Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen delivers brutal verdict on Jeremy Clarkson’s Cotswolds move

EXCLUSIVE: Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has lived in the Cotswolds for the past 20 years and has seen the area become a hotspot for high-profile celebrities and tourists

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has been living in the Cotswolds for over 20 years(Image: PH)

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has spoken out about the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire becoming a magnet for celebrities and tourists alike. Having called the region home for the past 20 years, the 62-year-old interior designer has had a front-row seat to the area’s remarkable evolution.

In recent times, high-profile names such as Beyoncé and Jay-Z, David and Victoria Beckham, and Kate Moss have all snapped up properties in the area. The region has further cemented its status in the spotlight thanks to Jeremy Clarkson‘s Oxfordshire farm, which forms the backdrop of his hugely popular series, Clarkson’s Farm.

When reflecting on the Cotswolds’ ever-growing appeal, Laurence was candid in his relief at not being part of the area’s “celeb end”, making it clear he has no ambition to become so.

When asked if he is friends with Jeremy, he revealed: “We used to see quite a lot of each other actually, I haven’t seen him for a while and I’m very sorry to hear that he’s not well (in reference to Jeremy’s prostate cancer diagnosis, from which he is now in remission).

Clarkson’s Farm follows Jeremy Clarkson’s experiences running Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds(Image: PRIME VIDEO)

Offering his take on Jeremy’s local pub, Laurence went on to say: “I have to say I’m not that seduced by the idea of going to his pub, it’s not my kind of place.

“But I do think it’s highly amusing that [with] something recently, I think he responded to it, about the fact that you’ve got one end of the Cotswolds where you’ve got Clarkson’s Farm and his rather gritty spit and saw dust pub.

“And then the other side of the Cotswolds you’ve got my swanky shop with lovely lacey silky things.”

Drawing attention to the differences between their respective parts of the Cotswolds, the designer quipped that the two have developed a playful rivalry, remarking: “It rather shows the complexion of the Cotswolds these days.”

Reflecting on how the region has changed, he went on to say: “We moved here 20 years ago, so we were well ahead of the curve. But I love the fact that things are changing.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen’s Drawn to Adorn features a glamorous array of art

“Where we are in Siddington, yes there are an immense amount of people moving in, but it’s people who want to create new lives, it’s people who want to start something new where they can be outside a conventional kind of city context.

“There are some great businesses that are starting out around us that are encouraging this idea of people being able to work where they live, and I think that’s really important. I think not losing a third to your life to commuting makes a tremendous amount of sense,” reports the Mirror.

The Cotswolds features among the destinations Laurence will tour as part of his travelling exhibition, Drawn to Adorn, in collaboration with Buckingham Fine Art.

For the first time, the designer’s creations will journey around the nation as part of a collection of prestigious shows, offering unprecedented access for audiences to view his original works up close.

Sir David Beckham also owns a home in the Cotswolds(Image: David Beckham Instagram)

Speaking about the project, he said: “l love it, going on the road, it’s like painting meets rock n roll. I’m really proud of these recent pieces, they’re very me, but technically I feel him getting to my peak.

“You don’t get many pensioners saying that so I’d love people to come and see for themselves.”

Drawn to Adorn showcases a striking collection of works on paper that embrace decoration without apology. Taking influence from sources ranging from Baroque botanical prints to 1980s post-punk cinema, the expertly crafted large-scale artworks will be displayed differently at each venue.