GG Hospitality to turn Manchester Rabbit restaurant into event space

Ryan Giggs' and Gary Neville's GG Hospitality will be closing the Rabbit restaurant in Manchester next month to turn it into an event space.

The hotel and restaurant firm backed by the former Manchester United footballers announced that the restaurant, formerly the Rabbit in the Moon, would hold its last service on 17 November.

The restaurant posted on Twitter: "We are sad to say that we will be serving our last meal on 17th November following a decision from our shareholders to close.

"From the 18th of November, our unique space will be used for corporate and private events only and our team will continue to operate the venue under the GG Events & Catering brand."

A spokesperson for the restaurant said: "The team at the Rabbit will be serving its last meal on the 17th of November. As a result of a number of factors, the trading figures for the restaurant do not justify keeping the operation open and the shareholders want to focus resources on the roll out of hotels which are ultimately the core of the business."

The restaurant, located in the Urbis building in the city centre, was launched in January 2017 with the company's creative director and Michelin-starred chef Michael O'Hare overseeing the project, with Luke Cockerill as head chef.

Following Cockerill's departure nine months after opening, the restaurant closed for three months and relaunched in March with a new menu, with O'Hare more closely involved in running the restaurant and the appointment of John Granaghan as head chef.

However, O'Hare announced in June that he had stepped down from his role after two years with the company to focus on his Michelin-starred restaurant the Man Behind the Curtain in Leeds.

GG Hospitality confirms chef Michael O'Hare's departure from the business >>

Michael O'Hare to relaunch the Rabbit in the Moon with "stronger and bolder" menu >>

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

Menuwatch: The Rabbit in the Moon, Manchester >>

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