Hickory's Smokehouse will officially open its doors in Newcastle on Friday, November 13, following a major transformation of The Newton Park pub on Benton Road. The American smokehouse restaurant has already proven popular in Gateshead, where it opened earlier this year.
The new Benton site marks the chain's second location in the North East, after its Gateshead branch at The Gold Medal pub near Team Valley opened in early June. That pub had closed at the end of January to make way for the restaurant, which drew significant footfall after its launch.
From pub to smokehouse
Before June, the only Hickory's in the North East was in Thornaby. The attention the chain received on social media brought customers from miles around to sample the food featured across TikTok and Instagram. The success of the Gateshead opening led the expanding chain to set its sights on Newcastle, with The Newton Park pub closing to make way for the new restaurant.
Work has been carried out behind closed doors in recent weeks to convert the former pub. Diners at Hickory's Newcastle will be able to enjoy all the favourites from the Hickory's menu, along with some Christmas specials.
Festive menu options
Seasonal offerings will include a Festive BBQ Tray, featuring smoked maple buttered turkey breast, chicken fried wing and smoky pork & jalapeño & cheese sausage, served with chicken salted tater tots, hot honey & peach salsa glazed Brussel sprouts and a bucket of Tennessee bourbon gravy.
For those with a sweet tooth, the Warm Old Fashioned Style Corn Cake will be introduced for the festive season. The dessert is described as a soft, zingy orange-glazed corn cake drizzled with bourbon maple, topped with creamy frozen custard, cinnamon sugar and a pop of popcorn crunch.
The Christmas menu is set to launch at Hickory's on November 30. A tour of the new restaurant was held in Benton on Monday ahead of the opening.
