Tom Kerridge shares financial struggles with business 'losing a lot of money'

Wales Online

13-05-2025

Tom Kerridge shares financial struggles with business 'losing a lot of money'
Michelin-starred celebrity chef Tom Kerridge, who operates six sites, shared insights into the financial balancing act he faces when trying to keep his various businesses afloat
Tom Kerridge shared insights into the financial balancing act he faces
(Image: Getty Images )
Tom Kerridge has opened up about facing financial struggles with his restaurants. The celebrity chef owns six restaurants including the two-Michelin-starred pub The Hand and Flowers and often appears on The Great British Menu.
Despite his culinary success, he revealed that running his various establishments is not always smooth sailing. In a candid admission, Tom confessed that managing his businesses is a "constant battle."
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He explained that while three of his restaurants do make a minor profit, the others barely break even and one loses money. He likened the process to "spinning plates" to keep things going.
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Tom told the Guardian: "We have six sites and I would say three operate at a very minor profit, two just about break even, and one's losing a lot of money. It's a constant battle of spinning plates and moving money to keep it bubbling along."
Tom conceded that three sites did indeed run at a profit
(Image: Getty Images )
Jamie May, the executive chef and butcher at Tom's Butcher's Tap and Grill in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, also shared his experiences with the challenges of the industry. He said: "I prepare every day like I'm going into war."
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This isn't the first time Kerridge has spoken out about the difficulties facing the restaurant industry. He previously expressed his views in a piece for The Guardian in 2024.
Before the general election, Tom voiced his concerns about rising costs for products such as olive oil and eggs, energy bills, business rates, and the 20% VAT rate, stressing it was "no surprise" to see restaurants shutting down.
Following Labour's accession to power, Tom rated the new government a "six out of 10" in the new interview, critiquing April's National Insurance hike as "slightly ill thought out".
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Tom has to engage in "spinning plates" to keep things "bubbling"
(Image: Getty Images )
Tom went on to share the secret to a perfect barbecue - and it seems that it's all down to selecting the right charcoal. He explained that it's better to have "bigger" as it holds the temperature for longer.
Speaking to the Western Mail, Tom said investing in charcoal "goes a long, long way", saying it will "last twice as long" as cheaper alternatives and cook your food more evenly.
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As for choosing the food, Tom favours homemade burgers, lauding the ability to mince your own beef. He advised using a lean mince, with the flavouring added after they've been shaped.
When it comes to some meats, he recommended slow-cooking: "It's quite good to braise things and slow-cook them in the oven first, in a dry rub or marinate, then leave them to cool and reheat them on the smokiness of the barbecue - the best of both worlds."