Jeremy Clarkson's farm restaurant under investigation by local council
Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm restaurant is being investigated by his local council.
The 62-year-old former Top Gear presenter recently declared his "rustic and mostly outdoor" beef restaurant open, thanks to a loophole in planning regulations, but this is now under scrutiny.
West Oxfordshire District Council has now told the Oxford Mail: "The council was made aware of the restaurant opening at Diddly Squat Farm.
Read more: Jeremy Clarkson says his pig has died in the heatwave
"As part of our standard operating procedure, we have been looking into the operation to ensure it is compliant with local and national planning law and policies, as well as licensing and food hygiene regulations.
"We cannot comment on any ongoing investigations."
Clarkson had previously applied to convert a lambing shed into a 60 seat restaurant on the rural site, featured in his hit Amazon Prime show Clarkson's Farm.
But his proposals were rejected in January this year, with seven out of 10 local councillors voting against the restaurant plans.
The Who Wants To Be A Millionaire host then told The Times that he had discovered he could use a different barn, without planning permission.
He said: "We found a cunning little loophole. It’s a weight off my shoulders and it appeals to my anti-establishment bent. You can write to your council and inform them that you are changing a barn’s use, it’s called permitted development.
"We happen to have a barn which met every single one of the criteria. You have to prove it’s a viable business. We sent the council an email on Wednesday night and on Thursday it was like something from Challenge Anneka to get it ready.”
Clarkson has described his new eatery as "a bit rustic" and "mostly outdoor".
In the description on booking service OpenTable he admitted: "Ordering a beer or going to the lavatory isn’t as easy as in your local pub... We’ve done our best to keep you warm and dry."
The kitchen is being run by Great British Menu chef Pip Lacey and there is no menu, customers are served a selection of what is available on the day.
Diners must agree to be filmed for the new series of Clarkson's Farm.
The Mail columnist Jan Moir was one of the first diners at the newly opened restaurant and branded it "overpriced" and " a bit pub chain"
Clarkson has been overrun with visitors to his farm shop in Chadlington, Oxfordshire since making it the star of his latest TV series.
Read more: Jeremy Clarkson refused permission to expand carpark at Diddly Squat Farm Shop
The Grand Tour star has previously been denied permission to extend the onsite parking from 10 spaces to 70 spaces by the local district council planning authority.
Watch: Jeremy Clarkson says he nearly lost his leg in farm accident
