1 Michelin Star Chefs: Tom Shepherd, chef founder, Upstairs by Tom Shepherd

Tom Shepherd is the chef founder of Upstairs by Tom Shepherd, a fine-dining one Michelin-starred restaurant in Lichfield, Staffordshire

The restaurant opened in late 2021, receiving a Michelin star just four months later.

Biography

Born in Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, chef Tom Shepherd cut his teeth at the local New Hall Hotel as a chef de partie under Wayne Thompson.

In subsequent roles, Tom was a sous-chef at Swinfen Hall Hotel, then at The Samling in the Lake District under Ian Swainson, and at two Michelin-starred Michael Wignall at The Latymer.

In 2015, aged 26, wanting to refine his skills and test himself, he applied for a job two Michelin-starred Restaurant Sat Bains as a development chef, and, having impressed John Freeman and Sat during his trial, landed the role. 

Then, after a series of pop-ups with chef Adam Degg, Tom was offered his first head chef role at Michelin-starred Adam's Restaurant in Birmingham. He stayed there for two and a half years, during which time he retained the restaurant's 3 AA Rosettes and Michelin star.

With plans to open his own restaurant delayed due to the pandemic, Tom ran his meal kit service, Dine at Home with Tom Shepherd, delivering a weekly changing, seasonal three-course menu direct to diners’ doors until he could push ahead with Upstairs.

He finally opened the restaurant in October 2021, receiving a star in the Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland 2022 just four months later.

Upstairs by Tom Shepherd

Upstairs by Tom Shepherd is a 28-seat restaurant located above the chef's father’s jewellery shop in Lichfield, a city on the outskirts of Birmingham in Staffordshire. 

Designed to be a relaxed and refined space, the restaurant showcases Tom's modern British menus, based around seasonal ingredients with influences from Japan and East Asia.

The Michelin Guide states that "like the chef himself, the cooking is confident yet restrained," with Tom's experience shining through in "detailed yet unfussy dishes, which are beautifully presented and come with well-thought-through flavour combinations."

As well as a good value lunch menu, wine flights and good quality wines by the glass, it continues, "perfectly pitched service from a cheerful young team completes this enjoyable dining experience."

The flagship tasting menu is priced at £77 for seven courses, and includes dishes like Orkney scallop with salsa verde, apple and dashi and poached Atlantic cod with brown shrimp, caviar and parsley.

A three-course lunch menu, available from Thursday-Saturday and priced at £35, includes dishes like Creedy Carver Chicken with leek, onion and mustard cream, while a three-course Sunday lunch menu, also priced at £35, showcases Tom’s takes on classic British comfort food, such as roast salt-aged Herefordshire beef sirloin and king oyster mushroom wellington with winter truffle. 

The Kitchen Table is available for up to 4 people, where guests are invited to gaze upon the team while they cook.

A roof terrace is also planned for the first half of 2022.