Jeremy Clarkson flooded with support over pub as he makes emotional announcement
Jeremy Clarkson's pub brand Hawkstone has just made a major announcement - and fans say it could be his greatest legacy yet.
Jeremy Clarkson has been overwhelmed with praise from fans after his brewery was named the fastest-growing private company in the South West. Hawkstone – the beer and cider brand he launched in 2021 using barley grown on his Diddly Squat Farm – took to Instagram with an emotional tribute to the farmers, pub owners and drinkers who helped make the milestone possible. In a heartfelt post, the brand wrote: “We are listed in The Sunday Times 100 fastest growing companies today – and as the fastest growing brewer.
"And so we raise a glass to the efforts of the British farmers that grow our spring barley, wheat and apples – and to the now over 2,000 pubs that choose to stock us. None of this would be possible without their hard work – and to our many drinkers thanks for #backingbritishfarming.” The message sparked an outpouring of support online. One fan wrote: “Congratulations. Well deserved. British Farmers.”
Another added: “Congratulations j c and all the team. If you could now turn your hand to politics and run for prime minister. Your country needs you. I salute you sir.”
A third chimed in: “Stupendous effort from all, and tremendous achievement. This will be your legacy, JClarkson. Well done everyone!!”
Based in Gloucestershire, Hawkstone was ranked 23rd overall in the Sunday Times 100 list, which recognises the UK’s top entrepreneurial companies.
The business, led by managing director Owen Jenkins, 44, has exploded in popularity, with its drinks now stocked in more than 1,500 pubs across the UK and sold in Waitrose.
Clarkson, who remains the brewery’s largest shareholder, isn’t shy about his ambitions.
Speaking to The Times, the former Top Gear host said: “Sell tons of beer and put Peroni out of business. I want the Peroni board saying, ‘What the hell has gone wrong? We’re selling nothing in the UK.’
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I want total domination of the British lager market.” He did, however, note that Carling could survive – a nod to Hawkstone’s premium price point, which has led some pubs to delist it.
Despite that, Hawkstone’s success is undeniable. Sales nearly tripled from £7.8 million in 2024 to £21.3 million in the year ending March 2025, with average annual growth of 134 per cent over the last three years. The company now employs 35 people.
Its drinks are brewed and distilled with a network of partners across the UK, including Wellpark in Glasgow for lager, the Weston family in Herefordshire for cider, and Oxfordshire’s Wood Brothers for spirits.
The ciders are even backed by Clarkson’s Farm sidekick Kaleb Cooper.
Jon Yeomans, business editor of The Sunday Times, said: "The Sunday Times 100 is the definitive annual ranking of Britain’s fastest-growing private companies and demonstrates the remarkable entrepreneurial spirit thriving across Britain."
