The Hand & Flowers is a

gastropub A gastropub or gastro pub is a pub that serves gourmet comfort food. The term was coined in the 1990s, though similar brewpubs existed during the 1980s. Etymology The term ''gastropub'' (derived from gastronomy) was coined in 1991, when David E ...

Marlow, Buckinghamshire Marlow (; historically Great Marlow or Chipping Marlow) is a town and civil parish within the Unitary Authority of Buckinghamshire, England. It is located on the River Thames, south-southwest of High Wycombe, west-northwest of Maidenhead and ...

that opened in 2005. Owned and operated by

Tom Kerridge Thomas Kerridge (born 27 July 1973) is an English chef. After initially appearing in several small television parts as a child actor, he decided to attend culinary school at the age of 18. He has since worked at a variety of British restaurants, ...

and his wife

Beth Cullen-Kerridge Beth Cullen-Kerridge (born 1970) is an English sculptor. Cullen-Kerridge was born in Stoke on Trent, Stoke-on-Trent to Judith Vincent, a businesswoman, and James Cullen, a painter. She attended John Moores University and the Royal College of Art. ...

, it gained its first

Michelin star The Michelin Guides ( ) are a series of guide books that have been published by the French tyre company Michelin since 1900. The Guide awards up to three Michelin stars for excellence to a select few establishments. The acquisition or loss of a ...

within a year of opening and a second in the 2012 list, making it the first

pub A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and was ...

to hold two Michelin stars. It was named the AA Restaurant of the Year for 2011–12.

Description

The pub was purchased in 2005 by chef

and his wife Beth, who ran the front of house. Located in

on West Street, only a few doors down from where

Mary Shelley Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (; ; 30 August 1797 – 1 February 1851) was an English novelist who wrote the Gothic fiction, Gothic novel ''Frankenstein, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' (1818), which is considered an History of scie ...

wrote ''

Frankenstein ''Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' is an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley. ''Frankenstein'' tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific ex ...

''. The pub gained its first

, and three

AA Rosette AA Limited, trading as The AA (formerly The Automobile Association), is a British motoring association. Founded in 1905, it provides vehicle insurance, driving lessons, breakdown cover, loans, motoring advice, road maps and other services. The ...

s in under a year. At the AA Restaurant and Hotel Awards 2011–12 the pub was named the AA Restaurant of the Year for England. The Hand and Flowers was upgraded to two Michelin stars in the 2012 list, the first time a pub has ever held two stars. Michelin Guide editor Rebecca Burr said of The Hand & Flowers, "Tom’s cooking has risen to new heights. His dishes are sophisticated yet familiar and are a perfect match for the relaxed surroundings of his charming pub." After Kerridge appeared on the

BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board ex ...

television show the ''

Great British Menu ''Great British Menu'' is a BBC television series in which top British chefs compete for the chance to cook one course of a four-course banquet. Format Series one and two were presented by Jennie Bond, the former BBC Royal correspondent, where ...

'', he added his two winning dishes to the menu at The Hand & Flowers. Another item on the menu is a hot chocolate tart with

cacao Cacao is the seed from which cocoa and chocolate are made, from Spanish cacao, an adaptation of Nahuatl cacaua, the root form of cacahuatl ("bean of the cocoa-tree"). It may also refer to: Plants *''Theobroma cacao'', a tropical evergreen tree ** ...

from the estates of Willie Harcourt-Cooze. Vegetarian dishes are usually created ''ad hoc'' as required, and rely on the invention of the chefs. The Hand & Flowers also has four suites for rent in two refurbished cottages. Each suite has a separate entrance, and the suites are each decorated around a different centerpiece such as a copper bath or private terrace and hot tub.

Andy Lewis' accident

On the 24th October 2018, Andy Lewis, a chef employed by The Hand & Flowers was severely injured after a pressurised stock boiled exploded, covering him in two hundred litres of boiling stock. Speaking exclusively to The Staff Canteen, Andy explained the extent of his injuries, his recovery, and the effects it had on his mental and physical health moving forwards. In the interview, Andy reiterated that despite being involved in the accident, it hadn't hindered his time at the restaurant, whilst crediting

for supporting him and his family through his recovery. Andy spent 7 months recovering from the injuries. After returning back to the restaurant, he later left The Hand & Flowers to take up a head chef position at the Sir Charles Napier in Oxfordshire.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hand and Flowers, the 2005 establishments in England Gastropubs in England Marlow, Buckinghamshire Michelin Guide starred restaurants in the United Kingdom Restaurants established in 2005 Restaurants in Buckinghamshire Grade II listed pubs in Buckinghamshire