A glamorous entrepreneur has spoken for the first time over her role in helping Jeremy Clarkson open his Cotswolds pub – and hit back at critics after facing a bitter backlash.
Rachel Hawkins, 40, has told how she believes she and her aunt Sue, who is her business partner, were ‘stitched up’ during the making of TV hit Clarkson’s Farm and cast in the role of ‘villains’ to boost ratings.
Asked if the Amazon Prime programme had been edited in ‘a bad light to make better TV’, she said ruefully: ‘It seems to be the way doesn’t it?’
But giving short measure to her critics and maintaining a stiff upper lip Rachel added: ‘It’s a shame it was us, but it is what it is – we will keep a smile on our face, and keep our chin up.’
Rachel spoke out after Clarkson’s loyal fans were left unimpressed with the efforts of the well-to-do pub transformers who were branded ‘snobby’ and ‘rude’ after a series of clashes with the star.
Clarkson, 65, had hired the consultants to help him overcome the ‘massive, massive struggles, and navigate the chaos of getting his pub the Farmer’s Dog up and running.
Rachel and Sue – who appeared in the final episodes of the latest series of the programme – ended up quitting the project just 48 hours after the grand opening of the country hostelry.
That appeared to rattle viewers even more with accusations Sue and her niece Rachel had ‘jumped ship’ when ‘the going got tough’.
Rachel Hawkins (right), 40, has told how she believes she and her aunt Sue, who is her business partner, were ‘stitched up’ during the making of TV hit Clarkson’s Farm and cast in the role of ‘villains’ to boost ratings
Rachel spoke out after Clarkson’s loyal fans were left unimpressed with the efforts of the well-to-do pub transformers who were branded ‘snobby’ and ‘rude’ after a series of clashes with the star
One viewer branded the pair ‘unprofessional’ while another went as far as accusing them of being an ‘awful pair of individuals’.
Rachel told MailOnline how she was unable to fully defend herself from the wave of public criticism because she had signed a legally-binding contract with the production company known as a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
She added that she feared that launching a stout defence of the duo’s role in the series would further ‘inflame’ the row.
Rachel said: ‘I cannot really say anything else because of the show. There is indeed an NDA in place.
‘I think it is best to not say anything further. I don’t want to get myself into trouble. I don’t want to inflame anything.
But a close friend speaking on her behalf said: ‘She feels that she’s been stitched up a bit.
‘The filming and editing of the show has put Rachel and Sue in a bad light when they were giving Jeremy sensible advice based on their vast experience in the hospitality industry.’
In the programme, Rachel pointed out to Clarkson that the pub formerly known as The Windmill was ‘not fit for purpose’ with ‘too many issues to run a successful business’ that included ‘failing water, no toilets, no gas, leaking roofs, and struggling staff’.
The former Top Gear presenter’s biggest bone of contention with the high spending pair seemed to be the cost of three massive umbrellas to cover his terrace which, along with lighting and heating, would set him back a staggering £40,000.
The friend said: ‘They were ridiculed for suggesting to Jeremy that he buy three huge umbrellas for the outdoor area for the pub at a cost of £40,000. But it was a sensible suggestion and he eventually ended up buying them.
‘It’s just a shame that they have received so much criticism.’
Rachel and Sue – who appeared in the final episodes of the latest series of the programme – ended up quitting the project just 48 hours after the grand opening of the country hostelry
Despite the disapproval of viewers, earlier this week Clarkson himself appeared to back the pair in a social media posting
Despite the disapproval of viewers, earlier this week Clarkson himself appeared to back the pair in a social media posting.
On Tuesday, he posted a photo of the three huge umbrellas which now cover the decking at the back of the pub on Instagram saying: ‘Turns out Sue and Rachel had a point. The Farmer’s Dog did need big umbrellas after all!!’
In response, Rachel shared Clarkson’s photo on her own Instagram and replied: ‘And behold… the exact 40k umbrellas that have been the topic of so much discussion.
‘Not blocking the view and providing a year round weather solution with heating and lighting in order that 75 guests can dine comfortably on the terrace all year round … seems like 40k well spent?’.
She added: ‘Just 10 months, two stretch tents and 30 sun brollies later.’
Rachel told how she did not believe the pair would be reprising their roles as supporting cast members.
Asked if she would return in the next series, she said: ‘Err, I don’t think so. I don’t know what filming was done, but we are not contracted to go back and do any further filming.’
But Rachel said she could be seen on screen again if the production team use old footage which had already been filmed.
She declined to answer further questions saying: ‘I think it’s kind of best if I don’t say anything at all, just in case.’
Rachel and Sue, 58, are very familiar with the quaint Cotswolds pub scene and are well known in the area for revamping and bringing new life to struggling establishments.
And while Sue, 58, prefers to stay out of the limelight, Rachel, 40, is happy to share insights into her lavish life amid the growing list of A-list celebrities settling in the area.
Rachel is well-established within the Cotswolds horse racing fraternity along with her long-term partner former National Hunt jockey Will Kennedy, 43.
She frequently uses social media to show off her array of glitzy outfits at leading high society events of ‘the social season’ including Royal Ascot, The Derby and the Cheltenham festival, her favourite race meeting.
Rachel’s appearances at leading race meetings have certainly not gone unnoticed.
In 2015 she landed a trip-of-a-lifetime for the dazzling blue and white outfit she was wearing at that year’s Goodwood Festival.
Rachel and Sue, 58, are very familiar with the quaint Cotswolds pub scene and are well known in the area for revamping and bringing new life to struggling establishments
And while Sue, 58, prefers to stay out of the limelight, Rachel, 40, is happy to share insights into her lavish life amid the growing list of A-list celebrities settling in the area
Her prize for winning the ‘best dressed’ contest was a holiday for two in Cape Town with a VIP day out at the races.
Since Irish-born Will – who had more than 450 winners in a 25 years career before retiring in 2023 – was busy racing, Sue accompanied her on the trip.
Last week MailOnline told how Rachel is set to make a tidy profit after putting her detached period country home for £2.8 million country home up for sale in a raffle.
She bought the property – which is nestled in the heart of Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire – for £750,000 in November 2015.
Rachel and Irish-born Will lived there for a number of years with their five dogs. The purchase was made after Rachel and Sue bought a failing pub in the market town called the Bell Inn for just below its asking price of £350,000.
They immediately began work on a £200,000 renovation and Sue once told how they were sprucing up the pub which needed ‘new roofing, drainage, plumbing and electrics’ by giving it ‘the ‘wow’ factor’ and turning it into ‘a sea of caramel, leather, tweed and velvet’.
The Bell became popular with jockeys and trainers who would entertain racehorse owners there.
The pair went on to open up a bed and breakfast in the town and the following year they sold the properties with 13 ’boutique style bedrooms’ between them to brewing giants Young’s for a ‘seven figure sum’.
They had previously transformed seven properties together including converting a 400-year-old building in Stratford-upon-Avon, which had previously been used as a dental practice, into a small hotel.
Rachel has told how she was working as a 16-year-old bistro restaurant when she first teamed up with Sue who had began revamping businesses starting with a small fish restaurant in the 1990’s.
After a spell running her own restaurant Rachel and Sue joined forces once again with Sue concentrating on ‘design and set up’ while Rachel ‘took over operations’.
Sue has told how that while she ‘was very single-minded’ she was ‘always game for a laugh’ adding: ‘I couldn’t see the point of something I didn’t enjoy doing.’
In an interview with a Warwickshire lifestyle magazine she said: ‘I just enjoy life and I enjoy what I do. Admittedly I have had to be very determined at times but I never let that stop me from having a laugh, that’s just the way I am.
‘I love refurbishing the places, designing how they should look, working out what interior design fits with the structure of the place.
‘It’s what I do. I love doing it and can’t imagine doing anything else.’
