Tom Kerridge has cut his menu at the Hand and Flowers due to staffing issues, according to national reports.

The two Michelin star restaurant has gone from six starters, mains and desserts to four of each.

The flagship pub is a 24-hour operation needing 75 staff to run the restaurant and bedrooms, he told the Observer.

While the Coach, his other outlet in Marlow, which has one star, is now shut on Mondays and Tuesdays.

He said the sites had to “lower the workload” to deal with the lack of staff.

“Everyone is working extra or overtime,” he added.

The chef explained that recruitment has been an issue across the hospitality industry which has not recovered from the pandemic.

Kerridge said many older members of staff took early retirement when lockdown hit and suggested Brexit had affected the influx of European workers.

Restaurateurs also face increased VAT whilst paying off loans taken out to stay in business during Covid, Kerridge added.

Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UK Hospitality, said: “About one in 10 jobs are unfilled in the sector.”