Michael O’Hare’s The Man Behind The Curtain has closed its doors with plans to relaunch as brand new concept, Psycho Sandbar.
Leeds' only Michelin-stared restaurant, The Man Behind The Curtain, has been paving the way for fine dining in the city for some time now.
Located on Vicar Lane, diners visiting the trendy underground restaurant can expect to embark on an experimental culinary journey consisting of 14 courses which encapsulate all the senses.
With dishes called Sex Wax, Macarons ‘Damien Hirst’ and Dali to Delhi – this isn’t just your average meal out.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
But now, The Man Behind The Curtain as we know and love has closed its doors, with its final service complete on New Year's Eve, and now will undergo a complete rebrand to adapt to the current climate.
Introducing 'Psycho Sandbar', a more accessible restaurant with a "surf shacky" feel with brutalist design.
The new venture will serve a "fish heavy" menu and move away from the current tasting menu format that O'Hare is known for.
Announcing the news on Instagram, O'Hare said the decision was made in response to the current restaurant landscape. 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."
A Leeds pub has been crowned one of the very best in the country by The Good Food Guide.
The trusted guide has just released its 100 Best Pubs in Britain list, and we're very chuffed with the results indeed.
Taking the coveted number three spot is our very own The Highland Laddie, a 100-year-old city centre institution that reopened in April 2025 in the hands of new owners Sam Pullan and Nicole Deighton.
These guys also run the Empire Cafe, so you just know it's going to be good.
Last year they soared straight to the top of the list and were crowned the best pub in the whole of Britain by the guide.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This time, the Queen's Arms over in Eccles came number one followed by The Cow in Notting Hill.
We still think bagging third place is quite the achievement, and if you've visited The Highland Laddie yourself you'll know just how much of a special place it is.
Don't just take our word for it, The Good Food Guide labelled the Laddie as 'a true pub with a genuine community vibe'.
They also said: "Reenergised by the team behind the Empire Cafe in 2025, this is everything that a proper English pub should be – 'oh, and they have a mustard menu!'
"Inside, the Laddie ticks all the boxes, preserving the essentials of a traditional old-school boozer and maintaining a genuine sense of community while letting the good times roll. As for the food, it’s ‘both high-end and accessible’, pulling in ideas from all over, whether you fancy a freshly shucked Lindisfarne oyster, a keema toastie or an elevated ham roll with bread cooked over the coals.
"Dig deeper and you might find a lobster madeleine with Yorkshire chorizo butter, a treacle onion tart or pork schnitzel with two fried eggs. Club steaks are served by the inch, there’s no creative let-up when it comes to sides, and the nostalgia is ramped up with the likes of strawberry and Champagne trifle with ‘sprinkles’.
"But never forget that this is a self-proclaimed ‘drinkers’ pub’ dispensing everything from ‘properly served’ British brews and ’the best Guinness in Leeds’ to a staggering line-up of whisky optics."
Popular egg sandwich shop Egg & Co is opening in Leeds city centre
Clementine Hall
This much loved breakfast spot do one thing and one thing very well...egg sandwiches.
And it may be a familiar name to some of you lot, as Egg & Co recently opened up on bustling Deansgate in Manchester as well as inside Cambridge Street Collective in Sheffield.
This will be their first site in Leeds, though, and we're very 'eggsited' about it...sorry.
If you've got been introduced to the wonders of Egg & Co yet, then allow us to fill you in on what to expect.
Images: The Manc Group
From here, you’ll be able to grab their unbeatable breakfast sandwiches, where soft scrambled egg is piled into warm brioche buns.
There are a dozen or so breakfast butties on the menu here (yes, they do all feature egg), with other fillings ranging from beef patties to turkey bacon to caramelised onion.
And there’s more – sides here include truffle hash browns, curly fries, and chicken bites.
Of course it wouldn't be a breakfast spot without some caffeinated beverages as well, so we predict as with their Manchester site you'll be able to grab your morning coffee and matcha as well as freshly squeezed orange juice fresh enough to cure any hangover.
We don't know of the exact location yet, but we do know it'll be in Leeds city centre.
Images: The Manc Group
Teasing the news on their Instagram, Egg & Co said: "LEEDS, WE’RE ON OUR WAY. You heard it right. Eggandco is heading to Leeds!
"Same eggs. Same fresh sandwiches. Same Eggandco experience. Just a new city to call home."
Of course, in true Leeds fashion, supporters flocked to the comments to show their excitement and demanding an extra clue on the exact location.
Egg & Co are keeping this under wraps for now, but we'll keep you updated as and when we know more.
Clementine Hall -
24th October 2023 
