The Coach Marlow

Tom Kerridge’s influence on modern pub dining is hard to overstate. From a clutch of successful pubs, including The Hand & Flowers (the UK’s only two Michelin-starred pub), to TV appearances and cook-at-home collaborations, what underpins it all is a reassuring lack of ego.

The Coach sits neatly within that trend. It feels rooted, confident and deliberately local. It also happens to offer the UK’s cheapest Michelin-starred set menu at £15. Inside, the look is classy pub chic: worn leather banquettes, green tiling, dark wood, soft lighting. After ten years in operation, The Coach is only just beginning to show its age, though only in that endearing old boozer kind of way. It hasn’t lost its lustre. On a Saturday lunchtime, families are settling in for the long haul, couples tuck themselves into corners, and small groups chat over pints and puddings.

The best seats, however, are at the pewter counter overlooking the kitchen. From here, The Coach classics stream out at a steady clip. A smoked haddock Scotch egg is technically faultless, with delicately smoked fish, a perfectly jammy yolk and a thin, crisp breadcrumb crust, all set atop a glossy parsley sauce. Mussels marinière follow, submerged in a rich cream sauce, finished with warm stout and matched with nutty brown bread for proper dunking.

Chicken Kyiv is indulgent and properly juicy, while much-lauded hand-cut chips earn their reputation. Best of all is a beautifully flaky piece of hake, resting on a slick, gently spiced sauce, with shaved fennel to neatly cut through the richness.

Dessert is more playful. A toffee apple is reimagined as a glazed choux bun, filled with apple and custard, scented with roast vanilla and drenched in Calvados caramel. It is nostalgic, clever and extremely satisfying.

The appeal is obvious. The food is generous, unfussy and consistently well judged. Service is brisk, cheerful and unpretentious, reinforcing the sense that for many affluent Marlow residents, this really is their local. More importantly, the room feels happy. Staff smile easily, the kitchen chats, and the whole place ticks along with an easy familiarity. Nothing showy, nothing strained, just very good food, done properly.

Helmed by Tom Kerridge, with Brad Cacela leading the kitchen as head chef, The Coach Marlow is a welcoming Michelin-starred pub sitting pretty in the affluent Buckinghamshire town of Marlow. It might have a star, but The Coach is all about elevated pub fare, welcoming service, and occasionally wacky twists on the classics. At its heart, it remains a cosy local. 

The menu is seasonal, offering up a range of smaller plates to start or to share (sharing is encouraged). Inside, the vibe is relaxed, featuring red leather banquettes, cosy nooks, and counter seating that looks directly into the kitchen. It's laid back, featuring TV screens for catching the latest sports action. 

If you fancy yourself a bit of a connoisseur, explore the thoughtfully crafted wine list and a selection of brewed beers and ales, including selections from the local Rebellion Brewery in Marlow. The restaurant is open every day for lunch and dinner, with the exception of Tuesdays when they take a brief pause. Reservations are available on the day for both lunch and dinner, while weekend breakfast operates on a convenient walk-in basis. Food is split into meat and no meat sections. Begin your meal with a starter of a rotisserie beetroot salad with mulled pear, burrata and hazelnuts, or mussels mariniere with warm stout and brown bread.

If you fancy something that is a twist on a classic, try the smoked haddock scotch egg with parsley sauce, the towering Coach burger, or something from the rotisserie section. Why not then try the crispy pig's head with devil on horseback, celeriac remoulade and date brown sauce, or the spiced parsnip soup with duck samosa and a sesame and peanut sauce. To finish, expect to see The Coach treacle tart with clotted cream, a nostalgic toffee apple choux bun, and beef suet sticky toffee pudding.