February 12, 2025

Fenwick is hosting a pop-up brasserie with Michelin starred restaurant Hjem

Hjem, Located in the small village of Wall, Hjem (pronounced "yem") is both a Northumbrian and Scandinavian word for "home” and can be found tucked away within the popular pub, The Hadrian at Wall.

Bringing the flavours and style of Scandinavia, Hjem invites foodies to experience its famous flavours and signature cooking style. The menu showcases local and seasonal produce with a twist served in a relaxed setting with a frequently updated tasting menu available.

Founded by husband and wife team, Alex Nietosvuori and Ally Thompson, Hjem’s blend of fresh North East produce and traditional Scandinavian cooking won it a Michelin star in 2021– making it the first Michelin-starred restaurant in Northumberland.

Hjem is bringing its style and cooking prowess to an upmarket brasserie deluxe in the Newcastle Fenwick store. Not compromising on sourcing only the very best ingredients served in a more relaxed and commercial space to give more customers a chance to experience the skills and flavours of Hjem. The tasing menu at £85 is almost half the price of the menu at the Hjem Michelin starred site and the Fenwick brasserie is twice the size, so offering a slightly more accessible version of the highly acclaimed original.

What can you tell us about the wine list?

We have crafted a wine list that represents the wines that we serve at Hjem. Small, growers and producers who believe in minimal intervention in both the vineyard and the cellar. Alongside this selection we have also chosen some real crowd pleasers, most of which are available in the Wine Room at Fenwick.

How does your selection of products support local producers?

We use local producers and suppliers across our menu. Our Fenwick residency is giving us a little more freedom to use produce we don’t get the opportunity to work with in rural Northumberland, which is exciting in itself.

How are you bringing together fresh North East produce and traditional

Scandinavian cooking techniques that Hjem is known for to Fenwick Newcastle?

We will use a very similar cooking style and make use of techniques in the kitchen that we also use in Hjem. Preserved, pickled and fermented ingredients will all be included on the menu. We have chosen dishes that showcase Alex’s cooking, but which are more suited to a lunch/late afternoon service than our tasting menu in the restaurant, which we only serve in the evening.

Why is the partnership important to you?

Ally has grown up with Fenwick as the go-to shopping destination in the centre of town. Hjem and the store share a lot of values, most notably quality of produce and the highest standards of service.

Signature Hjem dishes on the menu will include chicken liver parfait with brioche & Pedro Ximenez syrup, fried chicken with Kewpie mayo, gougères filled with Doddington cheese cream. For dessert, enjoy a Pairs-Brest & Hazelnut Pralinel or Crème Brûlée with rum soaked raisins with an espresso semi freddo. We asked founders Alex and Ally about their ethos, inspiration and what to expect from Restaurant Hjem at Fenwick Newcastle.

What can customers expect from Restaurant Hjem at Fenwick Newcastle?

We are really looking forward to welcoming guests from across the city. We have a beautiful location in the tiny village of Wall but not everyone is able to make the trip to get to us. We hope our residency in Fenwick Newcastle will offer guests the opportunity to enjoy a taste of Hjem, in a location that is perhaps easier to get to. Alex and his team have put together an a la carte menu which represents their style of cooking, using local and seasonal produce, but also not being afraid to use the odd ingredient or spice sourced from a little further afield.

How are you translating Michelin-level cuisine to Restaurant Hjem at Fenwick Newcastle?

The Michelin Guide features restaurants, and awards stars, based on a few different criteria. Quality of ingredients, harmony of flavours, mastery of techniques, personality of the chef expressed through their cuisine and consistency across the menu and over time. At Hjem the quality of ingredients we use is a massively important part of what we do. Great produce, well cooked.