Tom Kerridge insists there was no falling out with Man United legends in BBC ‘Hidden World of Hospitality’

The new BBC series ‘The Hidden World of Hospitality with Tom Kerridge’ aired its second programme last night and Tom lifted the lid on ‘stepping away’ from his partnership with Manchester United Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs.

This show comes after the second series of the popular kitchen comedy-drama ‘The Bear’ - its reception proving that viewers are keen to find out about life behind the scenes of a busy restaurant.

Speculation was rife as the celebrity chef ended his partnership with the Man United legends at The Bull &Bear in Stock Exchange hotel in December last year. But in last night’s show he insisted there was no falling out, instead, saying he had been unable to ‘tick all the boxes’ for Gary, due to the fact the star wanted a full-time operation that he could not deliver.

Gary, who claimed he wanted “room service delivered to the guests” and “a seven day operation” also pointed to the cost of living, energy prices and the fall out from Covid and Brexit being hard stressors on the hospitality business.

Tom said: “It’s not a falling out over money, it’s not a falling out. It’s an understanding of business direction. It happens in so many businesses up and down the country all the time.”

“Being an experienced restaurant operator, we have not been able to tick those boxes for Gary. What Gary needs is a specialist team dedicated to providing the requirements of a hotel seven days a week. There are those operators out there - there are those chefs. Let’s hope he can find them.”

During the BBC show, the pair filmed a video with Gary’s phone explaining they were parting ways but amicably.

Wearing a blue hoodie, a smiling Tom said: “We have been made to feel incredibly welcome and loved, it’s been a large part of the Manchester scene for the last three years. For Manchester it’s goodbye for now.”

A new restaurant Stock Market Grill opened in March of this year but closed just four months later in July.

The Hidden World of Hospitality with Tom Kerridge is on BBC2, Thursday, 8pm.