Tom Shepherd
Upstairs by Tom Shepherd
Tom Shepherd, a celebrated chef, brings culinary excellence to his Michelin-starred restaurant, Upstairs by Tom Shepherd, in Staffordshire. Born in Sutton Coldfield, Tom champions British ingredients with dishes that reflect his love of Asian flavors.
Upstairs by Tom Shepherd opened in October 2021 and earned a Michelin star just four months later, becoming Staffordshire’s only starred restaurant. The restaurant has also received 3 AA Rosettes, the Craft Guild of Chefs’ Best New Restaurant Award, and placed 46th in the 2024 National Restaurant Awards Top 100. Recently, it won the Newcomer Award at the 2024 Cateys.
Tom gained national recognition on The Great British Menu 2023, where his ‘Desperate Dan cow pie’ reached the banquet final, earning praise as “the best pie I’ve ever had” from Paul Ainsworth and “everything I love about food” from Tom Kerridge. His dessert ‘Banana Man’ also garnered acclaim.
Previously, Tom honed his skills at Michelin-starred kitchens, including Restaurant Sat Bains and Adam’s in Birmingham, where he served as Head Chef.
In addition to leading Upstairs, Tom supports Kids’ Village, a charity for critically ill children, and serves as Resident Chef for Club Wembley, showcasing his talents at prestigious events like Royal Ascot and the FA Cup Final.