Two high-achieving restaurants – Humble Chicken in Soho and Hjem in Northumberland – are closing temporarily as they gear up for further improvements.
Angelo Sato, Tokyo-born founder of Humble Chicken, announced his move fresh from the award of a second star from the French tyre men last month, with a declaration of intent on social media saying: “The work isn’t finished. My dream has always been three stars, and that’s exactly what we’re coming for.
“Starting in March, we’ll close for a full refurbishment. Reopening details early April, when reservations go live. We gave it everything. Now, we recharge. And when we’re back, we’re coming back stronger than ever.”
A former head chef at Restaurant Story who trained under Clare Smyth, Angelo founded Humble Chicken as a yakitori serving chicken skewers five years ago, upgrading to a decidedly less humble multi-course omakase which was hailed as “one of the most exciting options in Soho” in this year’s Harden’s guide.
The timetable at Hjem, near Wall in Northumberland is more relaxed, with the restaurant closing at the end of this year to make way for a new purpose-built venue from its founders, Swedish-born chef Alex Nietosvuori and his Northumbrian wife Ally Thompson.
Hjem sits at number 3 in the current Harden’s 100 list of the UK’s best restaurants, its Scandi-style cuisine hailed in our annual survey as ‘a sensory revelation’. Its successor, restaurant-with-rooms Freyja, is scheduled to open next year on the Close Estate at Heddon-on-the-Wall.
Alex says: “We want to make Restaurant Hjem’s final year its best one yet. We’re excited to celebrate everything we’ve achieved and leave a lasting impression in the hearts of those who’ve supported us along the way before we start a new chapter.”
