Restaurant Hjem launches County Durham residency ahead of new opening in 2026
Restaurant Hjem has begun its residency at the South Causey Inn in County Durham.
As bookings fill up fast, first-taste events are allowing both kitchen and front-of-house teams to familiarise themselves with the new space and bring head chef Alex Nietosvuori’s new menu to life.
After opening in Wall, Northumberland, in 2019, Hjem made history as the county’s first Michelin-starred restaurant earning widespread acclaim for its Anglo-Scandinavian cooking, deep connection to local produce and thoughtful hospitality.
While work continues on Restaurant Freyja, the team’s exciting and ambitious restaurant-with-rooms project in Wylam, the six-month South Causey Inn residency provides an important and creative bridge between chapters.
Offering an à la carte menu with a six-course tasting option, the restaurant will operate dinner services Wednesday to Friday, with lunch and dinner on Saturday and a long lunch on Sundays.
Alex said: “Moving into The Farmhouse has been incredibly energising for all of us. This preview week is about finding our rhythm in a new kitchen, getting comfortable in the space, and creating an exciting new menu.
“We’ve felt so warmly welcomed by the South Causey team, and it already feels like a place where we can do something really special.”
Restaurant manager and co-founder Ally Thompson-Nietosvuori added: “There’s a real sense of turning the page for us. After such a celebratory and emotional final service as the new year came in, this feels like the right next step - doing what we love to do in a new setting.
“Everyone at South Causey has made us feel right at home, and we can’t wait to open the doors properly and share this next chapter - and Alex’s food, of course - with our guests.”
The residency will see Restaurant Hjem operating from a standalone building within the South Causey Inn grounds, allowing the team to remain together while continuing to develop ideas and dishes ahead of Freyja’s opening on February 4.
Susan Moiser, owner of South Causey Inn, said: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming both loyal Hjem guests and new diners - and, of course, to seeing a very busy car park over the coming months.”