Tom Kerridge addresses restaurant struggles amid ‘catastrophic’ issues | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV

BBC’s Great British Menu judge Tom Kerridge, 49, candidly opened up on his struggles as a restaurant owner.

The TV chef was quizzed on if he is feeling the impact of the cost of living crisis, combined with Brexit on his business, in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk.

Tom, who opened gastropub The Hand and Flowers in 2005 with his wife Beth before launching another pub, The Coach, is predicting a “bumpy year or two” for hospitality.

Addressing the bleak situation in the UK, the star told Express.co.uk: “I mean, there’s a huge amount of costs coming into the businesses across boards.

“So, up and down the country, whether it’s domestically or for business, the cost of living crisis is huge, but food inflation is the highest it has ever been.

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“So if your world is food based, then your costs have gone higher.”

He went on to explain: “It’s not just manufacturing or logistics that all affect hospitality as well, but, you know, food inflation is incredibly high, energy prices are still catastrophic. 

“There’s a lot of costs that are coming in that are really putting a very, very tight squeeze on businesses.

“Whether it’s small independent coffee shops, or local restaurants, or high-speed pizza chains – everyone is beginning to feel the pressure.”

Tom also shared his concerns about the wider impact on people opting against going out for dinner due to prices rising.

He continued: “And when that then starts making an impact on people at home, that will also make a big difference.

“People will spend less money, people will go out less.

“If people are going out less and things are costing more, everything kind of gets stretched and is polars apart.

“So yeah, I think it might be a very kind of bumpy year or two.”

Along with Tom’s two gastropubs, he also owns five restaurants.

These include Kerridge’s Fish and Chips, Harrods, The Bull & Bear, Manchester, The Butchers Tap and Grill, Marlow, Kerridge’s Bar and Grill, London, and The Shed, Marlow.

Tom made history as The Hand And Flowers won a second Michelin star in 2012, marking the first time a pub has achieved this.