The Hand & Flowers in Wycombe

At 600 pounds for a 2 choice, starter, main course,dessert . A complete rip off. Has a fantastic meal some years ago in the early days, my wife still talks about her apricot souffle. This meal so overrated and overpriced. Does Tom know what is going on in his name. How often do !Michelin check. ? Never again !

We only popped in for a drink but it was lovely. The staff were helpful and friendly and the atmosphere was great.

Not worth the money, had Potato Risotto, was like small cubes of potato in oxo gravy, main was Sole, every mouthful was so salty, I said to the waiter about it & the answer was, it’s was because it was cooked in Brine, I couldn’t finish of each course, also you have to have a 3 course !!!!!! Can’t just order a main, this place is so overpriced & overrated

Fine for a good pub meal if around£50 but absolutely ridiculous at 175. And and queries or issues raised the manageress just argues with you.

We found the venue lacking in atmosphere and ambience and quite basic inside. Plus we did request a fan as it was so hot inside. We had the two course set lunch menu which seemed to be still aimed at winter dining rather than spring/ summer dining and didn’t help with the weather being 26 degrees outside. My wife for her main course had the trout which was dry and overcooked so think this may mean the trout wasn’t cooked to order. It seemed the food had been sat ready for a while before we received it which isn’t what I would expect from a 2 Michelin starred restaurant. The staff were exceptional and attentive and made us feel very welcome.

We had the classic menu for £95 pp. excellent food and nice extras at the beginning, great service!

Perfect place for a special occasion, classic menu was perfect, no to daunting as many higher end restaurants can be. Staff friendly and helpful.

We went for Sunday lunch and at £175 each, yes that's each, we were disappointed. The service is very very good, no doubt about that, and we had a big welcome on arrival. It just wasn't as good as we expected. The food was well cooked but it was bland in its presentation. All my dishes were more or less brown or beige in colour - and while I didn't expect edible flowers and sea shells playing pop music like some other fine dining restaurants, nothing really wow-ed me. It was just average and for a £450 bill, it shouldn't be. The orange juice didn't seem freshly made, we were given three cold potatoes with our main course, the cabbage was soggy and a few other little things here and there that need to be tweaked slightly to make this a stand out restaurant. Perhaps they don't really care as they have two stars and that's good enough for them, but I shan't remember in 6 months what i ate to be fair. I did give that feedback to the maitre d' and I do hope he passes it onto the kitchen.

Frustratingly disappointing. It's fine but for £175 per head it's just way too much. We had Sunday lunch. Starters were okay, though the crispy bit on top of the beef tart was inedible. Mains also okay, but had to get a replacement Yorkshire pudding because mine was nuked. Fresh orange juice was from a carton and not freshly squeezed. Desserts were good! But we waited about 30 mins for it which isn't really okay. Especially when all orders are taken when you arrive. Front of house also good. Ultimately we couldn't see the value in the food and couldn't understand the Michelin stars. We've had far better meals and far better Sunday lunches. It felt like it should have cost about £80-100 at a push.

Poor service & not what you expect in a 2 Michelin star restaurant. Food was very average, extremely over priced for what it was. Atmosphere was very flat. Overall a low standard. How it has Michelin stars I have no idea. The side potato hash was hard, practically burnt, you could bite into it, when we questioned the staff they said it’s meant to be like that… the staff were pretty clueless around the menu when questions were asked. I’ve eaten in 1 star Michelins and they have been a million miles better, with top notch service & incredible food. Do not recommend here.

Pretentious in a nutshell. Opened the door and asked for a table within 3 seconds the staff looked both shocked and horrified as my wife pushed our 2 year old through the door in his pram. How dare people wish to give us business... Sad times for Marlow.

Bang average. Good pub grub, but with four of us eating costing £1k, you expect far more on both food and experience. Not worthy of its stars. Toilets were filthy.

Very disappointed, we have been very lucky to eat at a fair few Michelin Stared restaurants over the years. We were very excited at the thought of eating here as it been on our radar for a while. The food is very average and I find it difficult to comprehend how the Michelin Inspectors feel this restaurant is two star standard. At £175 for what can only be describe as Gastro food style food is eye watering and not complex cooking at all. We ate at Mid Summer House (2 star) in Cambridge a week later and the standard and quality is like night and day. I accept they are different styles of cooking however there is no comparison.

Very disappointing meal. Food was quite frankly appalling. Didn’t have a starter because the menu was so limited, my main was appalling as was everyone else’s. Desserts were “ok”. Whitebait was so bad I had to spit it out. At £175 a head there are dramatically better restaurants. Service was rubbish. Environment esp toilets felt dirty. It’s running in a reputation rather than actual quality. Don’t bother going.

A Masterclass in Mediocrity: A Cautionary Tale from The Hand of Flowers We recently visited The Hand of Flowers in Marlow to celebrate my partner’s 60th birthday — a milestone occasion that we had hoped to mark with something truly special. What we received instead was an experience so deeply underwhelming, so bereft of imagination, and so riddled with pretension that it left us questioning whether the Tom Kerridge brand has simply become a machine for monetising celebrity rather than delivering quality. Let’s start with the menu. (Which we had to read from a tablet as the can’t afford to write out on proper menu cards) We chose a three-course set menu. However, with just two choices per course is not fine dining — it’s a lazy offering dressed up in self-importance. The fact that both the stater & the mains involved mini pastry pies speaks volumes about the lack of creativity coming out of the kitchen. A Michelin-starred establishment..? It felt more like a rudimentary pub lunch than the elevated cuisine you’d expect from a place bearing such accolades. Worse still, the quality of the food was shockingly poor. Overly rich, uninspired, and plated without any flair — it was culinary monotony at its most expensive. The dessert, if it can even be called that, was the final insult. Unmemorable, uninspired, and utterly joyless. It felt like something knocked up at the last minute, with no attention to detail or interest in delighting the diner. For a venue supposedly at the pinnacle of British pub dining, the lack of effort was staggering. But the food was only half the disaster. The service? Aloof and tinged with an arrogance that suggested we ought to be grateful simply to be seated there. One waiter snatched the napkin ring from the table with such haste and suspicion you’d think we were planning to pocket it. The overall attitude of the front-of-house team reeked of entitlement — as though the reputation of the restaurant absolved them from having to make any effort toward hospitality or warmth. The atmosphere was cold, the experience transactional, and the staff seemed entirely disinterested in whether guests were enjoying themselves. It’s hard to shake the sense that Tom Kerridge and his team are simply trading on his name — banking on the public’s goodwill and affection while delivering a product that’s light-years away from its marketing. If they think this is Michelin-star standard, they’re either deluded or laughing at the customers all the way to the bank. The truth is, there are thousands — yes, thousands — of countryside pubs across the UK serving better food, with more charm and genuine hospitality, at a fraction of the price. The Hand of Flowers is a case study in what happens when complacency meets commercial exploitation. It’s a rip-off wrapped in PR. To those considering booking, don’t. Save your money. Go somewhere that still cares about food, service, and customer experience. The Hand of Flowers is not that place. Tom Kerridge and his team should hang their heads in shame. They’ve forgotten what it means to earn loyalty — and more importantly, they’ve clearly stopped caring..

Food was lovely but very overpriced, wouldn't rush back.

Not as I had hoped. Drinks, service and setting were great. Food, however, was not. Good technical cooking skill, but all with too much oil and fats. Honestly, I was very disappointed. Cost with drinks and wine was nearing the Hide meal we had previously, the food was way off. I came out feeling very dissatisfied and uncomfortable. I've no idea how they award michelin recommendations. For example, I had the house menu, more expensive, and the beef tart with marmite just tasted of butter and marmite. No beef flavour at all. I like Tom K and his cooking books and recipes, but this is one I definitely won't repeat.

My wife booked lunch for us both to celebrate my 60th Birthday which was a lovely and generous gesture. Unfortunately my wife suffers with migraine from time to time, on the Thursday before we were to have lunch on the Saturday she was struck down with a crippling migraine. I called The Hand and Flowers on Friday morning to say there was little chance we would be able to make our booking on Saturday explaining that my wife was not at all well and asked if we could postpone our booking to which I was told, very politely that we were welcome to re-book but we would still be charged the entire cost of £175 per person for the Saturday booking we were unable to make. Whilst I appreciate the reasoning behind their rather draconian T’s & C’s I think a more empathetic approach would have been appropriate on this occasion, I am quite sure we are not the only ones who have not been able to make a booking due to illness. To add salt into the wounds the £350 was taken from my wife’s account without even a short email to explain why or offer any alternatives, there was no interest about us re-booking just a quick grab for the money without a bye your leave. It is a shame but we will now never get to enjoy The Hand and Flowers as I would not darken the door of an establishment that believes this is the correct way to treat your customers. Very poor Tom Kerridge!!

Excellent service, fantastic food and great wine!

I was disappointed at the very limited menu. The two starters were a soup and a pastry dish (lamb pudding). Two mains were trout and another pastry dish (beef and marrow bone pie). I don't like trout and did not fancy soup so was left with no choice but Two pastry dishes. Come on Tom, you can do better than this.

Fantastic dining experience with amazing staff Would of given 5 stars but £7 for "mash for the table" that gave 3 of us a spoonful of mash each was way over priced

Totally underwhelming for such a big price tag! £50 for a pate starter!!! It’s just a pub with pub food! £175 for lunch is just greedy but they are busy so I guess it’s just the tv name and fame. Our napkin rings were removed as soon as the food arrived in case we stole them I guess!! I could have bought gold plated ones instead of buying lunch . Much better local restaurants without the fame and price tag

Food, as always was exceptional, made even better by the fantastic and attentive waiting staff.

The worst Michelin starred restaurant we’ve ever been to. The service is rushed, staff have an air of superiority. Our food was dreadful. Tasteless and yet over salty. It wasn’t just us but a couple of tables around us complained. What did they do…nothing. Just don’t bother.

Everything was great, but the menu can only be seen on your phone via a QR code displayed on the table. This was more cumbersome than it sounds. Thought a nice printed menu would be more in keeping with the fine dining experience. A small point and not enough to knock a star off, but at this price point details matter.

Food was amazing, staff were very friendly we were looked after by Katie,Gavin and the team thank for another wonderful visit.

Lovely food. Service could be improved. Overall a good experience.

It pains me to write this, as been waiting to go here for years. The actual restaurant is lovely and cosy. But so disappointed with the food. For 2 Michelin stars, i thought this was going to be the best meal I’ve ever had but we didn’t enjoy the food at all. Everything was so RICH, nothing balanced, I left a lot of the starter and main. The service was okay but they all seemed quite inexperienced. I fed back about the food and just got a “thanks, hope you have a nice day”. I’ve spoken to a few people I know who have been and they all had similar reviews.

I don’t ever write reviews, in fact this is my first, but I’ve left this place feeling completely ripped off and deflated. As you walk in you are rushed to your table, no option to have a drink. You’re then asked to use a QR code to look at the menu, I know it’s 2025 but when you’re paying £175 a head for just the food I want to see an actual menu. It’s just lazy and over confident. Usually at other ‘Michelin star’ establishments (let alone 2 Michelin star) you’re offered a tasting menu for this price, but here , you have to pick three things. Which was disappointing in itself. And i wasn’t aware of it beforehand, so my silly fault for not looking. What I quickly noticed is the lack of luxury and to some extent quality in the ingredients, when paying this amount you want something special. Not pork, beef and unknown fish. I just felt the whole list of ingredients was incredibly basic. So disappointing! So before the starter some complimentary white bait arrive which are just ok. It was white bait, nothing more , nothing less ! Then for my starter I had pork terrine , which came with rock hard toasted bread and some pickled onions. It was dry, bland and very hard to eat especially if you like to combine all the flavours. This was a below par starter in any establishment. My main was again pork, it had good elements but overall was sickly and completely uninspiring. It came with a nice jus (not sure if that’s the correct spelling ?!) that the waiter pours himself. I asked if I could have some more, the waiter then proceeded to take our jus pots away, combine them into one and bring it back. Leaving me with just a splash more . It was offensive and quite laughable really. How hard or inconvenient is it to get me a new one which is full ?! At this point I was ready to get the bill and leave, but already had to have the desert as it’s part of my extortionate £175 per head! The banana soufflé was in fairness very nice. So can’t complain on that one. To give this place 1 michelin star let alone 2! Is completely baffling, it’s a gastro pub at best, and not even a great one. The service is ok, the atmosphere is ok. again I wasn’t blown away or impressed. The owner needs to have a serious rethink as I know multiple people who have been once and not returned, I think it’s riding on past reputation but will soon be found out. Big changes are needed as all I feel at the moment is like I’ve been robbed by someone that has gotten too big headed and doesn’t care about their customers. What a disaster! Feel free to contact me should you wish to hear anymore .

I thought long and hard about posting this, but as a result of an extremely disappointing visit I looked to see if there were any other reviews that mirrored our experience and was taken aback to see that there was! We are not local to the Hand & Flowers, it is over a three hour drive away, but have previously dined twice for special occasions being treated like royalty and had fabulous food. I’d like to say that as a result of our disappointing evening I emailed our thoughts and feedback really to highlight what I think was a series of “training needs”. I wasn’t after a refund or goodwill gesture, I just believe that feedback good or bad should be welcomed. As a result of the email I had a phone call from the Manager who basically talked down to me and blamed our perception of the experience. He had viewed the cctv of the evening and at no time did we look unhappy or make any comments to the staff on the night. After the call ended I was furious at having been scolded by someone who point blank refused to accept any feedback and had completely turned the tables on me and how dare I even make recommendations on customer service. The occasion was the evening of my daughter’s graduation, held in Reading, so a perfect opportunity to visit and celebrate. It was a freezing night, we had big coats and scarfs and upon entering we were asked to make our way into the dining room. We insisted on sitting in the bar area to come to temperature and enjoy a drink before being seated. We asked about the Champagne selection as we were celebrating, but our host had no knowledge of the choices available. We did end up with a nice bottle but after one sip we were asked to enter the dining room. It was only when I tried to hang our coats up that a member of staff looked very surprised and took them from us, delivering tokens to our table a few minutes later. We weren’t comfortable ordering three courses at once, but it was explained that as it is a set price menu all three choices were to be made there and then. The starter's arrived and we were off to a good start. Red wine was ordered, shown to the table and decanted. We had actually been given a different wine to one that we asked for, but it was still a nice bottle. The main courses were underwhelming - the Duck & Cherry pie was dry and the Bon Bon was a deep fried ball of dried out stringy sinew, the Pork was a slab of meat which again was slightly dry and the Fish not much better. The Fillet of Beef was the best meal we had on our table. It wasn’t fine dining but it definitely wasn’t Pub food either. When dessert eventually arrived, it just wasn’t wanted. It was too late and too heavy. We had perhaps a couple of mouthfuls each and called it a day. We asked if a taxi could be arranged and 10 minutes later after paying over £1,100 for dinner for four, we were on our way to the Hotel. When we arrived at our destination, the taxi driver asked for cash payment. Not having that amount of cash, he then asked for a bank transfer, or he could drive us to a cash point to obtain cash! When we declined this, wanting to pay by Apple Pay or card, he then had to ring his dad for advice. His Dad insisted these were the only methods available. The stand off ended when the nice receptionist in our hotel paid with their cash and added the taxi cost to our Hotel bill. Was this really an approved taxi firm used by the Hand & Flowers? According to the Manger when given my dressing down phone call, yes it was and nothing like this has ever happened before!! In summary, don’t bother. This will be the most expensive and the most disappointing visit to a Pub you will ever make. In our opinion it bears the Tom Kerridge stamp in name only. If you were fortunate to enjoy an amazing experience a few years back leave it there. You shouldn’t try to relive the memory. We will never return. If you want an amazing experience try The Elephant in Torquay. They knock the Hand & Flowers into a cocked hat!

Amazing few days staying and dining with the hand and flowers. Night one at the hand and flowers and night two at The Coach. 2 very different experiences but both with delicious food and amazing service. We stayed at The Barbery in Duck Terrace which was also stunning and amazing cookies thrown in! My only criticism? So much food but delicious!

I’m not sure what to say. We were booked in, as a gift, on a one night DBB ‘deal’ £650 ! 3 course dinner was £175 per head s- why ? - so the BB part was £300 - why ? Stayed in one of the small cottages just to the side. Comfy room no problem. But £300 ???? No way. Bed was a double yet had at least another 1m or more either side. It should be a King sized bed at least. 4 pillows but all the same. For goodness sake, even in a Premier Inn you get 2 thick and 2 thin. TV kept stopping (see photo) which was massively annoying. Yes, yes, we don’t go away to watch TV but occasionally it’s nice to catch up with news in the morning etc. And if you provide one then make sure it works. Bathroom was decent size BUT within the shower itself no shelf or hanging basket/tray and so nowhere to put anything. The shower head itself is fixed too low and so even me at my massive Giraffe-like 5’8” could not get under it. Dinner. This should have been a highlight. Nothing fancy was expected but a real WOW. But it wasn’t. Massive disappointment. It wasn’t bad. It was good. But for £175 per head it really, really should be anyway. To be honest, totally honest, it wasn't a £75 per head dinner. Starter OK, main of venison was a BIG disappointment (two ‘medallions’ about 4cm x 4cm x 0.5cm), dessert a cube of cake again about 4cm x 4cm but MUCH bigger this time at 4cm thick ! Food = a huge disappointment. Wine £60/bottle. Not the cheapest but we didn’t know or recognise any on offer (maybe the price is why) so selected by type/grape. Beer £7.95. Cup of coffee ----- £7.50 !!! Yes £7.50. Breakfast was OK. Small but tasty. To be fair the best black pudding I have ever tasted. Toast ? Rubbish. Come on !!!!! Thin and VERY crispy. You didn’t cut it but snap it (Rivita anybody ?). Service = good. But it should be regardless of cost. It wasn’t special and no-one made you feel special. It was simply efficient and friendly. Exactly as it should be. Overall I have had a night away in a reasonably comfy room, a reasonable dinner and a reasonable breakfast. Memorable ? Yes, but only because it cost more than double what it really should. That is totally the wrong memory and I could not ever recommend it for what it is. Very disappointing.

Before I start, I would like to qualify this review by stating that I have been to other Michelin star pubs before going to the H&F. I therefore know a Michelin starred pub cannot and should not be compared to a Michelin starred restaurant. On arrival we were seated quickly, given menus and offered drinks. We had a couple of glasses of champagne and picked the set lunch at £55 for 2 courses or £65 for 3 courses. This gives you a choice of two from each course. For started I went for the braised beef pudding and my beauteous wife opted for the truffled cauliflower soup. I found the beef underwhelming, lacking flavour and texture. The soup on the other hand had a fantastic truffle and cauliflower punch. We both selected the trout for our mains. The trout was cooked expertly with lovely crispy skin, and the lovage made an excellent pairing. For dessert we shared a very disappointing Tiramisu which lacked the coffee flavour or boozy hit which makes a Tiramisu special. In summary the Hand & Flowers is a beautiful venue with excellent staff, however (in my opinion) it is a very good gastro pub but not a 2 star pub. Nevertheless at £159 for the two of us, it was good value for money.

How can a place like this get the recognition it has!!? The food was mediocre, I’ve actually had better in Wetherspoons. The staff look as if they don’t want to be there. As for the toilets, no loo roll, the bin and surrounding floor was strewn with paper towels, it looked as if it hadn’t been checked for hours, if not days! Then the hardest bit to chew, the bill !! I’ve eaten all over the world, and naively decided to try this “so called” tremendous restaurant, I just so wish I hadn’t. Tom Kerridge just get a grip.

Fantastic place. Amazing team and service and you will leave very full and satisfied. The accompanying rooms available are also excellent choices to stay in Marlow.

Amazing food, friendly staff everything was great very recommend

Well worth the wait. Absolutely gorgeous food and a brilliant 50th birthday experience. Fantastic and can't wait to return. Highly recommend

Absolutely amazing, relaxed atmosphere with attentive staff, not overpowering at all, but always there with a thorore knowledge. The food as you would expect from a ** Michelin restaurant is to die for...... We stayed in the 'Angus' cottage, it was unbelievably lovely, so quaint, clean & as you would expect, located 1 minute walk, was ideal, everything the staff did was amazing, the little touches, cards left, gifts etc made our stay so perfect, it's was more than I ever imagined, both myself & my Fiance had the most beautifully romantic & enjoyable stay & experience....I cannot recommend or thank the staff enough...,..thank you to the whole team 🥰

Gorgeous meal and overnight stay. Service from every member of the team was faultless. Will be back!

Visited on a Tuesday evening in January for my husband's milestone birthday. We have eaten in many one Michelin starred restaurants in London so bearing in mind this place has two stars was expecting to be completely 'wowed'. The food and service were excellent - although the gap between courses, particularly main and dessert, was a bit excessive. I had told them I was vegetarian and they had a full menu available for me to choose from. However, for the price it was not outstanding - the venue lacked atmosphere and whilst the food was well presented and tasty it did seem to fall short of expectations for a 2 Michelin starred venue. At just short of £400 for 3 courses each and a couple of drinks I think this place trades on the owner's name - have been more impressed in one Michelin starred establishments that have been easier on the purse strings!

Just the most fantastic experience. We booked dinner and stay, two couples. Everything flawless. Dinner and drinks as one can imagine exceptional, the overnight element was just perfect. The H&F team are amazing. Sometimes it’s nice to try different things but no doubt about it I’d love to eat and stay at Hand and Flowers again. Perfection..

Fantastic food and service in a relaxed atmosphere

Excellent food...tastes were exceptional. Service also excellent with friendly and knowledgeable staff. Not cheap but worth it on special occasions

Party of 6 for birthday celebration. I was really looking forward to the experience and I was extremely disappointed. The food lacked the wow factor expected from a 2 Michelin star venue and a price pp at £175.00 for a 3 course meal, although really nice it was more like what you'd expect from a gastro pub. I don't mind paying good money for food that is worth it, but it really wasn't, 1 star Michelin star "L'Ortolan" was from another planet in comparison. Service was really good and attentive. Sorry, can't recommend.

Stopped in to use the rapid car charger located in the car park. Had a coffee and homemade fudge.

I can’t fault the staff who worked here. They were efficient without being over bearing. It would have been nice if they could have talked us through our dishes as they do at most Michelin restaurants, but this wasn’t a major problem. They were brilliant with allergies so much appreciated. The ambience was pleasant but the food wasn’t worthy of two Michelin stars. A bar snack of fried white bait and bread with butters arrived which were fine- pretty standard pub fare. I had the King Oyster mushroom tart with mushroom rarebit for starter. I wasn’t blown away by this dish- it seemed to consist of a deep fried mushroom in a tart filled with very marmitey rarebit. The overwhelming tastes were oil and marmite which overpowered any other flavours. My husband had duck liver partfait with marmalade and brioche. This was delicious. For main I had the venison loin which managed to hold quite a few complex flavours, I really enjoyed the pepper muffin and the blackberry sauce. My husband had beef chateaubriand but found the overwhelming taste was butter. The table vegetables were ok- the cabbage was dripping with butter which didn’t help my husband’s dish and the roast potatoes were very well cooked but didn’t add any real taste complexity. My dessert was disappointing, I ordered the Toasted Madagascan Vanilla Rice Pudding. It came in two separate dishes, the first seemed to be a ball of rice pudding deep fried with a crust of caramel. Mixed with the apple sauce it was reminiscent of a certain fast food outlet’s apple pie. The overwhelming taste was oil. The hard caramel made it oversweet and the rice pudding seemed lost inside this fried ball. The second bowl had a small amount of rice pudding topped with yet another overly sweet and crunch topping. The vanilla ice cream was nice but the whole thing was overly oil flavoured, stodgy and contained strange hard bits that I presume were the toasted rice. My husband ordered the Chocolate & Cherry Pit Cake with Espresso Butterscotch, Frosted Brazil Nut and Cherry Pit Ice Cream which he felt was nice but not 2*michelin nice. We have eaten in a few one star Michelin places as well as many places which don’t have a star and I can honestly say, there are a lot of meals we enjoyed more than this one. For a two star Michelin restaurant with the price tag, we were disappointed.

Food was nice. Maybe 1 star quality but definitely not 2 star. Service was dismissive at best, verging on rude at worst. Spent nearly £500 on a meal for 2 and they didn’t even say goodbye even though we were polite throughout. Wouldn’t go back.

Great, as always. Set menu was excellent, staff were great. Love this place.

Lovely lunch in a lovely setting. Service was impeccable. Would highly recommend a visit or two.

I was lucky enough to be given a Lunch Experience for two at this restaurant as a thank you gift - unfortunately it is only valid for January and February and I am away for a cruise for the whole of that period. I have tried to reason with the staff to no avail (no flexibility whatsoever) - therefore they will pocket my donors money - which I deem unreasonable

It’s astonishing to think that this establishment holds the same number of Michelin stars as exceptional restaurants such as La Dame de Pic, Restaurant Story, or Claude Bosi at Bibendum. Little about this dining experience felt worthy of a Michelin star. Amuse-bouches: While trying to find the right word to describe what we were served, we could only settle on "lazy." A large slice of sausage roll, which was tasty but excessively greasy, and bread with butter made up this offering. It was a completely unremarkable and uninspired start to the meal. Starters: While the omelette and soup were nice enough, the soup lacked finesse. The apple pieces were so large that when you got one, it completely overwhelmed the dish’s balance. And why say it has "tortellini" when there were two teeny ones for a whole bowl of soup? Mains: The proteins were the highlight, showcasing the closest this restaurant came to great cooking alongside the banana soufflé. Both the fish and the beef fillet, along with their respective sauces, were divine. Unfortunately, the accompaniments left much to be desired and detracted from the overall experience. Desserts: The banana soufflé deserves special mention for its fabulous taste and presentation. However, the chocolate cake was disappointingly heavy - this feedback is coming from someone who loves chocolate and sweets in general. Service: None of the dishes were explained to us, leaving us trying to recall details from the menu as we ate, which doesn't meet the professional standards you’d expect at this level. Furthermore, the wait between courses was simply unacceptable. A glance at other reviews suggests this is a recurring issue at the restaurant. Payment: Rather shockingly, this restaurant does not accept American Express. When you drive nearly two hours and pay £175 per person for three courses (N.B. that's just for the food), the experience should be memorable for the right reasons. Instead, I find myself writing this review out of sheer disappointment. I will not be returning, and I cannot recommend this restaurant to anyone.

Our recent visit to The Hand and Flowers was quite disappointing. While the food was fair, it was far from outstanding, and the beer was equally mediocre—definitely not what we were expecting and not worth the money at all. The saving grace was our waitress, who was lovely and provided good service. However, the pub itself felt a bit tired and could benefit from some attention to bring it back to its best. To make matters worse, the toilets were not as clean as they should have been, which was off-putting. What really soured the evening was the restaurant manager, who was surprisingly rude to my wife. A lesson in diplomacy would go a long way here. Overall, the experience was poor and certainly not worth the high price tag. Not a value for money experience ? A meager 2 out of 10. We won’t be rushing back.

Tiny, dark pub. The best starter I’ve ever have ever eaten. How did French onion soup taste like that? The main course of cod was nowhere like as good and was much too bland. The contrast of tastes between the two dishes was obvious and should have been more closely matched. Service was fine.

This is the second time at the hand and flowers and it didn’t disappoint! The service was friendly and attentive right from the start. We were able to check in early and taken to our cottage and given the tour before being able to relax in our own private hot tub. The restaurant was only a very short walk away and we had a drink in the bar before being taken through to our table. The food was fantastic. The wine pairing superb. On reading some reviews on trip advisor earlier in the day, I was worried that it wouldn’t be as good as our previous visit but I needn’t have worried. The fillet of beef was particularly good with the most amazing bordelaise sauce and probably the best mashed potatoes I have ever eaten. Can’t wait until our next visit!

Every bite of the dessert felt like a piece of heaven. Definitely worth saving room for!

Wonderful food unpretentious friendly atmosphere absolutely loved it!

Thank you to the staff and chef for a lovely anniversary lunch. Food was fantastic and atmosphere simply perfect; relaxed and comfortable. The sausage roll and Hand and Flowers beer were a match made in heaven!! :)

Absolutely loved our visit here, for our 24th Anniversary. The food and service was marvellous and all the staff are so nice (and because i dont like cheese, you adapted some of the dishes, very accommodating). You made us feel very special, so thank you all 😊

I see some controversialists have reviewed The Hand and Flowers with criticisms of 'crumbs on the table' and 'nothing exciting.' Ultimately, who cares what anyone has to say. The place has two Michelin stars and rightly so. Those leaving attention seeking reviews probably wouldn't be welcome back anyway! As for exciting food. I went here for my 30th birthday. The beauty of The Hand and Flowers is that it's a pub and focuses on cooking pub classics with good ingredients, exceptionally well. For excitement maybe try a trip to Harry Potter world to sample real life Butter Beer. In all honesty even if the food was sub-standard (which it certainly wasn't) I would have given five stars for the pub anthems rumbling on in the background. Great soundtrack.

We visited for our anniversary and had the most wonderful time. They took the time to write happy anniversary on our plates and even gave us a card. We also had a lovely table. absolutely worth a visit. Can't wait to go back.

A perfectly pleasant lunch but food lacked any excitement, complexity and innovation one expects from a 2 Michelin establishment, was more on a par with my local village pub. Dietary restrictions were noted but either not implemented or the approach was to remove essential elements of the dish rather than make a meaningful substitution, leaving a hungry and unsatisfied diner. Pluses were a cosy setting and professional service.

Excellent food & service, faultless dining experience.

Didn’t really want to leave a bad review as the staff and the service was very good. I’ve wanted to come here for years but it’s a long way. We stayed at the accommodation and it was fantastic. The big downside was the food. The appetisers which are provided between courses were very nice but the actual food was no better than a local pub for a tenth of the price. The steak was perfectly cooked, the potato inedible, greasy and hard. The desert also hard and not too nice. My husband had the cheese platter which wasn’t good either. On the plus side the cocktails were delicious and the breakfast the next morning excellent. We have had several michellin star meals which have been outstanding elsewhere and the food here was just nowhere near that level.

I want to leave a 1 star review because that’s what everyone reads, however!!!! Excellent food, excellent stay, excellent service! 5 stars! Thank you for making our stay the most rememberable ever!

We spent our anniversary dinner at this place, which has 2michelin stars. The location is really nice and the restaurant is very cosy and intimate..nothing fancy. A bit disappointed I'm afraid about the food ...£175 for a 3 course menu(1starter,1main,1desser)...and wasn't even fantastic!!!Very simple dishes!!very good service but our table remained dirty and full of crumbles until the dessert came in. £7 for an additional coffee at the end. Honestly we have been in many restaurants in London with 1michelin star and the experience was way more excited and tasty.

We visited 1st December 2024.. the service was actually 5 star. Very lovely and welcoming staff. The food was cooked to perfection too, it was an all round very lovely treat for us.

The food and service did not disappoint. Generous portions meant you definitely arent going away hungry! Avoid the table by the kitchen, the little alcove, it's near an air duct and it was very cold and drafty! Great menu and absolutely loved the deserts!

Incredible food in a laid back atmosphere. Enjoyed every second.

We went for the Festive Menu. Very reasonably priced for this type of restaurant The service was impeccable. Friendly, attentive, not overly stuffy. From the way they served other tables you could see they are knowledge in their food and wines. The food was perfect 👌

I had high expectations as we had booked far in advance, and we always like to try new 2-3 Michelin star restaurants for our birthdays. While the bar and lounge was nice the dining area felt cramped and stuffy, the service was friendly but quite slow / juvenile, and unfortunately the terrine was disgusting, and the other dishes were mediocre and unimaginative reinventions of pub food. It was very expensive for what it was (both the food and the room we stayed in after, which looked like it was last redecorated in the 90s). If you are looking for gastropub fare then the Devonshire in London is miles better than this tired restaurant.

Very overpriced. My wife booked dinner for us both plus a night in one of their rooms in town. The accommodation was very pleasant, but the food in the restaurant was incredibly overpriced. For a venue to have 2 Michelin stars, with three courses at £175 per person (food only) you'd expect stunningly good, jaw-dropping food, with a real 'wow' factor, and it absolutely wasn't. Don't get me wrong, it was very pleasant, and we had a nice time, but my god it's overpriced! I'd expect similar food at any high end gastro-pub, for a fraction of the price. I absolutely do not understand!

Amazing food, amazing service. 6 stars

Excellent from the moment we arrived the rooms are fantastic and we loved the hot tub.The food is wonderful and the coach is brilliant as well the staff are great, helpful and all in all the whole 3days were perfect, so we're going back to stay in January :)

Just a great experience but remember it's got Michelin stars so doublle the price of a normal gastro pub, but I believe it's worth it.

The Hand and Flowers is disappointing. I visited with my wife recently. The meal was extraordinary, but not in a good way. The food, though amazingly creative and stunningly well prepared and presented, is just too much. The Flavours are too strong and there are too many competing with each other on every plate. It's an assault on the senses. Everything's dialled up to 11. Overpowering. Neither of us I finished our mains or desserts - not because we were full but because we just couldn't face any more Flavour. I'm capitalising Flavour, though I think perhaps it should be in all-caps. The food is shouting at you. It's got a star and the service to match. We were provided a customised menu that dealt well with our food preferences. But it didn't feel special. I wouldn't go back. There are certainly better places to drop £500 on a meal. (have you tried the Ledbury? it's amazing)

Booked a while ago for a special birthday. We've been really looking forward to the culinary experience and having many Tom Kerridge books that have become our go to for superb recipes. Have to say we were disappointed on arrival,we didn't get that special welcome you would expect from a 2 star michelin establishment. The bar area was nice for a quick refreshment. After a pleasant stroll around Marlow we were shown to our room which was nice! Just nice,nothing more! On arrival for our evening meal we again sat in the bar area for a pre dinner drink. We ordered our 3 courses before being shown to our table which to be honest wasn't great,it was like a booth probably the worst table and very uncomfortable. I will touch briefly on the food which I would say was very underwhelming!! We are big foodies and like to eat out and enjoy good honest food. Have to say I'm surprised they have any michelin stars as the food was not at all what we anticipated,some elements were extremely salty and I know seasoning is key but this was too much,I look forward to your feed back on this and expect nothing more than it just wasn't to our taste!! We all agreed and being a birthday celebration the food was just OK and absolutely not worth the £175 per Person. All in all I wouldn't recommend which is ashame as this should have been a special treat.

Really wonderful experience yesterday from the greeting when we arrived until we left. Fabulous food, amazing cocktails, really attentive staff without over fussing. Would highly recommend.

I am really sorry to write that we were underwhelmed by our recent stay at The Hand and Flowers. Upon arrival we were met by a rather unfriendly member of staff and I have to say that pretty much set the tone for the rest of our stay. For such an establishment I did expect more, when you travel far for an occasion and spend such an amount of money you hope for a higher level of service and treatment. Our room was small and dark, cosy of course but would not want to stay for more than one night. The bar is simple and a nice place to have a quick drink before dinner, we love good food and dining out but we all struggled with knowing our meal was from a Michelin restaurant it just did not feel that high of a standard. The flavours were overpowering at times, some of it was tasty but honestly we hoped for so much more in terms of skill and flavour. The breakfast is simple, fresh, but nothing more. It would have been so nice to have felt more welcome, we had a birthday in our party and one person said a quick Happy Birthday but it just lacked in that department. A few of the younger members of staff were more friendly but generally there was a lack of warmth and welcome. I know it is hard to please people, some people want little contact and others love it so I understand it is tricky but just try to make people feel that they are happy you are there. I know this is a pub ambience and it certainly has that but could just be so much more. I wanted to leave feeling that I very much want to return but sadly that is not the case.

We had looked forward to dinner at The Hand and Flowers for months. We treat ourselves (group of friends) every few months to a Michelin starred experience. This was the only one we all felt so disappointed by. The building itself is charming. The staff are professional and welcoming. It is very dark in the dining area. I couldn’t see what I was eating which was a godsend under the circumstances. The three courses are £175.00 and one has to order all courses at the same time. There isn’t a huge choice. Bread arrived after 15 minutes. This was nice. There was a sausage roll to start with which is complimentary. Then the waiting starts………my starter was X Soup and all honesty I couldn’t fault that. It was incredible. Long wait for the main course! Over half an hour! My fish was raw and the mash and cabbage were lukewarm. It wasn’t easy to eat. My friends said that the lamb and venison were too rich and stodgy. Their mash and cabbage were lukewarm also. Another long wait for dessert. Stodgy banana cake which tasted synthetic. Lovely ice cream though. Underwhelming experience and not worth the money we paid. Simon Rogan does it so much better! We will not return again - nor will we buy Tom’s M&S food. The waiting staff were amazing. My rating is simply about the below average food. It simply isn’t worth two Michelin stars.

We went as a 60th birthday treat. Lovely food, great service. Bistro pub atmosphere. Bonus sausage roll at the start. I was instantly won over. It was a great experience and my first entry into a Michelin restaurant. We are going back for Christmas lunch

We were looking forward to an exceptional meal in this highly rated restaurant, unfortunately we were underwhelmed by the food on offer. The dishes presented before us did not wow or even excite. Whilst I am sure technically they may have been produced with skill, they failed to reach a 2 star standard. The choice of dishes on the Lunch menu was limited to two per course, which felt very restricted. With little opportunity to account for dietary requirements. On the plus side the staff were attentive and very good and the venue was pleasant. Overall, I felt disappointed and the restaurant did not deserve the accolades and reputation it has acquired, based on its current offering.

Absolutely delightful visit. Fantastic service, amazing food and great atmosphere. We had the set menu during the week and it was great value. Well worth the trip down the M4 - I am already planning our next visit!

Went here for a family meal. The vegetarian option was basically a glorified jacket potato with beans. How can a restaurant like this even dare offer this and charge a rediculous amount for it. The other 2 meals were fine. Service was good too.

It was a fantastic experience overall. The food was excellent, and the surprise sausage roll at the beginning was a delightful touch. The compliments paired perfectly with each dish, and we were impressed with every mouthful from start to finish. I can't recommend it highly enough.

We had the set lunch. It was expertly cooked and very good value

Very cosy and typical place, exceptionnal service and very seasonal products. Wine choice in carafe is a plus if going for lunch or alone.

The final part of Helen's 40th birthday celebration. A visit courtesy of Adam to the Hand & Flowers. All in all absolutely amazing food. A two star Michelin award winning restaurant. The three course set Sunday lunch menu was terrific - what was really impressive was that having chosen our three courses we were given a taster course or amuse bouche of a humble sausage roll - ha ha - with a mustard sauce but exquisite. The taste was WOW wow. My starter was a very special glazed omelette with haddock and parmesan. The taste, texture and delicacy were absolutely awesome. The main course of pork tenderloin cooked with liquorice+ a malted cheek & potato risotto & accompanying vegetables was exceptional. Dessert was equally amazing and yummy. Banana souffle with vanilla custard was again exceptional. See attached menu photo for thorough description of all the dishes available. The service was very attentive and always present but not in your face and OTT. All the staff were pleasant, polite, very friendly and exceptionally helpful. A once in a blue moon dining experience. Until you experience cooking of this exceptional quality words cannot describe the total experience at the Hand & Flowers. I certainly won't forget it.

2 Michelin Stars and didn't disappoint... Fantastic in every way, laid back pub feel with great food and service...highly recommend

Enjoyed the Sunday Lunch but at £175 a head, without any drinks, it just isn't worth that kind of money. We've enjoyed a lot of fine dining experiences at a variety of places and whilst it's exceptionally rich food with huge portions for something Michelin starred, it isn't special enough to command that price. You start with a sausage roll with mustard and sourdough with two types of butter and these are relatively bland albeit satisfying. We had the terrine and the soup to start, pork and chicken pie for mains, finishing with souffle and nougat. Each dish was gradually better than the last but it was extremely rich and filling, the portions needn't be so large. The dining room is dimly lit and quite dark, which normally would feel cosy, but when combined with the richness of the flavours and portions of the food it puts you to sleep! The atmosphere is confusing, it's not fine dining as such because the wine list is on an iPad and you have to view the menu from your phone by scanning a QR code. But it's not a pub feel either, the staff certainly attempted to act and create a fine dining environment. Overall the service itself is great and the staff are knowledgeable and friendly, although early in the service a lot of them are standing in the hall twiddling their thumbs which makes it slightly uncomfortable. Overall if you want to say you've been to Tom Kerridge's restaurant and you don't mind the price tag, go. If you're going for the food or the experience as a whole, take a step back, consider just how many wonderful pubs and restaurants are around this part of the world, and select a different location, you will get more quality and or value for your money.

Lovely place for a treat. The food quality and cooking is outstanding. We had the set lunch menu (choice of 2 dishes per course) which is significantly cheaper and a good way of doing it. A third choice per course would make this even better. Service was exceptionally attentive and professional. The only letdown was an unusual wine recommendation which we didn’t enjoy. Highlights: - that little sausage roll before starter - the bread and butter - duck breast main meal - fudge with coffee

Very very average, went for my 50th, expected something really special. Food was so underwhelming, staff were all very young and awkward, no atmosphere. Hotel room was lovely but very small. I really wanted to love this but so disappointed. Breakfast was delicious but my vegetarian one was disgraceful. Basically the same price as the full English but minus bacon, sausage and black pudding. Was literally one mushroom, half a tomato and some scrambled egg. An additional mushroom or the other half of the tomato would’ve been great.

We arrived at the hand and flowers and were greeted by staff. Who were very friendly. Our room was fantastic, clean and comfortable. It has coffee, tea and bottles of water. The evening meal was fantastic and the breakfast was amazing. Highly recommend 👌

Took my husband here for his 70th birthday, travelled a long way, stayed over ,it was fabulous. Thankyou to tom and his fantastic team,every special touch was Lush!!!!! Xx

Have lived locally for a while, so I decided to try this restaurant out on Sunday. Walked in to a dead atmosphere with 2 young guys at the front leaning up against the desk chatting. Food was very average with undercooked soggy pastry on sausage roll given. Not particularly inspiring small portion of roast filet of beef with one small Yorkshire with a small drip of gravy at the base, and some soggy unattractive cabbage as well as 4 uninspiring flavoured potatoes in a small container on the side to share! I had dietary requirements that I had mentioned before I had arrived, yet information was not passed on and were not very flexible or accommodating of this and I ended up very disappointed. Clearly inexperienced, young staff not being supported correctly. No touches of luxury which you would expect with a bill over £200 for one person ordering a three course meal at lunch without alcohol. A very disappointed experience I have been to the coach and Tom’s other restaurants many times before and enjoyed so never questioned the bill, however this time I wish I had made my own roast with family at home.

A very expensive restaurant which is to be expected being Michelin starred. The location is right, with a large car park. However a beer and a gin and tonic cost £27.50, which I think is ott.

Racist restaurant of Marlow. Don’t come here if you want to spend 400+ quids and be treated like trash. I mean, If you want to spend an arm and a leg and feel like a leftover scrap, then by all means, visit Hand and Flowers! It was the worst dining experience of my life. The waitresses seemed to have a secret vendetta against us, as they didn't bother explaining the food or served us the wrong dishes. And if that wasn't enough, they made us wait for ages after finishing our starters, only to bring us a surprise dish that was duck-liver instead of an omelette. The service was so bad that we felt like we were in a slapstick comedy sketch, with food flying over our heads and utensils falling to the ground not once but twice! It was an unforgettable night, one that I'll remember as a cautionary tale for the rest of my days. The waitress asked whether I have money in my credit card. What was that all about? So sad, it was so racist. And guess what? When I complained, I didn't even get a sorry-not-sorry. So, if you're looking for a good laugh at your own expense, book a table at Hand and Flowers!

A lovely place . friendly but professional. Good atmosphere. The menu is presented on an electric tablet. So only one person can read it at a time. I would have preferred a menu each. This will not stop me from returning to this lovely restaurant.

We chose the Set Lunch Menu and it was faultless. Each course was amazing but the standout was the Rabbit Terrine and the House made Sausage Roll. Each cocktail we tried was superb and well crafted. The staff were friendly and super attentive from the moment we arrived. Would highly recommend a trip out to Marlow if only just for a meal

Just here to charge EV, but great food too!

Beautiful surroundings and fantastic food. Really nice decor.