Chef Luke Cockerill leaves the Rabbit in the Moon as Michael O'Hare takes over

Michael O'Hare is to take the lead at his Manchester-based restaurant the Rabbit in the Moon as head chef Luke Cockerill steps down.

The 40-cover "eccentric space-age Asian" Rabbit in the Moon opened in the Urbis building in January this year.

Cockerill, who worked with Michael O'Hare at the Blind Swine in York (which closed in 2013) before following him to open the Man Behind the Curtain in Leeds, headed the kitchen.

During his tenure, the Rabbit in the Moon was featured in the Good Food Guide with a cooking score of four.

Cockerill told The Caterer that he was "looking forward to the future and exploring different opportunities."

O'Hare said: "The past few months have seen a much bigger involvement not just from myself but from the whole team at the Man Behind The Curtain. My team - or family as it has become - are pumped to be cooking in Manchester and will continue to mould the Rabbit in the Moon into a restaurant of international acclaim.

"On a personal note Luke has been integral to the opening of both restaurants and I wish him well in his future pursuits."

O'Hare was appointed creative director of GG Hospitality, the operating company behind Hotel Football in 2016.

The Rabbit in the Moon was the latest venture from GG Hospitality.

Stewart Davies, GG Hospitality Group operations director added: "It is incredibly exciting to have Michael more involved in the day to day running of the Rabbit in the Moon. Alongside his current chef patronage at the Man Behind the Curtain, we can expect to see Michael in the kitchen a lot more. It's perfect timing for the brand too as we get closer to the opening of the Stock Exchange Hotel, where Michael's influence is so significant."

Michael O'Hare's the Rabbit in the Moon to open with Giggs and Neville on 3 January >>

Michael O'Hare to launch new restaurant in National Football Museum >>

Menuwatch: The Rabbit in the Moon, Manchester >>

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