Jeremy Clarkson 's pub was so packed in the run-up to Christmas that pagers were being handed out to diners to alert them with beeps, vibrations and flashing lights when a table became available. Meanwhile, last weekend, revised festive menus were handed out without the star attraction: the turkey main course with pigs in blankets and roast potatoes. While lunchtime walk-ins are still available at The Farmer's Dog for those willing to brave the queues, evening tables have been booked up for the rest of the year.
Yet even if Clarkson's pub is full, there are hotspots not far from his premises that share the same farm-to-fork, local-produce-only vibe, but without the huge crowds. As someone who loves visiting Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds, here are my top picks for a Christmas meal to remember. The Perch is technically in Oxford, but its surroundings couldn't be more different to the bustling city centre.
Accessed via a pleasant riverside stroll along the Thames Path, it prides itself on serving up "proper British food" sourced from local producers wherever possible - and the effort has paid off. The traditional thatched cottage appearance of the pub makes it look like a building from a fairytale, and it's surrounded by picturesque countryside. The meals taste like they've been plucked straight from Michelin menus, but don't come with astronomical prices.
The melt-in-the-mouth quail eggs are scrumptious when paired with tangy celery salt, while a special of the day I sampled in.