The restaurant has reopened after closing for a week
Hickory’s Smokehouse in Southport after renovations(Image: Neil Cooper)
A Southport restaurant has reopened to guests after temporarily closing earlier this month. Hickory’s Smokehouse shut its doors on June 16 promising only a brief absence and exciting changes.
The barbecue venue closed for renovations which were finally completed on June 27. The restaurant and bar have both received a refresh with new seating and better views. The garden has also been re-imagined with new huts Southern touches.
There is also a revamped outdoor play area for children, along with the movie room receiving touch ups. A statement on the company’s website reads: “Hickory’s Southport is back open & smokin’ after our refresh…
“To all our neighbours, our guests & the good people of Southport – a massive thank you for supporting us for the past 7 years. And what a 7 years we’ve had.
Hickory’s Smokehouse huts(Image: Neil Cooper)
“We’ve proudly been smokin’ authentic BBQ, shakin’ cocktails & meeting so many wonderful guests. We’ve loved every minute & couldn’t have done it without you.”
The company began in Cheshire in 2010 and has launched more than 20 sites across the Northwest, including two in Merseyside. In February, the original home of Hickory’s, located in Chester, closed for several weeks to undergo a major facelift which saw a garden room expansion and retractable roof.
Hickory’s Smokehouse bar(Image: Neil Cooper)
Hickory’s Smokehouse director John Welsh previously said not to “write Liverpool off” when it comes to a potential new opening.
He told the ECHO: “The furthest north we currently are is Leeds and the furthest south is Gloucester. We’ve grown very slowly but always made sure there’s 30 to 40 minutes between each of the restaurants so we can support them.
“We always try to open restaurants in suburban areas which are real communities, like West Kirby. We build these restaurants with a view to them being generational investments, we want them to be in their respective communities for many years to come. City centres are not for us.
“We’ve looked at a few areas in Liverpool a number of times, but trying to find the right site is difficult. However, definitely don’t write Liverpool off, it just won’t be in the city centre.
Hickory’s Smokehouse is back open(Image: Neil Cooper)
“Our ambition is to become a nationally recognised brand – not a chain though, we try to avoid being seen as a chain because we still see ourselves as being a highly independent, small and almost family-based business.
“We have investors in the background but we like to keep a distance from them and we still have an independent-minded view on how we run the business. For a lot of us, it’s taken up most of our working careers. We’re keen to bring what we see as authentic barbecue to as many people as possible.”