Jeremy Clarkson slammed by charity for serving controversial animal to diners at his pub

Jeremy Clarkson has been slammed as a “hideous bully” over his plans to serve squirrel at his country pub. The TV star will feature the bushy tailed rodent on the menu for a special event, boasting “ and wonderful” dishes.

Animal rights charity PETA hit out the presenter’s choice of food for the “stunt”. “How desperate does one have to be to turn wildlife into a pub stunt for some kind of shock value straight out of the bargain bin?” said Elisa Allen, Vice President of Programmes at the charity. Squirrels are industrious, clever and sentient, but recognising they are also vulnerable, only a hideous bully would take them from their life in a park and slice them up on a plate.

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“We challengeand his sad cronies to dare to try something genuinely bold: compassionate plant-based cuisine.”

favourite is serving up squirrel at his rural boozer for £85-a-head. Pan-fried brains, lamb’s hearts and snail caviar will be on the potentially stomach-churning menu. The ex-Top Gear host, 65, is hosting a Dare Night at his Farmer’s Dog pub in the Cotswolds later this month and the grub is not for the faint-hearted - or veggies or vegans.

The evening of peculiar food items will appear in an episode of his show Clarkson’s Farm.

Jeremy said: “Fed up with beige, safe food? Want to try new things? Difficult things? Weird things? Well if you’re intrigued, join us at the Farmer’s Dog.

"This is not an event for the faddy or those of a vegan disposition, as will have a menu filled with all the things that people normally discard. You might hate half of it. But you might go home with a steely determination to eat stomach lining as often as possible."

One person said of the offerings on the pub’s page: “It looks like road kill.”

A sign at the Oxfordshire watering hole tells diners: “Jeremy & the team at the Farmer’s Dog are very excited to bring the inaugural ‘Dare Night’ event to our dedicated patrons. Whilst the evening is, as Jeremy says, not for the faint-hearted, it will be replete with memorable dishes and novel foods that will live long in the memory.

“The ticket includes three courses plus canapés, all served in the small-plate style on large sharing tables, and will feature the weird and wonderful. From the unconventional like veal sweetbreads, roasted bone marrow and stuffed lamb’s hearts to the down-right outrageous like crispy squirrel, snail caviar and pan-fried brain, this menu is certain to both challenge and delight.”

It’s not the first time has had a run in with PETA. The two don’t see eye to eye on veganism. Last year called him out for pork production and previously sent him a dark book about the stark realities of animal product testing.

Jeremy opened his pub in Asthall, near Burford in Oxfordshire, in August. It saw a large crowd on its opening day, with people queuing for hours.

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