EP. 157: TOM SHEPHERD, BALANCING FOOD, FAME, AND FAMILY WITH OWNER OF UPSTAIRS RESTAURANT

In this episode, Mark McC welcomes Tom Sheppard, Chef Patron of the Michelin-starred restaurant Upstairs. They delve into Tom's journey in fine dining, from early career milestones to his renowned restaurant's philosophy. Topics include the culinary industry's evolving landscape, Michelin inspections, TV appearances, and the influence of prominent chefs. Additionally, Tom shares insights on managing his restaurant, balancing family life, promoting British produce, and his long-term aspirations of expanding his business and building a lasting legacy. 

About Guest

Tom Shepherd is the Chef Patron of Michelin-starred Upstairs. With a deep passion for culinary arts, Tom has worked alongside some of the industry’s most renowned chefs, including Sat Bains and Michael Wignall. In 2021, Tom opened Upstairs, where he combines his technical expertise with a focus on seasonality and local British produce. The restaurant’s intimate setting and innovative dishes quickly earned him a Michelin star, solidifying his reputation as one of the UK’s top chefs. Known for his attention to detail and dedication to his craft, Tom is also a mentor to young chefs and is committed to building a lasting legacy in the culinary world.

Upstairs Website: https://www.upstairs.restaurant/

Tom’s Website: https://www.cheftomshepherd.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.instagram.com/cheftomshepherd/?hl=en

This podcast is sponsored by NFS Hospitality.

About NFS Hospitality:

With over 20 years of experience solving problems for restaurateurs, NFS Hospitality truly understands your challenges as a hospitality operator.

Whether you’re looking for top-notch POS & CRM systems, effective loyalty programs, the tools to execute powerful marketing campaigns, or a reliable Point of Sale system, NFS Hospitality has you covered with an end-to-end technology solution.

At NFS, we know every hospitality business is unique, and that’s why we’ve walked in your shoes time and again to deliver effortless, tailored technology solutions designed for your specific needs.

Our world-class technology puts the user at the heart of every transaction, ensuring a seamless and efficient experience for you, your teams, and your guests.

Leading hospitality operators like BrewDog, Gaucho, and Archie’s trust NFS to provide the technology that makes their operations run smoothly across all verticals. NFS knows what it takes to help both your team and your guests have a world-class experience with our solutions.

And with 24/7 support from actual humans, you can always rely on NFS day or night.

Visit http://nfs-hospitality.com/supersonic to speak to the experts at NFS today. You can also download insights and guides on how to leverage technology to grow your business.

 

Our Silver Sponsors are:

Airship and Toggle:

Airship is a data-driven CRM for the hospitality industry. Restaurants, bars, hotels, and pubs can use Airship to email marketing and create personal relationships with their customers.

Check out https://airship.co.uk/ for more information.

 

Saved by Robots:

Saved by Robots are passionate about creating compelling brands and memorable experiences through great design, engaging storytelling and genuine authenticity.

Visit Savedbyrobots.com to get in touch

About Mark Mcc:

Mark McCulloch is one of the leading food, drink and hospitality brand and marketing minds in the world. Mark has over twenty years brand, marketing, digital and social media experience holding senior and board-level positions at lastminute.com, Barclaycard, YO! Sushi and Pret