Barkhult restaurant
The family farm is now open for orders
With many years in the lunch, dinner and catering business, Martin Roman is a familiar face to restaurant-goers in Älmhult. Now he’s taking things one step further, and invites the public into his home.
“The people round here definitely have a characteristic mindset. An entrepreneurial mentality stemming from this can-do attitude. Like there’s always a way forward – all you need is a bit of cleverness and hard work.”
Martin knows what he’s talking about. Besides being the birthplace of IKEA, Älmhult is also where he himself was born. To be more precise, he grew up on the nearby farm Barkhult. After years of running restaurants in and outside of Älmhult, he’s no stranger to going all-in on new ventures, either. On that note, he’s now bringing his business closer to home.
Need more inspiration? Take a look where Barkhult started from
Step by step – from the odd event to an everyday business
“Barkhult has been in my family for generations, but we’re only marginally involved with farming nowadays. A few years back, we got the idea to instead use it as a complement to the restaurants, for occasions other than family gatherings. A few trials turned out great, and since then we have gradually made Barkhult our main focus.” Starting with one-offs like a wedding here and a conference there, activities have grown more regular with time. While events still play a major role, a gigantic pizza oven is now the centre of attention in every sense. “Pizza, made in true Neapolitan fashion, has become a big thing for us. Then, depending on the season, we do the traditional Swedish smorgasbord, barbecues – and Sunday brunches, of course.”
A rustic mix of old and new
Driving a business in Älmhult, chances are IKEA will be involved, one way or another. “IKEA co-workers have long been loyal customers of mine, so turning to them for advice felt only natural. When redoing Barkhult for a new crowd, we wanted an update without losing the essence of our wooden barn. We had a great exchange of ideas with the interior designers, and the result really feels like the best of both worlds.”
Consulting IKEA really made a difference in mixing the rustic interior and vintage furniture with more modern elements – resulting in a truly genuine atmosphere.”
