The Hand & Flowers

When Tom and Beth Kerridge opened The Hand & Flowers in 2005 it changed expectations of the British pub, and in 2012 it became the first pub anywhere to earn two Michelin stars, which it has held since. The cooking is technically exacting but rooted in familiar pleasures, think slow-cooked meats, classic sauces and a much-imitated Sunday-style beef dish, served in a snug, whitewashed room that still feels like a pub rather than a formal dining room. It is one of the hardest tables to secure in the country, so plan ahead. Sister site The Coach, just up the Marlow high street, is a strong walk-in alternative if you cannot get in.