From Tom Kerridge's Right Hand to Solo Star
Nick Beardshaw spent 14 years working for Tom Kerridge, starting at The Hand and Flowers, then opening The Coach (which earned its own Michelin star in 2017), Butcher’s Tap, and Kerridge’s Bar & Grill at the Corinthia Hotel in London, where he was head chef for six years. Before Kerridge, he trained under Daniel Clifford at Midsummer House. In 2023, he won BBC’s Great British Menu with his fish course “A Moon Shaped Pool.”
Starling opened in his home town of Esher at the end of August 2024. By February 2025, it had been awarded a Michelin star, a remarkable achievement for a brand-new restaurant.
Luxury Casual
Beardshaw describes Starling as “luxury casual,” a 40-seat modern bistro on Esher’s High Street where the cooking is serious but the atmosphere is relaxed. The menu is intentionally concise, no more than five dishes per course, allowing the kitchen to focus on perfecting each plate.
His philosophy is that food should be “easy to understand”: seemingly straightforward preparations that are fiendishly difficult to execute yet effortless to enjoy. The opening menu paid homage to his Great British Menu triumph, featuring his winning starter “A Moon Shaped Pool” (Orkney scallop with Thai green curry sauce) and dessert “Balloon Girl.”
Remarkable Value
The set lunch, from around £37.50 for three courses on Wednesday and Thursday, represents one of the best-value Michelin-starred meals in the country. Evening dining is a la carte, with starters from around £14.50-40 and mains from around £29-140. Starling ranked 63rd in the National Restaurant Awards 2025.
