Norwegians queue for chance to stay at Ikea

It brought us Swedish meatballs, Billy bookshelves and endless queues on London's North Circular on Saturday afternoons. Now Ikea is going one step further and opening the Ikea Hostel, where customers can stay overnight if they haven't finished their shopping.

Later this month Ikea in Norway will let shoppers kip down in one of its two Oslo warehouses, an operation that will last a week. Frode Ullebust, a company spokesman, said: "It will be like an alternative hostel. There will be the regular dormitory with lots of beds stacked up together.



"We will also have a bridal suite, with a round bed and a hanging chandelier, and the luxury suite, where customers can enjoy breakfast in bed," he said. Family rooms will also be available for parents and children.

Mr Ullebust said that, as far as he knew, this was Ikea's first foray into the hotel business. Every night, the 30 lucky few will be able to stack up on meatballs, Norwegian salmon and cranberry mousse as Ikea is offering free dinner and breakfast at the usual canteen.

Customers will also be able to take their bedsheets home. "It's a nice souvenir," he added. "We will also give them bathrobes with the Ikea Hostel logo on, and some slippers, so they won't get cold at night."