Harden's survey result
Summary
“Exceptional” ‘new Scandi’-style cooking has won widespread acclaim for Swedish chef Alex Nietosvuori and his locally born partner Ally Thompson at their five-year-old restaurant-with rooms – a 24-seat dining room with open kitchen, “in a beautiful setting in the wilds of Northumberland”, close to Hadrian’s Wall. “The food is created with passion, delivered to the table with unbridled enthusiasm and reveals combinations, textures and flavours which are a sensory revelation”. The couple’s spectacular new purpose-built venue, Frejya, in a walled garden within the Close House estate at Heddon-on-the-Wall, is scheduled to open in late 2025.
Summary
“We are so lucky to have this very special restaurant in Northumberland” – Swedish chef Alex Nietosvuori and his Northumberland-born partner Ally Thompson inspire nothing but superlatives for their acclaimed destination: a bright, contemporary 24-seater with open kitchen at a pub-with-rooms next to Hadrian’s Wall. “It is evident that they seek out the best ingredients and are not afraid to change suppliers if they find something more in keeping with their ethos, with lots of local produce used”. The result is “high class, inventive” Scandi-inflected cuisine served as a mixture of small bites and larger dishes comprising a £150 per person tasting menu. “Wonderful… even on a second visit – not every eatery can do that!”
Summary
“Wow, just wow” – “gorgeous, delicious, astoundingly flavourful dishes” combine with “thoroughly individual service” to create “absolutely outstanding” meals at this Scandi-inspired three-year-old that “has not been resting on its laurels”. Swedish chef Alex Nietosvuori and his Northumberland-born partner Ally Thompson “have created a laid-back foodie haven” tucked away inside a pub beside Hadrian’s Wall – which its many fans regard as “our happy place”. For some, it’s “a huge trek to get there, but so worth it, what a treat!". “Shout out too to Anna (Frost), the sommelier, who has curated an unusual and largely biodynamic wine list.” And for those who stay overnight, the breakfast spread in the morning simply prolongs the fun.
Summary
“A great addition to the Northumberland food scene…”, “their recent Michelin star is well-deserved…”, “such a unique place to dine”… just a few of the paeans directed at chef Alex Nietosvuori’s Scandi-themed two-year-old, where even those with high hopes were “blown away” by the “incredible, precise, beautiful cooking” that “really showcases the wonderful local produce the chef is using” (and comes in elaborate 15-18 course servings). The “unusual and largely biodynamic wine list curated by sommelier Anna Frost” also merits diners' attention.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
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The Hadrian Hotel, Wall, NE46 4EE
Restaurant details
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £0.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £0.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
The Hadrian Hotel, Wall, NE46 4EE
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 7 pm‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 7 pm‑11 pm |
| Friday | 7 pm‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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