YORKSHIRE HOTEL HONOURS ITS LOCAL LEGENDS
JEZ & BREAKFAST I spent the night with Jeremy Clarkson staring at me in a hotel devoted to him… owner’s reasons for it are inspiring
A room is also devoted to a former England star
The Clarkson Suite.
There’s a superking bed but the loo’s a bit of a diddly squat…
By JOSH SAUNDERS
Waking from a deep slumber, my bleary eyes finally focus on a familiar face staring down at me… it’s Jeremy Clarkson.
No, I wasn’t on the lash with the big man last night — we’re talking about the gigantic portrait which is impossible to miss above the bed in the brand-new Clarkson Suite.
The room is part of a Yorkshire hotel celebrating local legends, and let’s be honest, Clarkson is certainly one of them. From the noise, the chaos, the farming, and of course Top Gear, he’s the man you can’t help but recognise.
The suite itself is decked out in a classy monochrome palette, topped off with Clarkson-isms splashed tastefully across the walls — everything from iconic quotes to photos of the man himself, all done with surprising style.
But while the bed is an enormous superking, the bathroom is… less super. More of a “diddly squat”, some might say — compact, functional, but hardly the star of the show.
Still, the creators say this is all part of the charm.
HOTEL HONOURS ITS LOCAL HEROES
The Clarkson Suite is just one of several rooms paying tribute to Yorkshire icons. Others include:
Footballer Karen Walker, England striker with 40 international goals
Rugby and boxing heroes
Music legends connected to Mexborough and the surrounding area
Each room carries its own theme, memorabilia, and curated décor.
Hotel boss Jemma Evans explains that the idea was simple, to honour people who have made Yorkshire proud while giving guests a unique stay unlike anything you’ll find at a chain hotel.
GOOD CONTRACEPTIVE?
(No, seriously — there’s a sidebar joke in the original print.)
One reviewer even joked that waking up with Clarkson’s face looming over the bed was “a good contraceptive”, but admitted the room was so comfortable that the shock quickly wore off.
BACK TO THE CLARKSON SUITE
The lounge area is surprisingly spacious, with:
A large superking bed
Art Deco-inspired décor
A huge mural of Jeremy Clarkson
LED lighting and modern finishings
Smart-TV setup and minibar
There’s also a wall feature that reads:
“What a pane.”
A humorous nod to Clarkson’s famously blunt commentary.
Another wall displays:
“Always make a good first impression.”
And, of course, a nod to Clarkson’s farming years with:
“NO LIMITS (except the countryside ones)”
NO TOP GEAR?
Sadly, you don’t get a Stig-themed turn-down service, nor does a V8 engine roar you awake in the morning.
But you do get a quirky, well-designed room that blends local pride with a sense of fun.
Guests can wander through the historic building, which dates back over a century, and explore the newly refurbished suites that combine luxury with tongue-in-cheek humour.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you’re a Clarkson fan — or even if you’re not — the room offers:
A genuinely premium night’s sleep
A unique Yorkshire-inspired stay
Thoughtful touches that make you grin
A bold tribute to one of the county’s most recognisable personalities.
Just be prepared: the loo really is a bit of a diddly squat.
A Word from Owner and Local Entrepreneur Jason Mace
Jason Mace — Yorkshire entrepreneur, CEO of Gala Tent, and owner of the Empress Building — shared a light-hearted comment about the unexpected media attention the suite has generated:
“If I’d known the room was going to get so much publicity, I would’ve given Clarkson a larger suite! Instead, I stuck him at the back of the hotel — just in case he visits and someone finds him annoying.”
— Jason Mace, Owner of the Empress Building
Mace’s trademark humour reflects the ethos behind the entire project: celebrating local legends with a Yorkshire wink and a warm welcome.