Clarkson's Cotswolds Pub: Filming Chaos Amidst RAF Flyovers

Jeremy Clarkson's ambitious renovation project at his new Cotswold pub, The Windmill, is facing a rather unexpected obstacle: the deafening roar of military aircraft from the nearby RAF Brize Norton.

Filming for the upcoming season of Clarkson's Amazon Prime series, "Clarkson's Farm", which is expected to heavily feature the pub project, has been repeatedly interrupted by the constant flyovers of some of the world's largest military transporters.

The issue has led locals to speculate that the former "Top Gear" presenter may have rushed into the £1 million purchase without fully realising the proximity of Britain's largest RAF base, located just 1.5 miles away.

Several attempts to film scenes at The Windmill have been abandoned due to the aircraft noise. MailOnline witnessed one particularly disruptive incident involving a giant Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, which flew directly over the pub while Clarkson was attempting to film a piece to camera.

"Everyone around here is speculating that he didn't realise quite how close the planes come – or how low they are. And how deafeningly loud," shared a local, a regular at The Windmill before its closure and Clarkson's purchase.

"We've all read that he bought the pub in a rush – he was open about that. And it'd be just like Clarkson to only find out after he'd bought that he's got Brize Norton as a neighbour," they added.

Another local, who was present during the filming interruption, described two aircraft passing overhead within minutes of each other.

"The first plane went over at about 2 o'clock. There was no warning – just the sudden noise," they explained. "Clarkson was out on the decking when it happened doing a piece outside with his co-star Gerald in the blistering heat that day."

"The plane immediately silenced everyone on set. There were about four cameras pointing at them and it immediately became obvious that filming was pointless."

"They are so low and so loud," the witness continued. "They just appear from over the trees with this ear-splitting thunder. The noise when they are directly overhead is terrifying. The sort of noise that makes you instinctively duck. And they are absolutely enormous – like jumbo jets."

Flight tracking data confirmed the disruption, showing a military C17 aircraft flying directly over The Windmill at 1.59pm and again at 2.10pm at a height of just 1,800 feet.

The constant presence of military aircraft at RAF Brize Norton is a known feature of the local landscape. However, it seems Clarkson's proximity to the base, combined with his quick purchase, has created an unforeseen challenge for his ambitious pub project.

Despite the noisy interruptions, Clarkson is determined to open The Windmill in September, with renovations progressing swiftly. He envisions a "fun" and homely pub, complete with bar billiards, darts, and a garden.

The pub is located in five acres of Cotswold countryside, with stunning views across the Windrush Valley – just ten miles from Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm. The former "Top Gear" presenter plans to serve his own beer, Hawkstone, alongside British-grown food at The Windmill, a testament to his growing agricultural portfolio.

While the noisy neighbours might pose a challenge, Clarkson's determination and vision suggest that The Windmill could soon become a popular destination for locals and visitors alike, despite the occasional rumble of a passing military aircraft.