Being the only two-Michelin-starred pub in the UK hasn't made Tom Kerridge's The Hand and Flowers in Marlow exempt from economic pressures. 

At the height of the energy crisis in July last year, Alan Dooley, Managing Director of The Tom Kerridge Group, said its flagship pub, The Hand and Flowers on West Street in Marlow, saw a dramatic surge in costs from £5000 to £35,000 per month. 

He was forced to think fast and quickly secured a short-term energy contract with the consultancy firm Advantage Utilities, covering the period from December 2022 to March 2023, and began carrying out a full review of the business to assess the changes that could be made.

"We looked at absolutely everything - from kitchen consumption, external lighting, heating, computer usage, iPad usage, peak times of usage, and the list went on.

"For us as an independent operator, it was a huge eye opener to where we could save on our usage. It has helped kickstart a culture change in how we use our energy."

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Mr Dooley said the savings identified over a consequent 12-month period equated to around £51,000 saved in energy consumption, including through the installation of LED lighting, air conditioning optimisation and fridge efficiency.

"We have heard so many horror stories (about) small independent businesses like ours struggling to plan.

"Energy purchasing has now become an integral part of our business. We now buy energy the same way we look at our food and beer prices, it has become that important."