Tom Shepherd began his culinary journey long before Wembley at 18 under chef Wayne Thompson at New Hall Hotel, evolving through acclaimed kitchens like The Latymer and Restaurant Sat Bains. His breakthrough came with the opening of Upstairs by Tom Shepherd in 2021, where a Michelin star shortly followed, marking a major milestone in his career.
Today, he brings his refined vision to Wembley Stadium with the Dining Experience by Tom Shepherd—a concept that transforms match-day dining into an elevated celebration of British seasonal cuisine. Expect dishes crafted from the finest local ingredients in the stylish Laurent-Perrier champagne lounges, merging the excitement of the beautiful game with contemporary fine dining.
We sat down with Tom to talk about his career and all things Wembley Stadium.
How did it all start?
I’ve always been passionate about food, but my culinary journey really started when I began working as a Chef at New Hall Hotel under Wayne Thompson when I was 18. That’s where I developed my love for cooking and realised I wanted to pursue fine dining. From there, I worked my way up through some incredible kitchens, including two-Michelin-starred establishments like The Latymer under Michael Wignall and Restaurant Sat Bains, where I challenged myself to refine my skills and explore my own culinary style. Opening Upstairs by Tom Shepherd in 2021 was a defining moment for me, and earning a Michelin star just four months after opening felt like a dream come true. Now, being able to create the Dining Experience by Tom Shepherd at Wembley—a place synonymous with world-class sport and entertainment—feels like the next exciting chapter. It’s a chance to bring that same level of passion and excellence to an iconic venue.
Tell us about the new Dining Experience by Tom Shepherd at Wembley.
The Dining Experience by Tom Shepherd at Wembley is all about redefining what fans can expect from stadium hospitality. Wembley Stadium is a place of incredible energy and excitement, and we wanted to create a menu that reflects that. The dishes are inspired by British seasonality, and we’ve worked hard to source the best local ingredients to showcase in a way that’s modern, flavourful, and memorable. Whether you are there for a big England match or an FA Cup game, our goal is to elevate the experience by offering something that feels luxurious and special, while still being rooted in the excitement of match-day. Serving this menu in the beautiful Laurent-Perrier champagne lounges with views of the pitch adds to the whole sense of occasion.
Your menu is all about showcasing local ingredients. How did you choose these?
Seasonality plays a huge role in how I develop any menu, including the ones for Wembley Stadium. Using local ingredients at their peak allows us to deliver vibrant flavours and showcase the best of what British producers have to offer. For example, our Herefordshire beef tartare is all about celebrating top-quality beef that’s full of flavour, and our Atlantic cod dish brings together fresh, sustainable fish with complementary flavours to let it shine. The aim was to create a menu that feels true to its British roots but also has a refined, modern edge. And we will continue to introduce new dishes for the forthcoming Emirates FA Cup semi-finals later this month. Sourcing locally also ties into the sense of community we want to build around the dining experience—it’s about championing great producers and bringing their work to a wider audience.
We heard you have a great dessert called No Ordinary Schoolboy, which celebrates the humble banana. What makes this special?
No Ordinary Schoolboy is a dessert that’s really close to my heart, and it’s a playful nod to the childhood classic of banana custard—but elevated for a fine-dining setting. It was first created during my time on Great British Menu, and it features layers of banana mousse, salted caramel, and chocolate, with textures that add a fun element—like popping candy, banana ice cream, and granola. At Wembley, we’ve brought it to life in a way that feels luxurious yet nostalgic. It’s the kind of dish that makes people smile because it reminds them of something familiar, but it also surprises them with its complexity and technique. It’s a perfect example of the kind of creativity we wanted to bring to the Wembley dining experience.
What about the wines and cocktails at Wembley Stadium?
When it came to designing the drinks offering, we wanted to ensure that the wines were just as thoughtfully crafted as the food. We’ve worked with the team to create pairings that enhance each course and bring out the best in the ingredients. The menu includes beautiful wines and crisp champagnes that offer a balance of bold flavours. Whether it is a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne or trying the selection of wines, the drinks add an extra layer of indulgence to the overall experience and the Wembley Stadium team are passionate about the perfect serve.
You’re a football fan. What do you think we can do to elevate dining and snacks on a wider scale in football?
There’s so much potential to improve stadium dining without losing the fun and accessibility of it. It doesn’t have to be a radical overhaul—just small changes that introduce more variety and better quality. Across the UK, we have so many incredible independent vendors who are serving fantastic food, from gourmet chicken wings to authentic Thai curries and stone-baked pizzas. By incorporating more of these artisan producers, we can turn stadium dining into something that fans genuinely look forward to, rather than just grabbing the usual hot dog or burger. It’s about making the food part of the match-day experience, supporting local businesses, and showing that stadium food can be exciting, delicious, and reflective of the diversity of British food culture. Wembley Stadium is already leading the way with this.
What are your Top 3 favourite restaurants in the UK?
It’s always hard to narrow it down, but my top three would have to be The Ledbury, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, and Moor Hall. The Ledbury, run by Brett Graham, is a real favourite for its consistently stunning, innovative dishes that focus on seasonal ingredients. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay is a classic for a reason—the execution is flawless, and the whole experience is just timeless. And Moor Hall, with Mark Birchall at the helm, is a masterclass in modern British fine dining, with a real connection to the land and the ingredients. Each of these places has had a big impact on me as a chef, and they all deliver something truly exceptional.
If you could award a Michelin star right now to a UK chef, who would it be and why?
I’d give it to Ben Marks at Perilla. He’s an incredibly talented chef with a really distinctive style, and his cooking is always thoughtful, technically brilliant, and full of personality. What I love about Ben’s food is that it’s creative and exciting without ever feeling overworked or pretentious. He’s also just a great guy—down-to-earth, hardworking, and completely dedicated to his craft. It’s always inspiring to see chefs who are pushing boundaries while staying true to their own voice, and Ben is definitely one of those.
What is next for you and Experiences by Wembley Stadium?
The partnership with Experiences by Wembley Stadium is just getting started, and I’m really excited about what’s to come. The Dining Experience by Tom Shepherd has been such a fantastic way to elevate match-day hospitality, and we’re already looking at ways to build on that momentum.
Going forward, we’ll be exploring new menu ideas that reflect the changing seasons, incorporating even more local producers, and potentially creating bespoke menus for other major events at the stadium. Wembley Stadium is such an iconic venue, and being part of its evolution in terms of food and drink is a real privilege. We want to continue pushing the boundaries of what stadium dining can be and continue what the Wembley Stadium team has already started – to make every guest experience unforgettable.
To discover more, visit: wembleystadium.com/experiences
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All imagery courtesy of Wembley Stadium Experiences / Tom Shepherd.