Tom Kerridge is one of the UK’s most renowned celebrity chefs but his career hasn’t been without its difficulties as he opened up on the “hardest decision he’s had to make”
Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge has lifted the lid on the “hardest decision he’s had to make” as he detailed his struggles with running businesses in the restaurant trade.
Tom is one of the UK’s most renowned chefs and runs the nation’s only pub with two Michelin stars – The Hand and Flowers in Buckinghamshire.
Despite this Tom’s career has not been all plain sailing. He has spoken candidly about his struggles in the restaurant business, and on a recent podcast he shared the “hardest decision he’s had to make” was closing some of his business in the wake of Covid.
Speaking on the Hungry podcast, Tom said: “Closing businesses post Covid (was the hardest decision he’s had to make). Shutting businesses down and having to explain to people that this isn’t a personal thing, we just can’t operate.
“The businesses don’t work, it doesn’t make money, we can’t do anything about it. We’ve shut businesses, we have to re-adapt, you have to let people go.”
Tom, 52, has a second pub, The Coach, which has also won a Michelin star.
He spoke candidly about the hard times faced by some of the businesses as the hospitality sector was hugely affected by the Covid pandemic.
Speaking on the podcast, he explained: “Those are the really hard decisions. Then you have to remind yourself when you switch from being a chef in the kitchen, to being that person, to being a restauranteur, you have to become a business person.
“You have to put yourself in a Lord Sugar, Peter Jones-style businessman and go ‘it’s just about business’.
“You have to remind yourself why you’re doing it. If it’s your business, if it’s your thing, you have to try and disconnect with the personal attachment that you have.”
Tom went on to say that his company has a management meeting evert Wednesday where there are “open conversations” about the state of the business.
It comes after Tom revealed he’s contemplated a change of career, following a recent meeting with a Labour MP to discuss business rates. The chef from Gloucestershire, who runs four gastropubs across England, held talks with Peter Kyle, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, regarding his worries about the hospitality sector.
The Government subsequently announced last week that in 2026-27, qualifying pubs and live music venues will receive a 15 per cent business rates relief, in addition to the support revealed at Budget 2025. Their bills will then remain frozen in real terms for a further two years.
Tom said: “I feel positive about the fact I now have a line of communication into Government,” although he admitted being “perplexed” by the lack of grasp regarding expenses.
“Illustrating the effect on one of his own establishments, Tom said rates at The Butcher’s Tap in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, have jumped from £50,000 to £125,000.
While he’s using his platform to help drive further change however, the father-of-one stressed he has no plans to abandon the kitchen for a career in politics.
“I have thought about it, but I’m not interested in the small stuff,” he added.
The Great British Menu, in which Tom serves a judge, returns to BBC Two at 7pm tonight (Tuesday, February 24).
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