Funding to propel Hickory's Smokehouse growth

Hickory’s Smokehouse has received a £13m funding package from ThinCats to help accelerate its active roll out of restaurants.

Neil McDonnell opened the first Hickory’s Smokehouse in Chester in 2010 following extensive research into the American barbecue and smokehouse sector. The team behind Hickory’s has been operating in Chester for 20 years with Barlounge and its award-winning steakhouse Upstairs At The Grill.

There are now 11 Hickory’s Smokehouse restaurants across the north west and Midlands, with the next site in Wilmslow due to open in spring.

Backed by Piper since October 2014, Hickory’s has had particular success in transforming former pubs. It works with partners on existing sites (both leasehold and freehold) and will open its first new-build in Staffordshire later this year.

“We’re pleased to have secured this deal with ThinCats as we step up our roll out plans and continue looking for potential new restaurants,” says John Welsh, managing director of Hickory’s. “We’ve broadened our target area and are keen to find sites on either side of the Pennines and increase our presence in the Midlands. Nothing is off limits – we’ve had particular success in converting old pub sites and are excited about our first new-build later this year. We look forward to bringing our own style of Southern hospitality to new communities in the coming years.”