Kerridge plans to rethink pub formula with new site
Kerridge has described his vision for the Coach, which is on Marlow High Street and a stone's throw from the Hand & Flowers, as a modern, all-day dining-orientated pub that will compete more effectively with high-street coffee shops and casual-dining chains.
Kerridge said: "I want The Coach to be a place for people to take pleasure in anything from a drink and a snack through to a full lunch or dinner- it offers something for everyone – it is flexible, a Public House for all to enjoy."
A spokeswoman said: "Tom and Beth are intent on upholding the values of what a proper pub should be whilst being mindful of current day eating habits; The Coach is a modern day blueprint for a Great British Pub."
The Coach, which was formerly a Chinese restaurant, will open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It will offer an evolving menu which reflects the time of day. The service style will be for dishes to be presented to diners as and when ready, rather than all being served at the same time. Prices will range from £6 to £15.
Rotisserie cooking will be a key focus of the menu, with the rotisserie a key feature of the open kitchen. A bold metallic kitchen counter will snake the entire room bordered by leather bar seats which will provide the bulk of the seating and will encourage diners to interact with the kitchen team.
The morning menu will feature dishes including smoked haddock kedgeree and waffles with truffle honey and roast bacon bagel and a breakfast hot dog to go. Lunch and dinner dishes will feature potted Cornish crab with cucumber chutney; moules mariniere with warm stout and brown bread and whole rotisserie roasted stuffed quail.
The kitchen team will be led by current Hand & Flowers senior sous chef Nick Beardshaw with Kerridge and his head chef, Aaron Mulliss, helping menu development.
The pub, which is an Enterprise lease, will have capacity for 40-covers and a no booking policy. Orders will be taken and served by all members of the team; barman, waitress or chef, allowing for everyone to be a part of the customer experience. Small, muted television screens will be dotted around the room and show live sport.
Front of House will be run by Claire Kreigenfeld and the bar managed by James Shaw who have both worked at the Hand & Flowers, Kreigenfeld as assistant manager for the last four years and Shaw for the last 18 months.
Enterprise Inns regional manager Stephen Folbigg said: “We’re delighted Tom has taken on the Coach. Given the well-deserved success of his other Marlow pub, I’m sure this latest venture will prove hugely popular and draw similar praise. As with all our publicans, Enterprise will work hard to help Tom achieve his ambitions for the Coach.”
