Overview
- The Farmer’s Dog posted on social media on Tuesday that its on-site butcher counter, Chops, is closed immediately and may remain shut for the rest of the week while staff work on solutions.
- The Met Office has issued a rare red warning for extreme heat covering Oxfordshire, with the highest alert level set to take effect mid-week and temperatures expected to approach 35°C.
- Staff reported refrigeration units and the large tented structure are struggling in the heat, forcing service changes while the pub keeps some food outlets open and moves tills to help the team.
- The venue asked visitors not to bring dogs because there is very little shade on site and the conditions could put animals at risk, and it said popular items such as sausage rolls will still be sold from garden bars and the pub bar.
- The Farmer’s Dog opened to the public in 2024 and sits on Jeremy Clarkson’s Cotswolds site that includes The Grand Tour tent; the closure underlines how extreme heat can disrupt food safety, staffing and visitor plans at outdoor hospitality sites.