Celebrity Chef Michael O’Hare’s Restaurant Company Faced Nearly £1 Million in Debt Before Liquidation

The entity operating celebrity chef Michael O’Hare’s Michelin-starred restaurant accumulated almost £1 million in debt prior to its liquidation. According to recently filed documents, the company, initially known as The Man Behind the Curtain and later as Psycho Sandbar, owed over £500,000 to HMRC and £370,000 to a firm owned by former footballer Gary Neville, who also served as a co-director. Psycho Sandbar ceased operations earlier this month, just seven months after its opening. Mr O’Hare stated the decision stemmed from “exciting plans for the future” and was “reflective of the changing experience market.” The BBC has sought further comment from Mr O’Hare. Other creditors listed in the papers include utility companies, investors, a wine merchant, and a pest control service. The Man Behind the Curtain, located in central Leeds, was awarded a Michelin star in 2015 and was recognized for its adventurous menu, avant-garde decor, and celebrity investment. Neville, who resigned from The Man Behind The Curtain in September, shared on LinkedIn that he made “one of the most instinctive and incredible” deals in 2018 after dining at the restaurant. He explained that instead of a bill, Mr O’Hare offered him the opportunity to purchase 50% of the business. Neville, 49, posted: “From that moment on I was the co-owner of a Michelin star restaurant in Leeds.” He added: “Fast forward to today and it’s taken a brave and courageous decision for Michael to give up his Michelin star and open a new restaurant, Psycho Sandbar, that I went to earlier on in the week.” Neville was listed as a 50% shareholder of the company, and the company’s statement of affairs indicates that Relentless, Neville’s investment management firm, is owed £366,818. Meanwhile, Mr O’Hare signed documents on October 30, confirming the company would be “wound up voluntarily,” with liquidators from BV Corporate Recovery & Insolvency Services Limited appointed on the same day. Mr O’Hare, 42, from Redcar, North Yorkshire, has appeared on Masterchef and The Great British Menu and is known for his creative culinary inventions, including chocolate pudding with potato foam and edible cellophane. Speaking to the BBC in March, he commented that “having a top restaurant is good for the city.” He further stated: “The majority of our guests haven’t been from the local area. All these things add to the economy of the area, it is super important.” He was also involved in another fine dining restaurant in Manchester called The Rabbit in the Moon, which was backed by Neville and Ryan Giggs.