BRUS | To Øl | Copenhagen (DK) | By Lee Fleming

As fond admirers of Danish craft brewers To Øl we're excited for our next Scandinavian tour to see their latest venture named BRUS (Named after the sparkling quality that liquid obtains when carbonated) in the fresh. BRUS combines brewing, dining and shopping under one roof in a former iron factory in the city’s multi-cultural Nørrebro neighbourhood, a beer enthusiasts dream we know.

Cleverly laid out in zones while maintaining an open plan feel the 750m2 space sees a centrally-located bar offering 33 taps alongside guest craft beers from he world’s best brewers. The in-house Restaurant Spontan is led by Denmark’s youngest Michelin-starred chef, Christian Gadient who serves up modern French, new Nordic- and Asian-informed dishes.

The industrial interior is a nod to the spaces past as a iron factory but offers a sense of warmth and comfort thanks to the oak tree nine metre-long bar, restaurant tables, lounge booths and stools. The bar area features fixtures and fittings straight from beer production to give a sense of being behind-the-scenes; 70 oak barrels are set up in the very centre of the building to store all of To Øl’s barrel-aged beer while three fermentation tanks with capacity of 19.000 liters are brewing in the back of the pub.

For more information on Brus check out their website.

26 Grains | London (UK) | By Lee Fleming

The recently opened 26 Grains is the brainchild of 26-year-old porridge enthusiast Alex Hely-Hutchinson whom having spent a year studying in Copenhagen has introduced London to a wholehearted approach towards oat cuisine. The philosophy behind 26 Grains is rooted in quality, simplicity and seasonality to deliver a delicious menu of grain based dishes.

26 Grains takes inspiration from Scandinavian cooking traditions, in particular the concept ‘Hygge’ which translated suggests a sense of cosiness best describes atmosphere in 26 Grains. Initially starting as a pop-up stall at Old Street Station, 26 Grains latest location can be found in Neal’s Yard in the heart of Covent Garden, central London. London-based design firm Block1 were tasked with creating a Nordic influenced interior that would provide a fitting backdrop for 26 Grains wholesome grain-based dishes. The stripped-back palette of natural woods, clean marble and rough rendered walls creates a warm Scandinavian aesthetic.

To find out more visit the 26 Grains website and/or check out the 26 Grains Cookbook.

(Photography by Enzo Cerri)

Ace Hotel | Whitfield | Pittsburgh, USA | By Lee Fleming

Ace Hotel has added Pittsburgh to its eclectic hotel portfolio along with Seattle, Portland and New York City. The Portland-based hotelier's latest addition on Whitfield Street resides in a century-old former YMCA building in the heart of the city’s culturally diverse East Liberty neighborhood.

The 63 room hotel features an Art Deco interior which includes design features such as limited edition Pendleton quilts, Tivoli Radio, Music Hall turntables and acoustic Martin guitars.

To read more about Ace Hotel Pittsburgh visit their website.

Att Pynta | London (UK) | By Emma Harrison

Att Pynta is the brainchild from Kai Price and Amanda Nelson. Both raised in Gothenburg, the pair met in London whilst working in fashion PR and came together through a shared love of affordable and contemporary homeware. Launched in autumn 2014, the online brand combines a distinctly Scandinavian aesthetic with strong British design to form a collection of stylish textiles, kitchenware, homeware and lighting.

The Att Pynta website is full of inspiration and boasts an impressive and select list of designers. Products are created by Nordic and UK-based designers and include the Brass Frame Portrait (top left, £38) from fair-trade manufacturer Nkuku and the sumptuous woollen Beehive Throw (bottom right, £60.00) by Tweedmill, based in Wales. The locally produced products on the online store sit neatly next to Scandinavian designs, from Danish Goose Feather lampshades to ceramics from Swede Marie L Sundegren.

You can visit Att Pynta’s store online or catch them at Broadway Market in East London every Saturday. We’ve also heard there may be a pop-store in the pipeline for 2015 - watch this space.

Mourne Textiles | County Down, Northern Ireland (UK) | By Emma Harrison

Located at the foot of the Mourne Mountains in County Down, Northern Ireland is Mourne Textiles, a family-run business with a rich history of textile production dating back to 1909. Founded by Norwegian weaver Gerd Hay-Edie in 1949, the Mourne factory started life as a small hub of Scandinavian manufacturing in the Irish mountains with Gerd importing all looms and textile machinery from Norway and training local people to hand weave her designs. The business quickly flourished and today remains a family affair with Gerd’s daughter, Karen Hay-Edie as Master Weaver and her grandson, Mario, at the helm of the business.

Mourne’s products include sumptuous throws, cushions, tablewear and rugs weaved on site and made with 'wild' Donegal and Merino yarns spun to exact specifications. Mario is very careful to stay true to his grandmother’s designs and Mourne still uses the Irish tweed, designed by Gerd and made famous by fashion designer Sybil Connolly, in their beautiful throws. 

You can order Mourne’s products online or find their creations at a range of international stockists including London-based Margaret Howell, The New Craftsmen and Mouki Mou.