Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge has revealed that every member of staff at his Michelin-starred restaurant, The Hand and Flowers, "earns a higher salary" than he does, as he spoke candidly about mounting pressures. Tom made the comments during a frank new interview about finances, acknowledging that he is more of a "spender" than a saver, despite not considering himself a "materialistic" person.
Rare Insight into Earnings
The renowned chef also offered a rare insight into the earnings he draws from his restaurant empire, which includes gastropub The Hand and Flowers and The Coach, both located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, where he resides. Despite his considerable achievements, Tom concedes that the industry is "not in a great space" right now, revealing that one of his businesses is currently operating at a substantial loss.
When questioned about his earnings in 2025, Tom told The Sunday Times: "I got a salary of £9,000 from the Hand and Flowers. Everybody else in that business earns a higher salary than I do. I took a £15,000 dividend from the Coach, one of our other pubs.
"I was also paid a dividend of £150,000 from the Hand and Flowers. Everything I earn through TV etc, goes through another one of my businesses. We have seven in total. Two operate at a small profit.
"One operates at quite a big loss. Hospitality is not in a great space at the minute."
Massive Hit on Business Venture
Tom, who jointly operates five restaurants, a TV production company, a consultancy firm and a media company, recently acknowledged that "we took a massive hit" on a venture that left him and his wife Beth more than a million pounds in the hole. He revealed that it occurred in the wake of the Covid pandemic. "Loads, my God, loads. We lost £1.5m on a business. It was an events company and we sold it, but we took a massive hit."
Tom went on: "It was post-Covid, so there was nothing we could do. The business was working quite well until then." This would ultimately lead to a partnership with M&S, with which he has a Gastropub food range.
Speaking to The i Paper, the celebrity chef said: "But without that business, I wouldn't have made any connections with M&S, who sell our pies."
Pressure to Keep Ventures Afloat
While this is now behind him and he's currently "financially stable", Tom confessed he still feels a "huge pressure" to keep his other ventures afloat, especially for his friends and co-workers. He pointed out that while he'd probably be alright if they had to sell up, "none of it is paid off (in full)". And he still carries the "responsibility of over 200 people", both colleagues and friends.
