‘It was like living in a bubble of joy’

Ian Bridges, the English co-founder of Din Festaurang in Skelleftehamn and DFC-Din Fest on Campus Skellefteå, has lived in Skellefteå for 22 happy years. He tells Paul Connolly what he’s learned along the way. Portrait by Donna Richmond.

PC: How did you end up in Skellefteå?

IB: In 1999 I met Kicki when I was a chef in Corfu. We moved to Skellefteå in 2000 and we’ve been together here ever since.

PC: How was Skellefteå in 2000? Was moving here a culture shock?

IB: I love new places. The first year or so of living in Skellefteå was brilliant. Because I didn’t know much Swedish, I didn’t hear any news, local or international, and everything was just positive. It was just like living in a bubble of joy. And I loved the caring attitude of people in Skellefteå. If anyone got into any trouble or needed help, there would instantly be lots of people trying to help. There’s a real community spirit here that seems to have disappeared in the UK.

PC: Was work easy to find?

IB: I’ve never had trouble finding work. There were always restaurants looking for chefs. I’ve always liked cooking – it’s fun. I’ve always been in kitchens, ever since my first washing-up job in a restaurant in Berkshire when I was 14. When I go on a two-week holiday, I can only really relax for a week before I get restless.

And I then have to start cooking again! 

PC: Did you learn Swedish straight away?

IB: I had to learn Swedish quickly because Kicki’s father didn’t speak English. It was good for me. It’s good to have to learn. I’m still learning  – you will always be learning Swedish because it’s a hard language. It’s not even the same language up here as it is in Stockholm!

PC: What do you think of Norrland food?

IB: I really like the food here. You can tell a lot about a country by its supermarkets. America and the UK have lots of pre-prepared ready meals, whereas in Sweden supermarkets focus more on fresh food. They also have great bread here. In England a loaf of bread has chemicals in it so it lasts for a month, but over here the bread tastes much better. I also love chanterelle mushrooms and reindeer meat – I may not eat them very often but I really enjoy them when I do.

PC: What’s the biggest difference between England and Sweden?

IB: The English don’t trust anyone until they prove they can be trusted. In Norrland they trust everyone until they get burned. 

PC: Any tips for newcomers on settling in quickly to Skellefteå life?

IB: I’ve always been surrounded by Swedes. I didn’t move here to just hang around with English people. Make friends with Swedes. Learn the language. It’s important to remember that the Swedes don’t have to fit in with you; you have to fit in with them. 

PC: Do you have a hidden Norrland treasure you can share with our readers?

IB: I have two! The tiny turquoise-blue Grödkallen lake near Arvidsjaur is hard to find but a really magical place. It’s been described as the most beautiful lake in Sweden and I can totally see why. Food-wise, one of the best burgers I’ve ever tasted is the double barbeque burger at the Frostkågekiosken in Frostkåge. Their burgers are amazing! 

To book a julbord, check out dinfest.se.

Din Festaurang in Skelleftehamn
(070-320 07 77) and DFC-Din Fest on Campus Skellefteå (076-777 33 19)