Showing no sign of taking his foot off the business throttle despite emergency heart surgery, TV personality turned farmer Jeremy Clarkson, who farms 1,000 acres on the Gloucestershire-Oxfordshire border, has signalled that he may be planning to launch a chain of boozers to rival the runaway success story of Tim Martin's JD Wetherspoon empire.

Could the man who is seen as an icon for old-fashioned values and a bulwark against 'woke' culture soon tuck into a hearty slice of Tim Martin's business success?

If his business idea has legs, it would represent good news for employment opportunities in the Cotswolds, given the accolades Clarkson has received as an "anti-woke" boss at the helm of beer and cider brand Hawkstone, which has been identified as one of the UK's top 100 fastest growing companies.

Immediately dubbed 'Jezzaspoons', the venture is tipped as being likely after the former star of BBC Top Gear registered the title 'Hawkstone Filling Station' with the UK Intellectual Property Office.

According to early reports, the papers have been filed against "services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation; bar services; bars; pubs; public house services; hospitality services; information, advisory and consultancy services in relation to all of the aforesaid".

The rumoured move could run counter to medical advice though: the Sun has reported that doctors have told Clarkson to slow down but despite their advice he is said to maintain a hands-on approach with the running of his recently opened pub, The Farmer's Dog, at Asthall, near Burford.

As a potential indication of the owner's ambitions to grow his blokey brand, the pub's menus carry the footnote "A Hawkstone Filling Station".

But if the TV celeb has serious intentions of emulating Tim Martin's business model, he faces a huge challenge: dubbed 'The People's Pub Chain' by the London Drinks Guide, Wetherspoon has brought the concept of affordable pints and meals to every corner of the UK, including here in Gloucestestershire where the business operates pubs in Tewkesbury and Stroud, with two apiece in Gloucester and Cheltenham.

With early reports of Clarkson marketing burgers in his first menu at £15 a pop, his existing pricing structure suggests a quest to connect with a more monied clientele - as also attested by the arrival of a beer-based advent calendar on Hawkstone's direct sales website. Offering a tipple for every day in December until the 25th, the box retails for a not-so-Wetherspoonsish £85.

Clarkson acquired his first foothold in publand for £1m in June this year, despite advice from friends wary of the fragile nature of such ventures. They are presumably well informed readers of Punchline, which keeps a keen eye on the fortunes of pubs throughout the county and the Cotswolds as they struggle to survive and engage customers against harsh economic headwinds.

Since its acquisition, Mr Clarkson has renovated the former Windmill Inn, adding an upstairs bar, a bigger licenceable area and an outdoor tent (if you see what he did there).

Alongside a weekend provision of carvery only, the reopened pub offers a traditional menu of gammon steak, bubble and squeak, Lancashire hotpot and steak pie.

Google and Tripadvisor reviewers, so far, have largely given it the thumbs up, albeit some have complained of "tiny" and overpriced portions and a red flag has been hoisted by some visitors for a distinct lack of vegan options - with in fact none being offered.

One reviewer wrote: "All for backing British farmers, but let's go forwards rather than backwards. We grow some of the finest produce which can create incredible vegan dishes."

By contrast, the Wetherspoon chain has earned accolades from PETA for its showcasing of plant-based options. The same campaign group hit headlines earlier this year for its entreaty to Clarkson to "stop telling porky pies about how bacon, ham, and sausages are really made".

Analysts at Marketbeat identify rivals to Wetherspoons as Greggs, Greene King, Domino's and Fuller, Smith and Turner, but those who underestimate the laser focus of 'Spoons' for its USP do so at their peril: despite perceptions of being 'cheap', the business has nurtured a connection with each of its outposts. Wetherspoon pubs offer a familiar menu, décor, and atmosphere, but the marketing takes second place behind a policy of celebrating (often-rescued) unique buildings and names that are woven into the local history of the area.

And as the London Drinks Guide reports: "The chain is famous for its "Spoons prices," which are significantly cheaper than those of other pubs in the area. This has made it a favourite destination for students, young professionals, and anyone looking for a cheap night out, or even retired professionals."

Despite the success of Wetherspoon though, the chain continues to be on the receiving end of retail jibes: one question (presumably not from Mr Clarkson) posed online as to what might rival a visit to the pub chain was met with the quip "drinking White Lightning in a bus stop". 

On balance, such an experience may spell a quicker drink than at the Farmer's Dog.

● Punchline-Gloucester.com editor Mark Owen says: "It might raise a chuckle to contemplate Jeremy Clarkson's next potential idea, but any underestimation this man's marketing prowess come with a health warning. Alongside Dale Vince (and despite the obvious ideological disparity), this man has a midas touch for understanding how to engage the public with fresh and unique ideas. We watch this space avidly!