The Hand and Flowers Pub With Rooms, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Tom Kerridge’s pub, The Hand and Flowers, is located in the beautiful Georgian town of Marlow. Celebrity chef of the moment, Tom’s pub is the only UK pub to be awarded two stars in the Michelin guide.
Tom Kerridge’s Pub The Hand & Flowers in Marlow
British pub food has been going from strength to strength in recent years. There are now 15 pubs in Britain and Ireland with a Michelin star. The ancient town of Marlow, in the heart of the Thames valley, is home to the ultimate gastro pub. The Hand & Flowers may be unassuming on the outside but inside it’s serving pub grub that has earned its chef, Tom Kerridge, not one but two coveted Michelin stars. We love its clever concept of British dishes, luxurious accommodation and relaxing beauty treatments. Be warned, it’s so popular, you’ll probably need to book a year in advance so start planning ahead now.
- Dine at Tom’s pub
- Stay in a contemporary room
- Enjoy a beauty treatment
- Explore foodie Marlow
Tom Kerridge and the Ultimate Gastro Pub
Chef Tom Kerridge, left school at 16 and started out as an actor before funding himself through catering college. Down to earth and amiable, he worked in several kitchens before opening the Hand & Flowers pub in Marlow in 2005. He’s known for his classic British dishes and hearty and meaty pub meals but his are highly technical versions. Traditional roast chicken may first be poached in a hop broth and comes served with an oak-infused gravy and fragrant truffle shavings. Local produce on the menu includes fruit, vegetables and salad leaves from the pub’s own 200 square metre nursery.
Relax and Dine
Tom’s ethos is that pubs, the cornerstone of British hospitality, are all about people feeling comfortable in their environment. Dine at the Hand & Flowers and you can make a night of it by staying in one of the pub’s 8 cottages. There are four suites just yards away and four additional rooms in Apple House, located a short walk away on Marlow’s High Street. The rooms are luxurious and contemporary, decorated in calming tones with huge beds, vast baths, rain showers (some also have hot tubs outside).
Explore Foodie Marlow
With its elegant shops, high class eateries and cafés, there’s much to explore in sophisticated Marlow. Pop into Burgers artisan bakery for a sweet continental treat such as their bestselling ‘Japonais’, a meringue and hazelnut concoction covered in buttercream. Like Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms in Yorkshire, its founders originally came over from Switzerland. Have Afternoon Tea by the river at The Compleat Angler and watch Olympian rowers in training, or dine in its Michelin-starred Indian restaurant. Explore a little further afield to visit the Hellfire Caves, once a notorious Georgian nightclub that hosted wild parties. The centrepiece is the Feasting Room with its 50 foot high ceiling. It’s where the Earl of Sandwich had an unfortunate incident with a baboon.
Tips
- The easiest way to experience Tom’s food is to go for a weekday lunch which is more readily available
- If you can’t wait, try The Coach, Tom Kerridge’s second pub in Marlow where bookings aren’t required
- Visit Marlow at the end of June and the town will be decked in bunting in honour of Henley Royal Regatta
Other Places to Stay Nearby
The Compleat Angler in Marlow – enjoy a riverside stay with lovely views and Michelin star dining in its Indian restaurant at this hotel which is part of the Macdonald hotel group.
The Crown in nearby Amersham – a 16th century coaching in with 38 rooms (choose either traditional or modern).
Dogs
You may have to wait even longer to get a room reservation if you want to take me, as I’m only allowed in the Angus suite.
How to Find The Hand and Flowers
The Hand and Flowers Pub, 126 West St, Marlow SL7 2BP
Website: www.thehandandflowers.co.uk
The Foodie Travel Guide
Sally is the founder and editor of The Foodie Travel Guide. She travels around the UK and beyond in search of the best foodie days out, tasting experiences and delicious places to stay. She loves a glass of English sparkling wine, afternoon tea with friends and escaping London for gastronomic adventures.