Upstairs by Tom Shepherd

The Verdict

If you're weighing a London tasting-menu pilgrimage against something closer to home in the Midlands, Upstairs by Tom Shepherd makes a strong case for staying local. This 28-cover room above a Lichfield jewellery shop delivers seven-course tasting-menu cooking at a level that has earned a place in Harden's Leading UK Top 100 2025 — in a city better known for its cathedral than its dining scene. The format is tasting menu only, the room is small, and booking has historically been competitive. For a special occasion dinner in the Midlands, it is one of the most credible options at the ££££ tier outside Birmingham.

The Room and the Atmosphere

The space is a converted first-floor room above a family jewellery business on Bore Street, accessed via a doorbelled entrance. It seats 28 covers, which keeps the atmosphere close without feeling crowded. The kitchen is partially open, so there is ambient noise from service and cooking, but this reads as energy rather than intrusion. The decorative approach is contemporary and warm without being aggressively designed — expect a relaxed room that does not perform sophistication, it simply delivers it. For a date or a celebration dinner, the intimacy of the room works in your favour; this is not a place where you are trying to talk over a packed dining room.

The Food

The menu format is tasting menus for lunch and dinner, with a shorter offering on Thursday lunchtimes. The cooking draws on Tom Shepherd's time under Michael Wignall at the Latymer, Pennyhill Park and with Adam Stokes in Birmingham, and the technical grounding shows. Dishes are structured around clear flavour logic , portions are described as unexpectedly generous, particularly at lunch, where a main course can run to multiple preparations of a single protein. Desserts are singled out across multiple reviews as a genuine highlight: the 72% Araguani chocolate with crème fraîche, pecan, caramel and sherry is a recurrent reference point. Wine pairings are taken seriously, with selections ranging from Breuer Rheingau Riesling to a Turkish Syrah-based blend and a Chinese ice wine, which suggests a programme with genuine range rather than default European picks.

Kitchen's Great British Menu pedigree , Shepherd is known for his Desperate Dan's cow pie reimagining , means there is a strand of playful ambition running through the menu, but the cooking is grounded in technique and flavour rather than novelty. Every ingredient is described as purposeful, and the overall register is rich and intensely savoury rather than delicate and restrained.

Honest Caveats

Ratings dipped slightly in Harden's most recent annual diners' poll. The feedback pattern is telling: not dissatisfaction, but a sense that the very long waiting list has raised expectations to a level that is hard to meet, and that prices have moved upward over time. Neither of these is a reason to avoid booking, but they are worth knowing. If you are coming from outside Lichfield specifically for this meal, set expectations around the experience as it is rather than the mythology that accumulates around hard-to-book rooms.

Who Should Book

Upstairs is well-suited to couples and small groups celebrating something specific , the room size and tasting-menu format naturally frame the meal as an occasion. Solo diners can book, though the format and price point make it a more considered choice for a solo visit than a spontaneous one. For groups larger than four, check availability carefully given the 28-cover capacity. If you are looking for à la carte flexibility, this is not the right venue.

Booking and Practical Details

The restaurant opens Wednesday evenings, Thursday to Saturday for lunch and dinner, and is closed Sunday and Monday. Walk-ins are not the model here , book in advance. The venue's reputation for a long waiting list has eased somewhat per recent feedback, but early booking remains advisable for weekend evenings. The address is 25 Bore St, Lichfield WS13 6NA.

In Lichfield

Upstairs operates in a city that does not have a deep fine-dining bench. For the closest comparable local options, Larder (Modern Cuisine) and The Boat (Modern British) sit in a different tier but are worth knowing for more casual meals. See our full Lichfield restaurants guide for broader context, and our Lichfield hotels guide if you are planning an overnight stay around the dinner. For other local planning, bars, wineries and experiences guides are available.

Wider Context

For Midlands and UK comparison, the tasting-menu format here sits alongside venues like Moor Hall in Aughton and L'Enclume in Cartmel in terms of the ambition of cooking relative to setting , destination dining in non-metropolitan locations. If you are already planning a broader UK fine-dining trip, Hand and Flowers in Marlow, Midsummer House in Cambridge and hide and fox in Saltwood operate in a comparable register. For London-level benchmarking, CORE by Clare Smyth in London and Frog by Adam Handling represent what ££££ tasting-menu cooking looks like at the capital's level. Also worth knowing: Heron in Leith, Gidleigh Park in Chagford, and Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons in Great Milton for destination dining in rural or semi-rural settings across the UK.

FAQs

• Can Upstairs by Tom Shepherd accommodate groups? Small groups of two to four are the natural fit given the 28-cover room. Larger parties should contact the restaurant directly to check availability , at this capacity, a table for six or more will be a significant portion of the room and requires advance coordination.
• What are alternatives to Upstairs by Tom Shepherd in Lichfield? Within Lichfield, the options at the same tier are limited. Larder and The Boat offer good food at a lower price point if the tasting-menu format or price is a barrier. For comparable ambition in the wider region, look toward Birmingham's fine-dining scene or venues like Moor Hall.
• Is lunch or dinner better at Upstairs by Tom Shepherd? Lunch is the more accessible entry point. Thursday lunch runs a shorter menu, which suits those who want to experience the kitchen without the full seven-course commitment. Saturday lunch is described as particularly generous on portion size. Dinner is the fuller showcase if the occasion warrants it.
• Does Upstairs by Tom Shepherd handle dietary restrictions? The venue's tasting-menu format means dietary requirements are leading communicated at the time of booking rather than on arrival. Contact the restaurant in advance; no specific policy details are available in our data.
• Is Upstairs by Tom Shepherd good for solo dining? The room and format work for solo diners, but at ££££ pricing and a tasting-menu structure, it is a deliberate choice rather than a casual one. The counter or smaller table positions in a 28-cover room will typically suit solo guests well if available.
• Is Upstairs by Tom Shepherd good for a special occasion? Yes, this is one of the stronger special-occasion choices in the Midlands at the ££££ level. The intimate room, attentive service and high-ambition tasting menu are all aligned with what a celebration dinner requires. The Harden's Top 100 UK 2025 placement gives confidence in consistent quality. Just book well ahead for Saturday evenings.