Northumberland’s only Michelin Star restaurant will be opening an outdoor pop-up wine bar in its back garden.

Restaurant Hjem, in Wall, will be serving a selection of small plates and paired wines from April 15 outdoors for three weeks.

From Monday (April 12), hospitality venues will be allowed to serve people outdoors.

Elements of the menu at ‘Hjem Vin’ will change weekly, along with Sommelier Anna Frost’s wine selection.

There will also be cocktails, soft drinks and juices available, and the new Hjem unfiltered lager, developed and refined during lockdown with The Twice Brewed Bew House, will make its debut.

Ally Thompson, who runs Hjem with partner and head chef, Alex Nietosvuori, said: “When the Government roadmap was unveiled, we knew we wouldn’t be able to open the restaurant until at least May 17th, so we started thinking about what we might be able to do with our outdoor space.

“We’ve always had plans to open a wine bar at some point - offering low intervention wines, our own brewed beer, local cheeses and charcuterie and a selection of small plates to be enjoyed alongside. 

“And while a bricks and mortar operation isn’t really realistic at the moment – particularly after the year we’ve all just had – we thought a pop-up version of it would suit the al fresco setting perfectly and allow us to welcome back guests for a taste of Hjem after such a long time.”

Examples of small plates on offer include Roe deer tartae with egg cream, wild garlic and sourdough toast, as well a sweeter plates such as doughnuts and salted caramel sauce.

As the recent cold snap has proven, warm weather can’t be guaranteed in April in England.

There will be blankets, hot water bottles, fire pits and hand warmers available to Hjem Vin’s diners, and people are encouraged to dress for the weather too.

The pop-up will open between Thursday and Sunday, with the exact schedule flexible to adapt to the weather.

Confirmed opening hours will be announced each Monday on Restaurant Hjem’s website and social media pages, and tables can then be booked and secured with a £25 per person deposit.

The first tables will be released on Monday April 12 for reservations from April 15-18.
Sittings will take place between 12-1pm, 2.30-3.30pm and 5.30-6.30pm with the maximum table size being six.
Weather permitting, the last opening day will be May 3, a Bank Holiday Monday, so the team can prepare to welcome guests back into their dining room if coronavirus restrictions are lifted further on May 17.

Hjem first opened in May 2019, bringing together Northumberland produce with Scandinavian flavours and cooking techniques.

The restaurant is within the popular pub, The Hadrian at Wall.