How Stafford firm owner’s letter led to Clarkson’s Farm appearance

A furniture specialist says appearing on an episode of Clarkson’s Farm was a “fantastic experience” after it came about when he sent a handwritten letter to Jeremy Clarkson.

Martin Taylor, founder of Taylor’s Classics in Stafford, wrote to the former Top Gear and The Grand Tour star in 2024 after he heard about his pub venture, The Farmer’s Dog.

In the letter to the presenter, he introduced himself and said he could “make a bit of a difference” by creating bespoke furniture for the venue.

Mr Taylor told BBC Radio Stoke he was later contacted by a member of the pub’s design team who said Clarkson and partner Lisa Hogan “loved his approach” as it was a “traditional way of reaching out”.

He said they then set up an appointment for the team to come down and see him at his warehouse.

But to Mr Taylor’s surprise, on the day of the appointment, Hogan “rocked up” in her Range Rover with the Clarkson’s Farm TV crew.

He said they filmed at the warehouse all day, and viewers could see him in episode six of the show’s fourth series, which premiered on Amazon Prime earlier this year.

“You can see me walking around in my warehouse, in my blue suit, talking to Lisa,” he said.

“That’s all you see of me, really, and my bald patch… but obviously my bald patch is quite recognisable because a lot of people have rung me up saying they saw me on Clarkson’s Farm.”

Clarkson and Hogan ordered Audley armchairs, Glasgow benches, Bentwood curved-back chairs and Rustic Gothic dining tables for The Farmer’s Dog, which were delivered ahead of its opening in August 2024.

Mr Taylor and his team were filmed delivering the items to the venue near Burford, Oxfordshire, which is where he met Clarkson.

He described the presenter as “lovely” and added: “I was talking to Jeremy in the garden. We had a very brief chat about the furniture and the pub.

“As you can imagine, it was pretty full-on. There were people all over the place. It was just a fantastic experience.”

Mr Taylor, whose company has been going since 1978 and employs 32 people, said it was an “unforgettable” achievement for the business.

“I’m very grateful they got in touch with me,” he added.