Restaurant Hjem founders Alex Nietosvuori and Ally Thompson-Nietosvuori have announced that plans for their new restaurant, Freyja, will not move forward, with Hjem’s final service at The Farmhouse at South Causey Inn now set to take place on August 16.
The decision brings to a close one of the North East’s most celebrated food stories, while signaling a change in direction for the couple’s future.
The final Hjem service will take the form of a barbecue celebration, marking everything the couple have built since opening the restaurant in 2019 in Wall, Northumberland.
From its original home, Hjem quickly earned national acclaim for its distinctive blend of Northumbrian produce and Scandinavian culinary influences, becoming the first restaurant in Northumberland to be awarded a Michelin star – an accolade it retained for almost five years until the restaurant closed at the end of December 2025.
Following that closure, Alex and Ally began a temporary residency at South Causey Inn while preparations continued for Restaurant Freyja, a purpose-built restaurant with rooms in the grounds of Close House in Wylam.
However, the couple have announced they will no longer be proceeding with the Freyja project and will step away from The Farmhouse later this summer.
In a joint statement, Alex and Ally said: “The past few months have given us time to reflect on what matters most to us and what we want from the next chapter of our lives. After much thought about what comes next, we’ve made the decision to step away from the Freyja project and draw our residency at the South Causey Inn to a close in August.
“We’re clear about what feels right for us and want to give ourselves the space to explore new opportunities and adventures.
“Hjem has given us more than we could ever have imagined. From the guests who travelled across the country – and further – to dine with us, to the incredible teams who have worked alongside us over the years, we feel enormously grateful for the support, kindness and belief people have shown us.
“We’re incredibly proud of what we created together and we would love to welcome as many guests as possible over these final weeks to help us celebrate everything Hjem has been.”
Before Hjem’s final service in August, guests will also have the chance to enjoy a special Mediterranean-inspired barbecue on July 19 featuring dishes created with Alex’s father, Ulf Nietosvuori.
Bookings are now open for Hjem’s final six weeks, culminating in the farewell barbecue on August 16.
