworth, West Yorkshire, were down for a weekend to mark John and Beverley’s 40th wedding anniversary.
Daughter Bethany, 33, an architect, said: ‘We have all watched the programme and had good reports from people so decided to come and see it for ourselves.’
Her partner, Matthew Johnson, 32, himself a farmer, added: ‘Farmers do not make any money so it is important they can do stuff like this. It is bringing business to the area.’
Son Elliot, 28, who lives in London, said: ‘I am sure the locals do not want all the tourists but without this we would not be here enjoying this great view.’
Dad John, a clinical dental technician, said: ‘They don’t like anyone who is successful. I can’t see how this place is doing any harm.’
Personal trainers Joel Reddington, 23 and girlfriend Megan Brown, 22, were spending three nights in the Cotswolds from their home in Norfolk. Both had watched Clarkson’s Farm.
Joel said: ‘It’s a really nice atmosphere and it’s not just a few Jeremy Clarkson products. This is a big draw for people so I don’t really get what the objections are.
‘I have friends who are farmers and they say Clarkson has done more for farmers than the National Farmers Union ever did.’
Megan said: ‘I know there are rules and regulations but I just can’t see any harm in it. The farm programme is just such a good family watch. I am not surprised there are a lot of people who want to see it for themselves.’
Owen James and Ben Brown from Kent tucking into burgers at the Diddly Squat Farm restaurant in Chadlington today
Nathan and Gemma Walker, both 27, had come from Suffolk to Diddly Squat Farm restaurant on Friday with their dog Opel
Nathan and Gemma Walker, both 27, had come from Suffolk with their dog Opel.
Nathan, an engineer, said: ‘We have had a week away in the Cotswolds and have come in here on our way home.
‘We had heard all about it and wanted to see it as we both love the show. I think it is really good. The only thing that could be improved is the parking as we had to park on the side of the road.’
Gemma, who works in IT, added: ‘I don’t think he is doing any harm. I think if they sorted the parking out then the locals would have nothing to worry about.’
Kaya Cengiz, 20, and Holly Eccles, 23, were marking her birthday with a day-trip to Clarkson’s farm from Reading.
Kaya, a mechanic, said: ‘It seems a bit pathetic to me that anyone would object to this place. It is just a barn in the middle of nowhere with a lot of people having a good time.
‘Maybe the locals want a nice quiet village but this place is not in the middle of the village. It is totally isolated.’
Holly, a social media manager, said: ‘The locals could come
