Renowned chef Tom Kerridge has addressed the controversy surrounding the pricing at his acclaimed pub, The Hand and Flowers, located in Marlow. The two-Michelin-starred venue offers a variety of dishes alongside what it calls “luxurious boutique accommodation,” with a three-course tasting menu costing £195 per person.
Kerridge, originally from Gloucestershire, acknowledged that such prices are out of reach for many. He also expressed understanding of the wider public’s struggles with rising costs, referencing an £11 average price for takeaway fish and chips as another point of frustration.
“I get people’s anger and frustration with the cost of living crisis,” Kerridge told The i Paper. He further criticized politicians who blame immigration, saying such rhetoric only serves to divide the country.
At present, The Hand and Flowers website advertises a Saturday lunch menu priced at £95 for two courses and £110 for three. The house menu’s four-course option, priced at £195, includes options like fillet of beef and Cornish John Dory, available Monday through Saturday.
This is not the first time Kerridge’s pricing has attracted attention. In 2023, he defended a £35 fish and chips dish served at Harrods, a significant mark-up from traditional versions. Kerridge explained on Radio Times that while fish and chips is often considered inexpensive comfort food, the version he offers is crafted from premium ingredients and prepared with exceptional care.
“The fish most chippies use is frozen at sea, stored in large blocks, and can be up to a year old,” he said. “Potatoes come from a four-week-old batch, processed in cheap oil, wrapped in paper with simple condiments.”
By contrast, the Harrods dish features line-caught, day-boat turbot and specially selected potatoes, cut and prepared by hand to deliver a bespoke dining experience in an exclusive setting.
Kerridge has similarly defended charging £87 for a sirloin steak and chips at his pub, emphasizing that prices are all-inclusive, covering VAT, service, and fair pay for staff. “Unpretentious does not mean cheap,” he noted, highlighting his commitment to professionalism and quality.