It was a celebratory Monday evening for Tom Kerridge last night as the chef's two Marlow restaurants maintained their Michelin star honours.

The Hand & Flowers and The Coach, both located on West Street in Marlow, maintained their prestigious Michelin Star awards at a ceremony held last night (March 27) at the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire.

The head chef of The Coach, Sarah Hayward, was also awarded the coveted 'Young Chef Award', with the Michelin Guide describing her as "tenacious and determined, yet modest". 

Sarah, who has worked at The Coach since September 2021, said she was blown away and very humbled to have received the recognition.

She said: “I have so much respect for Michelin and I know how proud my Dad will be, being a chef himself.

"I’m so grateful to my team and, of course, to Tom Kerridge, who has helped me become the chef I am today and has given me the confidence and belief that I can achieve anything.”

Tom Kerridge himself said he was delighted that both Marlow-based eateries had maintained their Michelin Stars, praising both Sarah and head chef of The Hand & Flowers, Tom De Keyser, for being "incredible" chefs.

He said: “I am particularly thrilled for Sarah winning the ‘Young Chef Award’, she is a fantastic chef, level-headed, grounded, focused and truly dedicated to her craft. She has put her own stamp on The Coach and I’m so proud of her, she is such a talent.”

The Hand & Flowers retained its two Michelin Star rating in the evening's ceremony, an accolade that it is the only pub in the UK to have achieved.

Head chef Tom De Keyser praised the hard work of his kitchen and front-of-house team in maintaining a high standard of service.

He added: "There will definitely be a few celebratory drinks!"

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On a yearly basis, the Michelin Guide assesses restaurants around the globe on the quality of their ingredients, the harmony of their flavours, mastery of techniques, the personality of the chef as expressed through the cuisine and consistency across the menu and across time.

Anonymous inspectors, who are former hospitality or restaurant workers themselves, secretly dine at establishments throughout the year before entering into discussions with one another to select deserving recipients.

Single Michelin Star awards recognise restaurants that use consistently high-quality ingredients and present dishes with distinct flavours to an impressive standard.

The competitive two Stars, meanwhile, reward establishments in which the personality and talent of the chef are clearly evident in their creations. 

Find out more about The Coach here and The Hand & Flowers here.