Michael O'Hare to open Manchester restaurant
It is part of a deal which will see Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville’s GG Hospitality firm take over the food offering at the museum from 1 October.
O’Hare - who was named creative director at GG Hospitality earlier this year – will launch his new ‘space-age Asian’ restaurant across the fifth and sixth floors of the building.
Named after an Asian fable, The Rabbit in the Moon will serve an evening tasting menu from Tuesday to Saturday alongside drinks created by Matt Whiley, of London bar consultancy Talented Mr Fox.
O’Hare’s protégé Luke Cockerill, who has worked at the chef’s Michelin-starred Leeds restaurant The Man Behind the Curtain since May 2014, will run the kitchen as head chef.
O’Hare said: “The [museum] building is a phenomenal piece of architecture and I'm excited that as a company we can deliver a world class restaurant within it.
“I am a success as a result of the people I surround myself with. Luke has been my right hand man since he was 17, he is the most creative, fun, and dynamic chef I have ever known and it is amazing to see a guy so young set to achieve so much, Manchester is going to love it!”
Further projects planned
GG Hospitality will also re-launch the museum café as Café Football with a new menu and fresh look.
Neville said: “The museum is a massive draw for both football fans and tourists in Manchester and bringing the brands together feels like a natural partnership.
“To open our first restaurant with creative director Michael O’Hare and his team is a fantastic moment for GG Hospitality and Manchester. It is an exciting time for our business with further announcements imminent.”
Giggs and Neville founded GG Hospitality in 2013 and have since opened two Café Football restaurants in Manchester and Stratford and the 133-room Hotel Football opposite Manchester United’s Old Trafford Stadium.
