Why 21 Pubs Close Every Week: Tom Kerridge on 2 Michelin Stars, Steak & Chips and VAT's The Problem

In this episode, Theo is joined by the brilliant Tom Kerridge, the only chef in the world to hold two Michelin stars at a pub and a giant of British gastronomy who has redefined what pub food can be. From his early days as a child actor in Gloucester to washing dishes at 18 and falling in love with the energy of professional kitchens, Tom's journey is a testament to the transformative power of resilience, creativity, and cooking with purpose. With 21 years at the helm of the Hand and Flowers in Marlow, a second Michelin star that made history, and his tireless VAT's The Problem campaign fighting for the survival of British hospitality, Tom represents a generation of chefs who celebrate bold flavours, accessible cooking, and the belief that great food should never be intimidating.

Tom prepares his beloved Steak and Chips, a dish that has been on the menu at the Hand and Flowers since day one and beautifully encapsulates his cooking philosophy of taking something everyone knows and loves and elevating it to two Michelin star level.

Throughout the episode, Tom shares his remarkable journey from growing up on an estate in Gloucester with a single parent to joining a youth theatre in Cheltenham, being scouted by an agent and playing Thug One in London's Burning at 17, and why he quite liked being himself as opposed to acting where you're spending a lot of time pretending to be somebody else. He discusses walking into a kitchen at 18 to wash up and falling in love with the energy, the space, the noise, the movement, the connection between front of house and back of house, training under the legendary Gary Rhodes who taught him that one or two or three things on a plate is all you need, and why opening the Hand and Flowers at 31 was terrifying because the only way you're ever going to make money is by making your business work.

Tom also opens up about the difference between one star and two star cooking being personality and the true character of the chef coming through, why three star restaurants are the ultimate in professionals where every single aspect from website to phone call to booking system makes you feel special, switching from gas to electric planches because gas in a professional kitchen can be quite dirty and not that efficient, and why his VAT's The Problem campaign is fighting for a reduction to 10% to give hospitality the level playing field it needs to compete with Europe where 21 businesses are shutting every single week.

You can find Tom's full Steak and Chips recipe on the Filippo Berio website at www.filippoberio.co.uk/theo, and be sure to support his VAT's The Problem campaign at vatstheproblem.co.uk to help save British hospitality.

The Recipe podcast is hosted by Theo Randall, Chef Patron at the Theo Randall Cucina Italiana. In each episode we meet a special guest who loves food, and they'll tell us all about their favourite recipe as we celebrate the stories behind the dishes that define us.

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The Recipe with Theo Randall is a Listen To This Production for Filippo Berio.