Hjem finds interim home at South Causey Inn

A Michelin-starred restaurant is embarking on a temporary move while plans progress for its next flagship venture.

Northumberland’s Restaurant Hjem, led by head chef Alex Nietosvuori and restaurant manager Ally Thompson-Nietosvuori, pictured below, has announced plans to open a six-month pop-up residency at the South Causey Inn in County Durham from early February 2026. 

The move follows confirmation that Hjem will serve its final service on New Year’s Eve 2025, ahead of the launch of a new flagship venture. 

Under the pop-up arrangement, Alex, Ally and their team will relocate to The Farmhouse, a standalone building within the South Causey Inn’s 100-acre Beamish Valley site, while construction continues on Freyja, a purpose-built restaurant-with-rooms at Close House in Wylam. 

The interim residency allows the restaurant to remain operational, retain its team and continue developing its culinary approach.

Alex said: “This exciting move offers a chance to cook somewhere new, while staying close to home.

“It feels incredibly special to be staying in the North East while we work on the next chapter of our story.

“The Beamish Valley is beautiful, and the South Causey team have created something really special here over the years.”

During the residency, diners will be offered a seasonally changing à la carte menu alongside a six-course tasting option, delivered across a mix of lunch and dinner services throughout the week. 

The format reflects a more flexible approach while maintaining the produce-led, Anglo-Scandinavian style that defined Hjem’s rise to national acclaim.

Ally added: “The North East has always embraced us - we’re excited to spend time in a different part of it. 

“We’ve spent six incredible years at Hjem, and we knew we wanted this in-between period to be meaningful.

“Being able to bring our team here, support their development, and still offer something special to guests means a lot to us. 

“The South Causey grounds are stunning, with walking trails, beautiful rooms and so many things for guests to enjoy. 

“Their values as a family-run business resonate with us, and we’re really looking forward to contributing something that complements what they already do so well.”

The South Causey Inn, a family-run hotel and restaurant known for its strong links to local produce and landscape, provides a fitting backdrop for Alex and Ally’s interim chapter, with Ally adding it offers “a fresh phase between the end of Hjem and the beginning of Freyja”.

The residency also gives the team an opportunity to spend time in a different part of the North East ahead of their next phase.

Susan Moiser, owner at the South Causey Inn, added: “As a family-owned business, it means so much to us to welcome Alex and Ally and the Hjem team to South Causey Inn. 

“We have long admired their passion, creativity and commitment to exceptional food, and this collaboration feels like a natural fit for us. 

“Hosting Hjem in our Farmhouse for the next six months is incredibly exciting, and we can’t wait for our guests to experience something truly special.”

Hjem at South Causey Inn will open on February 4 and will run dinner services Wednesday to Friday, lunch and dinner on Saturday, and a long lunch on Sunday. 

Bookings will be taken via the South Causey Inn website at www.southcausey.co.uk. 

Dinner, bed & breakfast packages will also be available.

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