Jeremy Clarkson 'wants to buy local pub to champion farming'

The Diddly Squat Farm owner is understood to be interested in taking over the Grade II listed Coach and Horses Inn in Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds.

Councillors who have been in conversation with Hawkstone Brewery, who lease the pub, said Mr Clarkson, 66, is proposing to use the venue to support the local farming community and respect the local residents' wishes to keep the noise down.

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The Coach & Horses Inn is just over the road from Hawkstone Brewery, and earlier this year it had its new premises licence approved by Cotswold District Council.

The 18th Century pub, which is owned by The Stonegate Group, was granted a licence to sell alcohol from 11am to 11pm seven days a week.

It is reported to be a tenanted pub - so it will be let to a tenant at some point in the future and is being marketed on Stonegate's website.

In March this year, Mr Clarkson is believed to have visited Gloucestershire County Council to discuss highways concerns over the site.

Councillor Jon Wareing said highway concerns in the area are already a 'huge headache' - and if Clarkson was to take over the pub there would be a significant increase in traffic that would need to be addressed.

But Mr Wareing said: "As far as Jeremy Clarkson's (Hawkstone's) intentions with the pub are concerned, I understand he's passionate about championing British farming and one way to do that is to ensure that a local pub serves locally produced food and drinks in a family atmosphere with affordable pricing.

"I'm totally supportive of measures that support our local farming community, they continue to have a really tough time of things, and we have great local meats, cheeses and other fresh produce that we should be celebrating."

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Stonegate's application for a licence for the Coach & Horse, which the hospitality group own, has been under discussion because the pub licence had lapsed and this was needed before it could be sold.

Mr Wareing added: "The Stonegate licence application was toned down following a constructive meeting with the Parish Council earlier in the year.

"It was not the intention to turn the Coach & Horses into a night club or an open-air cinema as it turned out.

"The revised licence application was subsequently approved by the licensing committee of CDC."

With regards to the highway concerns, Mr Wareing explained they are already a "huge headache", and lack of parking availability does pose a significant problem.

He explained: "On a sunny weekend, particularly Bank Holiday weekends, the Fosseway is frequently gridlocked between Moreton-in-Marsh, through Stow-on-the-Wold and on to Bourton-on-the-Water.

"With Jeremy Clarkson's popularity, if he were to have bought the Coach & Horses, who knows how much more additional traffic would be generated.

"And then there is the issue of parking once they get here.

"Bourton-on-the-Water already has major issues with visitor traffic and we desperately need a park and walk/ride car park on the periphery of the village so that the centre of the village does not get gridlocked. It can easily take you 50 minutes to traverse the village.

"Imagine if you need an ambulance in an emergency.

"It doesn't bear thinking about."

There are also concerns about noise complaints - as initial plans for events across the road at Hawkstone Brewery have been withdrawn after they sparked concerns among villagers.

The licence extension application for the tap-room at the Brewery was put forward to cater for larger scale events up to 4,000 people, explains Mr Wareing.

But it was withdrawn by the Brewery as it was 'recognised as being excessive'.

Mr Wareing said: "I've found the management at Hawkstone Brewery to be really co-operative in their desire to be a good neighbour.

"Largely the reputation of the brewery has been very positive with local people welcoming a convivial outdoor space to enjoy the locally produced cider and beers with a selection of street food offerings.

"The main problem has been noise that carries from some of the events last year where nearby residents were being disturbed late into the night with loud music, and stand-up comedy with offensive language, being audible indoors to families with young children on neighbouring estates.

"This was clearly unacceptable and the Hawkstone management team are now on top of this situation.

"The other issue was light pollution from strings of lights that were being left on through the night. Again, this has been dealt with.

"A dialogue between the brewery and local residents is ongoing."

In terms of current progress, it is believed that the Hawkstone interest in the Coach & Horses Inn is 'on hold' - but collaboration across all parties could create a win-win scenario for all.

Mr Wareing added: "In the future, maybe there is the possibility that Hawkstone Brewery could be part of the solution to getting visitor parking out of the centre of the village.

"That could be a great win-win scenario for all concerned.

"It might also address the issue of where the coaches that visit Bourton could park, and drop-off/pick up their passengers, now that there is no longer any managed provision for coach parking in the village.

"My experience on this illustrates the importance of open and constructive dialogue with all parties, ensuring that you are dealing with facts and not rumours and above all putting the interests of residents front and centre."