Getting a new pub off the ground isn’t easy—even when you’re Jeremy Clarkson.
Fans of Clarkson’s Farm found that out when the former Top Gear host tried to launch his country pub, The Farmer’s Dog, in the Cotswolds.
To help him with the project, Clarkson brought in hospitality duo Sue and Rachel Hawkins.
But it didn’t take long for the drama to spill over—straight into the final episodes of the show.
Viewers Weren’t Impressed by the Pub Experts
Sue and her niece Rachel, known locally for flipping rundown pubs into upscale venues, didn’t exactly win fans over.
Viewers quickly labeled them “snobby” and “rude,” especially after several on-screen clashes with Clarkson himself.
And just two days after the grand opening of the pub, the pair abruptly walked away from the project—leaving a sour taste in the mouths of many loyal viewers.
Some fans accused them of “jumping ship” when things got tough, while others were harsher, calling them an “awful pair of individuals.”
A Costly Umbrella Clash
One of Clarkson’s biggest sticking points with the pair was over the installation of three oversized umbrellas for the pub’s terrace.
The setup—complete with lighting and heating—was estimated to cost a jaw-dropping £40,000.
Sue and Rachel argued it was a necessary investment for year-round outdoor dining. Clarkson, at the time, wasn’t so sure.
Ironically, it turns out they may have had a point. Later, Clarkson himself posted a photo of the umbrellas on Instagram, admitting they were “needed after all.”
Rachel replied in kind, captioning the post: “Behold…the exact 40k umbrellas,” pointing out they now allow 75 guests to dine in comfort throughout the year.
Not Their First Rodeo
Despite the online backlash, Sue and Rachel aren’t likely to lose sleep over it.
They’re no strangers to the Cotswolds hospitality scene and have a long track record of transforming failing venues into award-winning establishments.
The two made headlines in 2014 when their revamped Bell Inn won a top prize at the Great British Pub Awards for best turnaround pub.
That success kicked off a streak of revamps, including a small hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon and several boutique-style properties, which they later sold to brewing giants Young’s for a reported seven-figure sum.
A Life of Style and Society
Rachel, 40, is as comfortable at the racetrack as she is behind a pub bar.
With her partner, retired National Hunt jockey Will Kennedy, she’s a regular fixture at glamorous events like Royal Ascot, Cheltenham, and The Derby.
Her Instagram is filled with snaps of high-society fashion, often featuring outfits styled by ITV racing’s own stylist Sarah Kate Byrne, who calls Rachel her “beautiful sidekick.”
Rachel even turned her love of hats into a business, renting out luxury, hand-crafted British headpieces for events like the Henley Regatta and Buckingham Palace garden parties.
Fashion Wins and Famous Friends
In 2015, Rachel’s bold blue and white outfit at Goodwood won her a trip to Cape Town, complete with a VIP racing experience.
She brought her aunt Sue along for the ride—since Will was busy racing at the time—and ended up rubbing shoulders with stars like Jonny Bairstow, Ian Botham, and racing legends Eddie Jordan and Lester Piggott.
Rachel later gushed about the experience, saying, “We were looked after like royalty.”
Millionaire Moves: A House Raffle
Recently, Rachel made headlines again—this time for putting her six-bedroom Cotswolds home on the market via a raffle.
She originally bought the classic stone house in Stow-on-the-Wold back in 2015 for £750,000.
Now, with a starting ticket price of just £10, one lucky winner could walk away with the fully furnished property, worth £2.8 million.
It’s nestled in the same celeb-packed area that’s home to Clarkson, David Beckham, Ellen DeGeneres, and reportedly even Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
From Bistro Teen to Pub Power Duo
Rachel’s hospitality journey began at just 16, working in a bistro.
Sue, then already in the game, brought her on board at her own stylish foodie pub in Warwickshire.
Since then, they’ve teamed up to transform properties across the UK.
Sue, now 58, handles the design and setup side of the business, while Rachel manages operations.
Together, they’ve created a formula that works: buy run-down venues, inject a sense of luxury, and sell for a healthy profit.
Sue’s Sales Smarts and Global Adventures
Sue’s path to success was anything but traditional.
Born in Birmingham’s Sparkhill district, she dabbled in everything from timeshare sales in Tenerife to flogging her own tongue-in-cheek T-shirts to sun-weary tourists.
One read, “Shove off – I don’t want a timeshare!”—and it sold like hotcakes.
After working around the globe, she returned to the UK and began managing pubs and restaurants.
Her entrepreneurial streak led her to market a house with a quirky twist: the sale included a convertible VW Golf and a crate of champagne. It worked—fast.
Pub Flipping with Flair
Sue eventually bought a Grade II-listed pub, gave it a full makeover, and rebranded it as “Bar Humbug.”
She sold it after three years when the brewery made her an irresistible offer.
Since then, she’s stuck to her winning formula: revamp, relaunch, and sell—always with a creative touch and an eye for design.
“I love refurbishing places, designing how they should look,” she once said.
“It’s what I do. I love doing it and I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
No Bad Blood With Clarkson
Despite their brief and rocky stint on Clarkson’s Farm, it seems there’s no lingering tension between Clarkson and his former consultants.
The mutual Instagram nods over the infamous umbrellas suggest there’s still some respect there—even if the project didn’t pan out.
In the end, Sue and Rachel may have walked away from The Farmer’s Dog, but they haven’t strayed far from their mission: turning unloved pubs into polished gems.
And judging by their history, it won’t be long before they’re onto their next big project.