Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge has come out in defence of his menu prices after he was criticised online for his £87 sirloin steak.
The 48-year-old Michelin-star chef responded to a tweet posted by wine expert Guy Woodward who called out the prices at Kerridge’s Buckinghamshire-based two Michelin-starred pub The Hand and Flowers.
Woodward said: “Website of @handfmarlow by @ChefTomKerridge – ‘unpretentious’, ‘proper pub’, ‘for everyone to enjoy’ ‘relaxed and accessible’.
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“Also @handfmarlow – steak and chips: £87; side of cabbage: £7.50; creme brûlée: £26.50. And people complain about wine list mark-ups...”
Kerridge responded by defending his prices because he pays staff “properly.”
On top of the £87 for the steak, the sides, such as vegetables, cost a further £7.50.
He said: "Those prices include everything, VAT and service. No additional service charge at all. Also I pay staff properly and treat their job as a professional career. Perhaps the real cost of dining should be addressed.
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"Unpretentious does not mean cheap. Also, why is profit a bad word?”
The menu at Kerridge’s pub also includes a lamb main priced at £69 and a £60 spiced venison loin. All desserts - including the now infamous crème brûlée - are priced at £26.50.
Woodward later clarified his main issue is the marketing of the pub. He tweeted: “My issue isn’t with the prices - people are evidently happy to pay them. It’s the marketing. £87 for steak and chips is hardly an ‘unpretentious, proper pub’ that’s ‘accessible to everyone….'”
One Twitter user agreed with Woodward, writing: "Guy, I totally agree with you! Marketing is so wrong and the cost is unreasonable. Using staff retention as an excuse for ripping off customers is really ridiculous!”
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However, some people on social media came to Kerridge's defence. One person said: "This is reason why ppl [working] in hospitality get paid a shit wage,because ppl like you don’t think that a well butchered,reared steak,treated well, cooked well,handled by more than one chef should be worth this. I’m sure @ChefTomKerridge has bills/rent/ wages to pay for too:.."
Featured Image Credit: Tom Kerridge/TwitterTopics: Food and Drink, Celebrity