Henne Kirkeby Kro
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality, Restaurant |
| Founded | 1790 |
| Headquarters | Henne Kirkeby , Denmark |
Key people | Flemming Skouboe (owner), Paul Cunningham (chef) |
| Products | Accommodation, Dining |
| Owner | Flemming Skouboe |
Number of employees | 22 (2017) |
| Website | www |
Henne Kirkeby Kro is a traditional inn (kro) situated in the village of within Varde Municipality, Denmark. Founded in 1790, the establishment has been under the ownership of Danish billionaire Flemming Skouboe since 2007. The dining venue, overseen by former chef Garrey Dawson and currently led by chef Paul Cunningham, received its inaugural Michelin star in 2016, followed by a second star in 2017.
History
Constructed in 1790, Henne Kirkeby Kro was once a favored spot of the nature artist Johannes Larsen. For three generations, the Beck Thomsen family held ownership, most recently chef Hans Beck Thomsen up until 2007, when it was acquired by Flemming Skouboe. After closing the inn until 2009, Skouboe undertook extensive renovations to elevate it to luxury standards, incorporating modern, "quasi-minimalist" interior designs featuring works by Paul Smith, Hans Wegner, and photographic art by Astrid Kruse Jensen. The addition of a guest building named Hunters' Lodge expanded accommodation from five to twelve rooms, alongside new facilities including a lunch restaurant, conference amenities, and a helipad.
By 2017, the inn had become part of the Skouboe family's Fænø Estate. It operates seasonally for eight months each year—from Easter through mid-December—and employs a staff of 22 during this period.
Restaurant
The restaurant is under the management of British-born chef Garrey Dawson, like his successor Paul Cunningham. During Hans Beck Thomsen’s tenure as chef, the establishment earned the national restaurant accolade from Den danske Spiseguide in 2001, and in 2002 sommelier Jacob Justesen was honored as sommelier of the year. Allan Poulsen took over as chef in 2009; under his direction, the restaurant again secured the national award in 2011 and was recognized as Scandinavian restaurant of the year in 2012. Cunningham replaced Poulsen that same year. The venue attained its first Michelin star in 2016 and added a second star in 2017.
Featuring twelve tables, the inn produces its own lamb, pork, poultry, and rabbits and maintains Denmark's largest kitchen garden, which includes both an orchard and beehives. Additionally, it procures wild game from Skouboe’s private island Fænø and benefits from proximity to Hvide Sande, Denmark’s main fish market. While Poulsen’s cuisine embraced new Nordic principles, Cunningham currently presents two dinner options—'Ma Cuisine' and 'Dinner chez nous'—offering diverse dishes rooted in classical techniques with an emphasis on fresh ingredients; weekly fish and chips are served on Fridays.
Media
In 2015, photographer Per Nagel released Henne Kirkeby Kro: Exploring Taste and Senses, a photographic book dedicated to the inn.
The restaurant was also featured in October 2016 on the documentary television series Indefra med Anders Agger.
External links
- Official website (English version)