Jeremy Clarkson has condemned the decision by a London pub to deny entry to a 20-year-old student over her opinions on gender issues.
The incident occurred earlier this month when student Thea Sewell visited the pub, The Prince of Wales, near her family home in south London.
Upon attempting to order a drink, bar staff informed her she was not welcome at the establishment.
When she pressed for an explanation, Ms Sewell said staff cited her "horrible" views on "vulnerable transgender people" as the reason for refusing service.
Jeremy Clarkson has slammed a London pub
| GETTYThe 20-year-old philosophy student at Christ's College described feeling "deeply embarrassed" by the confrontation and initially left with her companion to spare them further distress.
However, she returned later that evening seeking clarification, only to be told again: "You're not allowed in here."
Staff reportedly claimed they "did not feel comfortable" serving her and suggested she had previously "not been a very nice person" in the pub, though Sewell maintained she had never experienced problems there before.
The pub has since issued an apology and conceded that Ms Sewell "should not have been barred on the grounds of her views and beliefs".
Jeremy Clarkson opened his own pub, The Farmer's Dog, in 2024 | AMAZONThe pub's owners described the incident as "an extremely misguided error in judgement by an individual member of bar staff."
The incident hit news headlines earlier this week and caught the eye of former Top Gear presenter and pub owner, Mr Clarkson, who has now shared his views on the matter.
In his latest column, Mr Clarkson explained to readers that Ms Sewell had been banned for merely "having an opinion on women". "I don’t know what that opinion is, and I don’t care," Mr Clarkson went on.
He continued: "The whole point of a pub is that it’s a melting pot.
Thea Sewell was barred from entering the pub
|X/THEA SEWELL
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"You have guys who support different football teams, people who have wildly different political opinions, people who like different sorts of music, and you all meet up in there for a pint and a chat.
"Maybe even an argument. It’s a very healthy thing to do. A very healthy place to be.
"At my pub, we have all sorts. People who mildly dislike Keir Starmer, right up to people who absolutely loathe him, and they all get on just fine.
"So whatever Ms Sewell’s view on women may be, let her in, have a discussion about it, share a couple of beers, and agree to disagree.
Jeremy Clarkson's pub The Farmer's Dog is situated near Burford, Oxfordshire
| PA"Don’t ban her. Because that’s not what a pub’s about at all," the Clarkson's Farm star signed off in The Sun.
Ms Sewell is one of three founders of the Cambridge University Society of Women, established in October last year to provide what the group describes as a "single-sex environment for women."
The society defines its membership as "adult human beings belonging to the female sex class" and has attracted considerable criticism from students and charity organisations since its launch.
Ms Sewell's gender-critical stance had already made her a divisive figure among her Cambridge peers before the pub incident.
Earlier this month, I walked into my local pub- a place where I have always been warmly received -only to be told, (immediately on entry) that I was no longer welcome because of my views on trans issues. You can read more about it in The Times below. My thanks to @SexMattersOrg… pic.twitter.com/kpS2OnwX1f
— Thea Sewell (@theasewell05) January 26, 2026
She previously recounted how a friend discovered her collection of books by gender-critical authors and subsequently contacted trans rights activists at her college.
Following the pub incident, Ms Sewell sent a formal legal letter demanding an apology and £2,500 in compensation.
Sewell told The Cambridge Tab that her experience "reflects a wider problem facing people with gender-critical beliefs."
"Although these views are legally protected, they are increasingly treated as grounds for exclusion from ordinary social life," she said.
Mr Clarkson, meanwhile, has also found himself in the news this week for his less-than-favourable opinions on Reform UK and its leader, Nigel Farage.
The Who Wants to Be a Millionaire host has suggested that Reform UK voters will be "sorely disappointed" if Mr Farage is elected into power, claiming he won't be able to "solve any of your problems".