Sitting proudly upon the site of the former Pageant pub, Hickory’s Smokehouse brand-new Southport opening offers diners to bask in the warmth of Southern-style hospitality and indulge in the ‘low and slow’ fayre synonymous with states such as Louisiana and Mississippi.
The Southport restaurant is the seventh Hickory’s Smokehouse site, built following huge successes in other areas including Chester and West Kirkby. The restaurant brings a slice of the deep South to the town, offering guests a laidback dining and bar area, a range of dishes which will tickle the fancy of lovers of all things BBQ and other exciting additions including a cinema and a stunning garden designed by four times RHS Gold medal winners Howard Miller and David Binks.
Upon entering, we were taken to our table and offered a wide selection of drinks from a menu offering a range of sodas, cocktails, shakes, local cask ales and much more. Over the course of the evening, we ordered the raspberry and mint lemonade, blueberry lemonade and grape soda, all of which are homemade and taste incredible. Our favourite was the grape soda – a must try for anyone with a sweet tooth.
We couldn’t help but notice the details which made Hickory’s Smokehouse unique. Featuring antique pieces from the deep-South, dimly lit dining areas, a table boasting a fire-pit, cosy bar area and even a complimentary bag of popcorn, the Hickory’s experience is something fresh, exciting and made all the better by the little touches.
We ordered a selection of delicious appetisers from the menu, including BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos, Slow Smoked Chicken Wings with the Bourbon Glaze and Beef Brisket Burnt End ‘Popcorn Bites’. The appetisers on offer are great as a starter, but can also be ordered as bar snacks if you are feeling peckish whilst visiting Hickory’s for a tipple. All the appetisers listed on the menu sound so tempting, you run the risk of filling up prior to starting your main!
The staff were extremely attentive and prompt in their serving – the restaurant was extremely busy, yet staff were still welcoming and helpful despite hundreds of diners being present. The little waiting time between courses was impressive, once again taking into consideration the magnitude of diners present.
For a main course, we ordered the Hickory’s Burger and Memphis Style Dry Rubbed Baby Back Ribs. Our mains were served with fries and a house slaw and we ordered the Barbecue Pit Beans as a side. Seasoned with Hickory’s ‘Magic Dust’ and smoked for a total of 4 hours, the ribs were extremely tender, succulent and full-of-flavour – a must eat! A self-proclaimed burger connoisseur, my partner ordered the Hickory’s Burger and was taken aback by the quality of the meat used.
Almost full-to-bursting, we found the room to accommodate one of the many tempting desserts which were on offer. Served with Hickory’s famous frozen custard ice-cream, we ordered the Homemade Fruit Cobbler and the Rich Chocolate Brownie. The desserts went down a treat with a coffee, the Cobbler featuring large helpings of stewed apple and blueberry dashed with a touch of cinnamon and the Brownie served with lashings of homemade rocky road.
The restaurant is described as being wholly ‘family friendly’ – something which Southport is seriously lacking. The restaurant offers features which will delight diners of any age. Where else offers a children’s cinema for kids to watch films whilst eating and a fully-kitted out bar area for the adults to enjoy? We can’t wait to come back and sample the rest of what Hickory’s Smokehouse Southport has to offer and we are extremely excited to see how the new opening will benefit those in the local area. The smokehouse is set to be a hub where the local community can come together and enjoy some real Southern hospitality.
The venue is officially opening on the 22nd of January, and bookings can be made now.
To find out more, or to book a table, call 01704 333855 or go to www.hickorys.co.uk
