The chef behind Staffordshire’s first and only Michelin starred restaurant is in talks to secure premises which could become home to his second venue.
Tom Shepherd and his restaurant Upstairs by Tom Shepherd have won a host of awards since opening in Lichfield in October 2021.
The venue has just picked up the Newcomer Award at The Cateys 2024, one of the biggest events in hospitality, which celebrates the finest operators and businesses within the industry.
It comes not long after Upstairs was named one of the best in the UK by the National Restaurant Awards, being placed 46th in a top 100 list – the only restaurant from the county to be featured.
Upstairs by Tom Shepherd was also the only Staffordshire establishment to win at the 2024 Midlands Food, Drink and Hospitality Awards, taking home the Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year award whilst Tom himself was named Chef of the Year.
Speaking to Daily Focus, Tom has revealed his hopes for a drinks-led venue in Lichfield city centre to complement his restaurant, which is above his father’s jewellery shop on Bore Street.
He said: “The venue I would like to open is more of a drinks-inspired venue that people could visit pre or post their meal.
“We are avidly looking for a second site and have had conversations with a premises, but it is still early days.”
Tom says the “sophisticated” drinks venue, hopefully within walking distance of Upstairs, would mirror the culture and ethos of the restaurant and offer quality aperitifs and digestifs.
He added: “Everything that happens to the restaurant is a dream. A lot of our accolades have come from people voting for us and it means such a lot that people are going out of their way to vote for our little restaurant in Lichfield.
“For me to get Chef of the Year and the restaurant to get Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year in the Midlands is incredible and I am extremely proud. It shows our ethos and our culture at Upstairs is really working.”
