Tom Kerridge opened The Hand and Flowers in 2005 with his wife Beth, and within a year it had its first Michelin star. The second came in 2012, making it the first — and still the only — pub in the UK to hold two stars. The setting is deliberately unpretentious: a whitewashed coaching inn on West Street with low ceilings, wooden floors, and a pub-like atmosphere despite the serious cooking happening in the kitchen.
The food is refined British pub cooking taken to extraordinary levels. Signature dishes include the slow-cooked duck breast with duck-fat chips, and a salt-baked pineapple dessert that has been on the menu for years. Portions are generous and the wine list is well-curated. Booking is essential and tables are released months in advance — set a reminder and book the moment they open. Lunch is slightly easier to get than dinner. Expect to spend around GBP 80-100 per head before drinks.