Chef Tom Kerridge – of the now world-renowned Hand & Flowers gastropub where one can sup a “pint of top ale with your 2 Michelin star food” – opens his ‘butcher-pub’ in Marlow today (17 November). The Butcher’s Tap allows visitors to meet for a bite to eat throughout the day, a drink in the evening, and buy well-sourced quality meat to take home before 5 pm. It is the chef and restaurateur’s third Marlow venture (he also runs no bookings pub/cafe The Coach, where some say the food is even better than at its famous sibling).

After the disappointment of Kerridge not taking over the Rib Room at Belgravia’s Jumeirah Carlton Tower hotel, this is good news for fans of the TV chef (although you’ll still need to travel outside of the Smoke to sample his wares). Kerridge regretfully announced last month that his takeover of The Rib Room had fallen through. Jumeirah Carlton have re-opened the Rib Room without the planned refurbishment that was promised when Tom’s involvement was announced at the end of 2016.

Tom and butcher Andy Cook (who has supplied the Hand & Flowers for nearly 10 years) are working with expert, trusted meat suppliers from across the country to supply The Butcher’s Tap with the best cuts. The fresh meat on offer will include beef from Smithfield market’s Longcroft and Old, sourced from Stoddart’s Farm in Scotland; venison and game from Hampshire Game; pork and chicken from Packington Free Range, Creedy Carver ducks and Copas Turkeys in time for Christmas.

There will also be black pudding from The Fruit Pig Company and British cured meats from Cobble Lane Cured. The butcher will also offer recipe cards from Tom giving customers tips on how to cook their meat.

Alongside the butcher, there will be a no-frills hot food offering. By day the deli will offer Sandridge Farm Bacon rolls in the morning and a Franconians Smoked Hot Dog with pulled pork, pickled chillies and mustard mayonnaise will be available from lunchtime. Throughout the day and into the evening there will also be pork pies, scotch eggs and sausage rolls. Tom’s famous pork scratchings will be available from the bar.

In the evening and all day on Sunday, the butcher closes and the pub will open fully. As well as selection of ales and lagers on tap, the pub has a small, revolving wine list and will serve one daily-changing hot dish every evening.

Tom has partnered with friend and butcher Andy Cook and Greene King on the project.