Michael O'Hare

Early life and career O'Hare was born in Middlesbrough England. He describes Redcar, North Yorkshire, as his home town.

In 2014, O'Hare opened his restaurant with the backing of Stephen Baylis, The Man Behind The Curtain, in Leeds, where he was chef-patron.

He has gained a reputation for creative and often unusual dishes. These include chocolate pudding with potato foam, raw prawn tails with cooked prawn brains and a dessert with baked potato custard. In 2015, O'Hare took part in BBC2's The Great British Menu where he made a dish entitled 'Emancipation' – a fish dish inspired by fish and chips served on a canvas.

In 2016, O'Hare became Creative Director of GG Hospitality, a company created by ex-professional footballers Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville. The company, along with O'Hare, opened a 'space-age Asian' restaurant called The Rabbit in the Moon at the National Football Museum in Manchester on 3 January 2017. O'Hare was also due to set up a fine dining restaurant – The Man Who Fell To Earth, and a less formal restaurant called Are Friends Electric within a new Manchester hotel at the Manchester Stock Exchange owned by GG Hospitality, but these did not open.

In October 2023, O'Hare closed The Man Behind the Curtain and then reopened it as Psycho Sandbar opened in early 2024. It then re-closed permanently in October 2024. The company operating the restaurant was liquidated to pay off the restaurant's £1 million debt owed to twelve creditors, including at least £519,000 owed to HM Revenue and Customs and £366,818 owed to Relentless, a managing firm run by Neville until his resignation as a co-director in September 2024.

In early 2026, O'Hare opened his next venture, IN LAMENTATION , an intimate 16-cover tasting menu restaurant in Boston Spa .

Media O'Hare competed in BBC2's The Great British Menu in 2015. In 2016, he appeared on BBC's Masterchef. and on Yes Chef in 2016 on BBC One. In 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024 and in 2025 he returned to The Great British Menu as a judge.

Personal life O'Hare has one child. O'Hare has become well known for his individual personal style. He became instantly recognisable with his 'rockstar hair' after his appearance on The Great British Menu and says “I know for a fact there could have been TV shows off the back of that haircut.” He is a qualified pilot, gaining his licence in Daytona a few years after leaving university.

Television The Great British Menu – 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Saturday Kitchen – 2015 Masterchef – 2016 Yes Chef – 2016