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Fifth Restaurant Closes Amid Financial Woes
Former Manchester United star Gary Neville’s foray into the hospitality industry has hit a snag, with the closure of his fifth restaurant. The latest casualty is his Leeds establishment, which recently went into liquidation, leaving behind debts estimated at £1 million, including a hefty £519,000 owed in taxes.
The restaurant, known as The Man Behind the Curtain, was launched in 2014 and was co-owned with renowned chef Micheal O’Hare, a former Masterchef contestant. The venue, which garnered a Michelin star in 2015 and three AA rosettes in 2016, was famous for its extravagant dishes, including the notorious denia red prawn served on a telephone—a nod to Salvador Dali’s famous artwork.
Financials Paint a Grim Picture
Recent filings reveal that Neville’s company, Relentless Leisure, is owed £366,848 by the now-defunct restaurant. While the accounts for 2023 are overdue, the previous year’s records indicated a profit of £187,000 and reserves of £105,938. However, the mounting debts and the closure of this establishment raise questions about the sustainability of Neville’s culinary ventures.
A Track Record of Failures
This closure is not an isolated incident for Neville. The football icon has faced multiple setbacks in the restaurant sector. His first major venture, The Rabbit in the Moon, co-owned with former teammate Ryan Giggs, shut its doors in 2017. The duo later partnered with O’Hare again to launch a space-themed Asian restaurant, which also failed to last beyond a year.
Despite ambitious plans to win Manchester’s first Michelin star in decades, the restaurant’s unique offerings, such as fried calf brains and octopus hot dogs, failed to attract enough diners, leading to its closure in 2018 amid significant losses.
Café Football: A Mixed Bag
Another notable venture, Café Football, opened in 2013 but faced its own challenges. Neville and Giggs opened two locations, one in London’s Westfield shopping centre and another in Manchester city centre. However, both venues were closed in early 2019 as the pair decided to shift their focus to their hotel business. A third branch remains operational in Singapore, but the UK locations have become history.
Recent Restaurant Closures Add to the List
Adding to Neville’s woes, the Stock Market Grill, which replaced Tom Kerridge’s The Bull & Bear at the Stock Exchange Hotel, shut down just four months after opening in July 2022. The hotel management decided to focus on their premium cocktail bar instead, leaving diners disappointed once again.
A Diversified Business Portfolio
Despite the setbacks in the restaurant industry, Neville has successfully built a £100 million business empire since retiring from football in 2011. He has been involved in 56 businesses, spanning media, hotels, pubs, and education, with property development being his standout achievement.
Among his notable investments are two hotels, which collectively hold £32 million in property assets, representing nearly a third of his corporate net worth. He co-owns the Stock Exchange development near Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester and runs the luxurious Hotel Football, located right next to Old Trafford.
New Ventures and Continued Success
Earlier this year, Neville joined the panel of investors on Dragon’s Den, showcasing his commitment to entrepreneurship. Alongside his various investments, he manages Tiger Sports Management, a firm focused on image rights and sponsorship, which he established at the young age of 21.
In addition to these ventures, Neville remains a familiar face on Sky Sports, providing commentary and analysis on football matches. Despite the rocky road in the restaurant sector, his diverse portfolio continues to thrive, proving that setbacks in one area do not define an entrepreneur’s overall success.
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