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Tom Kerridge’s 8-inch burger impressed by 70s cartoon sparks debate

Tom Kerridge has sparked fierce debate after unveiling his new eight-inch burger inspired by a 1970s cartoon.

The chef, 51, added the divisive item to the menu of his hugely popular pub The Coach in Marlow earlier this month.

The towering ‘Coach Burger’ – which costs £19.50 – consists of a thick beef patty topped with soy and sesame chicken, smoked cheese, dill pickle and a disc of coleslaw.

When topped with a sesame bun, the burger is 20cm tall and is held together by a supersized cocktail stick.

Earlier this week, The Coach’s official Instagram account uploaded a video showing a member of the team assembling one of the burgers.

Tom Kerridge (pictured) has sparked fierce debate after unveiling his new eight-inch burger, which very unusual inspiration

Tom Kerridge (pictured) has sparked fierce debate after unveiling his new eight-inch burger, which very unusual inspiration

Detailing the inspiration behind new menu item, Tom Kerridge – who owns nine restaurants in the UK and has three Michelin stars – said he wanted to replicate the height of Scooby Doo and Shaggy’s sandwiches in the 1970s TV series.

The chef said: ‘It’s all about Scooby Doo. The idea was to make it fun, exciting, ridiculous, tasty, packed full of flavour, layer upon layer upon layer as it goes up and up and up 

‘It’s just a childhood memory of thinking of Scooby Doo when he solved the crime, “stop those pesky kids, they would have got away with it if it wasn’t for Scooby Doo!”

‘It’s about fun, flavour and it’s a real treat.’ 

However, the burger was met with mixed reactions by The Coach’s 46,000 Instagram followers. 

One critic said: ‘Nah, not keen on this for a burger. Too much going on. Five Guys all the way!’

Another added: ‘I’m sure it’s delicious but how on earth do you put it in your mouth?

‘If you have to eat it with a knife and fork, is it really a burger?’ 

Pictured: the eight-inch 'Coach Burger' consists of a thick beef patty topped with soy and sesame chicken, smoked cheese, dill pickle and a disc of coleslaw

Pictured: the eight-inch ‘Coach Burger’ consists of a thick beef patty topped with soy and sesame chicken, smoked cheese, dill pickle and a disc of coleslaw

The chef, 51, added the divisive item to the menu of his hugely popular pub The Coach (pictured) in Marlow earlier this month

The chef, 51, added the divisive item to the menu of his hugely popular pub The Coach (pictured) in Marlow earlier this month

Detailing the inspiration behind new menu item, Tom Kerridge - who owns nine restaurants in the UK and has three Michelin stars - said he wanted to replicate the height of Scooby Doo and Shaggy's sandwiches in the 1970s TV series

Detailing the inspiration behind new menu item, Tom Kerridge – who owns nine restaurants in the UK and has three Michelin stars – said he wanted to replicate the height of Scooby Doo and Shaggy’s sandwiches in the 1970s TV series

However, the burger was met with mixed reactions by The Coach's 46,000 Instagram followers

However, the burger was met with mixed reactions by The Coach’s 46,000 Instagram followers

Meanwhile, a third said: ‘I just wouldn’t know how to eat that???’ 

That said, others were quick to jump to Tom’s defence.

‘Best burger I’ve ever had,’ one replied.

‘This burger is ALWAYS incredible,’ another gushed. 

Earlier this year, Tom was slammed by a slammed by a food critic for serving a £32 plate of fish and chips.

The chef’s Harrods restaurant was then labelled a ‘tourist trap’ by food content creator James Dimitri – who said his fish was ‘leaking water all over the place’ when he went to try it.