Hjem settles in at South Causey Inn

A Michelin-starred Northumberland restaurant is entering a new phase with a temporary relocation designed to bridge the gap between two major chapters.

Restaurant Hjem has begun a six-month residency at South Causey Inn, welcoming guests to The Farmhouse on the Durham site for preview services ahead of an official opening on February 4. 

The move follows Hjem’s final New Year’s Eve hurrah and marks its return to service while preparations continue for a new permanent home.

Founded in 2019 in Wall, Northumberland, Hjem became the county’s first Michelin-starred restaurant, achieving the accolade just 18 months after opening, earning widespread acclaim for its Anglo-Scandinavian cooking, deep connection to local produce and thoughtful hospitality.

The South Causey Inn residency allows the full kitchen and front-of-house team to remain together while testing new ideas and menus in a standalone building within the inn’s grounds. 

The arrangement offers continuity for diners and staff, while providing a creative base as work progresses on Restaurant Freyja, the team’s forthcoming restaurant-with-rooms project at Close House Estate near Wylam.

During the residency, Hjem will offer an à la carte menu alongside a six-course tasting option, with dinner services running from Wednesday to Friday, lunch and dinner on Saturdays, as well as a long lunch on Sundays. 

Menus will change with the seasons and feature dishes created specifically for the South Causey setting.

Plates will continue to reflect the restaurant’s ethos of seasonal, produce-led cooking, drawing on ingredients from Northumberland farms, estates and coastal suppliers. 

Head chef and co-founder Alex Nietosvuori 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.”

Alex and Ally at the South Causey Inn

Susan Moiser, owner of South Causey Inn, added: “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.

“We’re equally excited to welcome guests to stay with us, enjoying our bedrooms and making a full experience of their visit, from dinner through to a relaxed overnight stay in the heart of the Causey countryside.”

Alex and Susan outside The Farmhouse at the South Causey Inn

The residency also provides an opportunity to develop concepts and dishes that will inform the opening of Freyja.

Restaurant Freyja, named after the Norse goddess of love, fertility and abundance, will place a strong emphasis on garden-led cooking, with produce from its own walled garden complementing the region’s best local suppliers.

Bookings for Restaurant Hjem at South Causey Inn are now open for dining and overnight stays. See here to book for both dining and overnight stays.

Guests wishing to stay up to date with Freyja’s development and opening announcements can join the mailing list via freyjarestaurant.com, where updates will be shared in the coming months.

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