Hickory's Smokehouse is set to open a new restaurant in Bold Heath, between Widnes and St Helens, marking its fourth site in Merseyside. The American-style chain, founded in Cheshire in 2010, has expanded to more than 20 locations across the North West, including three on Merseyside.
Expansion in the Liverpool City Region
The new venue will join existing Merseyside restaurants on Village Road in West Kirby and Folkestone Road in Southport, as well as the recently opened site on Gateacre Brow, which began trading on Friday, July 17. The Bold Heath restaurant will take over the space previously home to The Griffin, which closed in June to make way for the new venue.
A spokesperson said: “We are delighted to be heading to Widnes– we've got strong links with the area, and we've already got to know so many guests from the local community, who have been visiting our neighbourhood bar and restaurants in Chester, Standish and across the region.
“Like the rest of the venues, visitors can expect a welcoming bar area, and on the menu they can choose from a range inspired by the barbecue traditions of the southern United States, with a focus on slow-smoked meats, stacked burgers and American comfort food.”
Signature dishes and home turf opening
The menu features signature dishes including 16-hour Texas-style smoked brisket, Memphis-style baby-back ribs, hand-pulled BBQ pork, smoked chicken and jalapeño-and-cheese sausages. Diners can also choose from smokehouse platters with a selection of meats served with fries, cornbread, coleslaw and house pickles.
Rob Bacon, Hickory's original chef and now director, who was born “just up the road” from the new venue, said he was excited to be opening the first smokehouse on “home turf”. He added: “It's going to be a very special opening for me and the whole team. I know first-hand just how welcoming the local community can be and I can't wait to welcome friends, family and guests to our latest North West smokehouse.
“The new bar and restaurant will have classic Hickory’s vibe, with cosy dining booths, fun, family friendly additions and a warm and welcoming bar area showing live sports daily - and of course their signature chef’s bar, the prime spot to watch the chefs in action.”
The team said they “Can't wait to swing open the doors later this year.”
