ABOUT TOM

“Scoff, nosh, grub — call it what you like, food is my everything.

I never dreamt I’d go from being a commis chef at Calcot Manor to leading my own team of dedicated Pirates across some of Britain’s most exciting kitchens.

Together we made history at The Hand and Flowers, the first pub ever to earn two Michelin stars and that achievement still drives everything we do. I couldn’t be prouder of every Pirate involved.

I’ve filled this website with everything we’ve worked on and achieved, from our restaurants and books, to the community and charity projects we run and of course some great recipes too.

Big thanks to everyone in the Pirate crew who has helped make all this happen! Keep your eyes peeled for what’s next…

Thanks for being part of the journey.

Happy browsing”

THE EARLY DAYS

Tom Kerridge was born and raised in Gloucestershire and joined culinary school in Cheltenham at the age of 18 – where he first fell in love with the industry. His kitchen career kicked off in country houses and hotels across Gloucestershire where he worked as a junior chef. In his early twenties, Tom moved to London to work with the likes of Philip Britton, Gary Rhodes and Steven Bull from whom he learnt and grew his skillset.

He later became the head chef of Adlards, a Michelin starred fine dining restaurant that served modern British food. It wasn’t until 2005 that Tom’s restaurant journey began at The Hand and Flowers of Marlow, where Tom and his wife Beth turned the run-down pub into a Michelin starred gastropub in the very same year.

RESTAURANTS

Tom’s restaurants are known for bold British cooking rooted in exceptional ingredients, and warm hospitality. At the heart of the group is the renowned two Michelin-starred The Hand and Flowers, the first gastropub to ever receive two stars. It’s sister restaurant, The Coach, also holds a Michelin star and is celebrated for refined classics served in a relaxed setting. The Butcher’s Tap & Grill of Marlow combines a traditional butcher’s shop with a grill-focused restaurant championing top-quality meat and provenance. The Chalk Freehouse brings elevated seasonal pub cooking to a beautifully restored Victorian setting just off the King’s Road, while Kerridge’s Bar & Grill at the Corinthia showcases confident, modern British dishes in an elegant capital setting.

BOOKS

Tom is one of the UK’s most successful food authors, with numerous bestselling cookbooks that sit in kitchens across the country. His published titles include:

Proper Pub Food
Best Ever Dishes
Tom’s Table
Dopamine Diet
Lose Weight for Good
Fresh Start
Lose Weight & Get Fit
The Hand & Flowers Cookbook
Outdoor Cooking
Real Life Recipes
Pub Kitchen
Tom Kerridge Cooks Britain
Tom Kerridge’s BBQ Book

Across every book, Tom champions generous food, bold flavour and recipes that give home cooks the confidence to create both comforting pub classics and lighter, health-conscious dishes.

TV

Tom is a familiar face on British television, sharing his love of proper food and great hospitality with audiences across the country. Recent series include Tom Kerridge: Secrets of the Pub Kitchen, taking viewers behind the scenes of modern pub cooking, and Tom Kerridge Cooks Britain, celebrating the people and produce that shape our food culture. He’s also taken his travels to Spain in Tom Kerridge Cooks. Alongside this, Tom continues as a judge on the BBC’s Great British Menu, championing the next generation of chefs.

ABOUT TOM

THE EARLY DAYS

RESTAURANTS

BOOKS

TV

THE HAND AND FLOWERS COOKBOOK (2020)

GETTING TO KNOW THE HAND AND FLOWERS

SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER