After closing The Man Behind The Curtain at the end of 2023, Michael O'Hare is preparing to relaunch with a new restaurant concept this spring.
Reservations are now available for March, April and May - and ahead of the relaunch, Psycho Sandbar will be hosting a special preview night on Valentine's Day.
The 'candle light in a building site' menu will feature a five course set menu, with hints of the new 'surf shaky' feel
Priced at £95 per person, there will be tables available from midday until 10pm on Wednesday 14 February 2024 only.
From here, Fridays and Saturdays can be booked from 8 March - 29 June for either the A La Carte or Taster Menu.
Priced at £165 per person, the taster menu will be available for tables of one to four and features a pesci-heavy luxurious menu with turbot, Caviar Donburri, hand dived scallops and oysters along with Bresse Chicken AOC and A4 beef with froi gras -
The A La Carte is split into six sections, with five different oysters styles: including roasted in French onion soup with a thin slice of Comte; poached in shell served cold with Nam jim or grilled over Birch wood with a smoked plankton beurre blanc and caviar.
Then there's raw, pasteurised fish options like Hamachi, lobster, scallop and Caviar Donburri; plus a host of Kuzu dumplings options: served as gluten-free fried croquettes with Comte, Gruyère and Beaufort with A5 beef or tuna belly.
The remainder of the menu is packed with a combination of dishes previewed on the Valentine's Day like turbot and lemon top; the taster menu, like hake throats and hand-dived scallops, and exclusive signature dishes like the 'Empanciation': cod, potato, ink and vinegar with a Dashi of cod skin.
Psycho Sandbar has been months in the making. Owner Michael O’Hare said the decision was made in response to the current restaurant landscape back in October 2023.
He said: “Things need to change because the world has changed, I have changed…my team has changed, our outlook. Our ability hasn’t, our vision hasn’t, but the world has.”
The restaurant will still be refined, but in a more accessible way. He added: “You can do six plates and have whole roast duck if you want, we just want to categorise things in a way that’s like ‘this is the product, that’s what we are going to do to it and that’s how much it costs’ and if you want it – and you really do.”
The restaurant will close for a few weeks to transform into Psycho Sandbar, but no dates have been announced as of yet.
“The in comes a new baby,” says Michael. “It’s the same team, the same building and company – these things don’t change. All that is changing is the name, offering and outlook.”
If you've got a seriously sweet tooth, then you're going to love this new opening.
It seems like there's been a flurry of new bakeries popping up in and around Leeds recently, and we're certainly not complaining.
Introducing Crumbb, a beautiful new bakery that has just opened its doors on Hyde Park Road just moments outside of the city centre.
Owner Naila started the businesses as a wholesaler six years ago, stocking up local businesses from far and wide with sweet treats.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Since then, Crumbbs opened its first location in Bradford just a few months ago that has been nothing short of a resounding success. So much so, that Crumbbs 2.0 was born right here in Leeds a few days ago.
Right, let's talk you through what's on offer.
For the sweet toothed out there, there's a whole myriad of treats for you to enjoy. We're talking giant NYC-style cookies, fluffy cinnamon buns topped with gooey icing, brownies slices, cookie muffins, rocky road, flapjack, the list is truly endless.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You can even get warm cookie trays and hot brownies to enjoy in house that can be topped with ice cream or thick custard.
And it doesn't stop there, Crumbbs also whip up freshly baked savoury focaccia slices as well as cheese twists, pizza slices and savoury rolls filled with creamy mozzarella and herbs.
They've also got a fabulous drink selection on offer including matcha, coffee and hot chocolates.
Located in Headingley, we've got a feeling this spot is going to be a huge hit with students and locals alike looking to get their sweet treat fix. But they'll have to beat us to it first.
The hidden Leeds bakery serving giant cheese twists, pickle sausage rolls and chocolate focaccia
Clementine Hall
This spot in the city is baking up some weird and wonderful creations.
But you'll have to act fast if you want to get your hands on them, as it's only open one day a week for all your doughy desires.
Introducing Fold, a focaccia-focused bakery by the talented team behind The Cheesy Living Co.
Rewind to this time last year and with three restaurants flourishing across Leeds, the team needed a space to bake all their bread and sweet treats in-house to supply to sites.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And this is where Fold came in, located underneath the arches of Brussels Street on the outskirts of the city centre - it may take a while to find this spot but once you have, it'll be worth it.
And they're making some of the most inventive bakes that we've seen.
Of course there'll always be a focaccia on offer, with flavours ranging from crispy chilli oil, sesame and spring onion to kimchi, cheese and pistachio.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And it's not just savoury focaccia, you'll even find gooey chocolate and banana focaccia as well as Biscoff waffle focaccia....yep, seriously.
Elsewhere they specialise in gigantic footlong cheese twists with more crispy bits than soft, as well as chorizo and cheese stuffed sausage rolls and a range of freshly baked bagels for you to go home and smear in your cream cheese of choice.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Some seriously spectacular specials have been the gochujang cookies and the 'pickle roll', basically like a sausage roll but with...pickles.
It seems there's really no boundaries for where these bakes will go, and you can guarantee that every visit will be different than the rest.
Only open on Saturdays from 10am - 1pm, Fold are changing the baking game. Pop in and say hello, you won't be disappointed.
Sophie Smith -
24th January 2024 
