Michael O'Hare (chef)
Michael O'Hare | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age Middlesbrough, Cleveland, England |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, television personality |
| Years active | 2000s–present |
| Known for | Chef-patron at The Man Behind The Curtain; judge on The Great British Menu |
Michael O'Hare (born June 1981) is a chef from Middlesbrough, Cleveland, England. He served as chef-patron at The Man Behind The Curtain in Leeds, which received a Michelin star in October 2015. Additionally, he managed The Rabbit in the Moon located within the National Football Museum in Manchester.
O'Hare's culinary journey began during his university years before he embarked on a professional path, gaining experience at establishments such as John Burton-Race's The Landmark and the renowned Noma.
Early life and career
Although born in Middlesbrough, O'Hare identifies Redcar, North Yorkshire, as his hometown. Between the ages of 11 and 18, he trained in classical and modern ballet. He briefly pursued aerospace engineering at Kingston University, London, but left the program early. In his early twenties, he was employed in a call centre for an energy company.
At 19, O'Hare began cooking recreationally before deciding to train within professional kitchens rather than attending catering college. His initial position was at Judges in Yarm. Subsequently, he worked at Seaham Hall, collaborated with John Burton-Race at The Landmark, and gained experience at Noma before taking on the role of head chef at The Blind Swine in York.
In 2014, supported by Stephen Baylis, O'Hare launched The Man Behind The Curtain in Leeds as chef-patron.
O'Hare is renowned for inventive and unconventional dishes—examples include chocolate pudding paired with potato foam and raw prawn tails accompanied by cooked prawn brains. His profile rose significantly after featuring on BBC2's The Great British Menu in 2015 with his fish course titled 'Emancipation'.
In 2016, he assumed the role of Creative Director at GG Hospitality, a company founded by former footballers Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville. Together they inaugurated The Rabbit in the Moon, described as a 'space-age Asian' restaurant, at Manchester's National Football Museum in January 2017. Proposed projects such as the fine dining venue The Man Who Fell To Earth and the casual eatery Are Friends Electric within a new Manchester hotel did not come to fruition.
In October 2023, O'Hare closed The Man Behind the Curtain and reintroduced it as Psycho Sandbar in early 2024. However, Psycho Sandbar ceased operations permanently in October 2024. The business entity was wound up to settle debts totaling £1 million owed to twelve creditors, including over £519,000 payable to HM Revenue and Customs and £366,818 to Relentless, a management firm formerly co-directed by Neville until September 2024.
Media
O'Hare competed on BBC2's The Great British Menu in 2015 and appeared on BBC's Masterchef in 2016. He has also been featured on BBC's Saturday Kitchen and the 2016 BBC One series Yes Chef. From 2016 through 2025, he returned to The Great British Menu serving as a judge, further establishing his presence in media.
Personal life
O'Hare is a father of one and is notable for his unique personal image, particularly his 'rockstar hair' that attracted attention following his appearance on The Great British Menu. He is also a licensed pilot, having earned his certification in Daytona several years after university.
Television
- The Great British Menu – 2015 to 2020, and 2022 to 2025
- Saturday Kitchen – 2015
- Masterchef – 2016
- Yes Chef – 2016