A FINE dining restaurant in the Tyne Valley has received the top award from the world’s most prestigious restaurant guide.

The coveted Michelin Star has been bestowed up on Restaurant Hjem, at Wall, for the illustrious publication’s 2021 edition.

Less than two years since welcoming its first guests, Hjem is already a destination restaurant, attracting food lovers from all over the North-East and far beyond.

Having attracted the attention of Michelin Guide inspectors just weeks after opening in May 2019 – which resulted in a commending Michelin Plate entry in the 2020 Guide – Hjem will now join fellow star recipients Newcastle’s House of Tides and the Raby Hunt in Darlington at the North-East’s top table.

Hjem combines the best local produce with Scandinavian values and cooking techniques.

Head chef Alex Nietosvuori, of Sweden, who runs Hjem with his partner, Northumberland-born Ally Thompson, said: “It’s such a fantastic honour to be given this recognition and we could not be happier.

“As a chef, this is one of the achievements you aim for, which makes this a day for big celebrations!”

Ally said: “We’re so pleased the inspectors visited Hjem during the few months when we were able to open in 2020. We felt like we had come such a long way since their first visit in 2019 and could not be more thrilled that they seem to agree.

“On a personal note, I’m also pretty excited as Alex always said he’d propose when he got a Michelin Star!”

The announcement was made during a digital launch, presented by TV personality Davina McCall and Michelin International Director, Gwendal Poullennec.

Mr Poullennec, said: “This has been a hugely challenging period for the hospitality industry.”

He said the Michelin Guide was about highlighting the hard work, tenacity and commitment of chefs and restaurant teams.