Hickory’s Smokehouse opens after ‘test run’ with villagers

Contractors have been converting the former Bystander pub off Wootton Road for the past few months, and on Wednesday, on the night of the eclipse, the restaurant, which can seat about 150, was packed with invited guests – most of them local residents.

The former Greene King pub has been transformed, inside and out, for customers who were treated to any dish they wanted – and following the successful service the restaurant opens officially today.

READ MORE: Hickory’s Smokehouse now ready to open

More than 100 people have been employed to work at the new restaurant and bar, which also features a cinema to keep children entertained, and an Aunt Sally pitch in the garden outside.

Staff said on Wednesday they want the smokehouse to be a focal point in the community, as well as attracting diners from outside the immediate area.

Hickory’s Smokehouse staff in Wootton (Image: Hickory’s Smokehouse)

Long-serving employees travelled from Cardiff and Gloucester on Wednesday to help with the launch night.

Staff said on Facebook: “Our smokers have arrived, travelling all the way from Tennessee and Missouri and they have settled in perfectly.

“Shoutout to Ole Hickory Pits and Southern Pride BBQ Smokers for the incredible smokers

“We can’t wait to get them fired up, swing open our doors and serve you, the good people of Abingdon – don’t forget to make a pitmasters day once we’re open and ask for a smoker tour.”

Pitmaster Michael at Hickory’s Smokehouse in Wootton (Image: Andy Ffrench)

Food is served at Hickory’s Smokehouse (Image: Hickory’s Smokehouse)

Chefs at Hickory’s Smokehouse near Abingdon (Image: Hickory’s Smokehouse)

Popular items on the menu include Bird in the Herd (£31.50), a barbecue tray featuring Tennessee bourbon gravy-glazed smoked beef baby back ribs, Kansas-style BBQ sauced wings and buttered smoked chicken leg.

The Southern Fried Chicken Burger and Oklahoma Smash Burger both cost £19, while the Go Big or Go Home Burger costs £24.

A delicious dessert is the lemon meringue cheesecake with waffles which costs £8.75 and is worth going back for.

Hickory’s Smokehouse custom-builds each restaurant around a giant, custom-manufactured smoker imported directly from Missouri in the United States.

Costing about £30,000 each, the iron pit-smokers cook meat for up to 16 hours to create authentic Deep South-style barbecue.

Pitmaster Michael, one of the staff team on Wednesday, said a wall had to be knocked down to accommodate the giant smoker in the kitchen at Wootton as there was no other way to fit it into the building, after it was imported via Germany.

The interior is set up with a sports bar, a family dining area, and a cinema room for children, including a ‘fro-co creation station’ with frozen yogurt, sweets, popcorn and ice cream.

Inside the new Hickory’s Smokehouse near Abingdon (Image: Andy Ffrench)

Inside Hickory’s Smokehouse in Abingdon (Image: Andy Ffrench)

It also has a ‘chef’s bar’, with the best seats in the house facing onto the kitchen, so guests can watch their food being prepared, and TV screens are fitted to show sports including football.

There are lots of different enclosed dining seating areas off the central restaurant space.

A garden at the back of the venue will host guests enjoying barbecue food and summer drinks – and retain the Aunt Sally pitch which will have a ‘refresh’ before the new season.

On Wednesday staff even took the trouble to hand out special glasses to diners so they could watch the eclipse before dining.

Hickory’s Smokehouse customers watch the eclipse (Image: Andy Ffrench)

One customer who was invited to the launch night said that the food was “perfect”.

She added: “Just been to the pre-opening evening ahead of their opening on Friday. Thank you to Ryan, bar opening operations manager, for the invite, Jordan the manager for his service, and choice of cocktails, and Evie, waitress, for the brilliant service.

Chefs at Hickory’s Smokehouse (Image: Andy Ffrench)

“Fabulous evening and the restaurant looked amazing. We will definitely be back.”

Hickory’s Smokehouse is selected as the Oxford Mail Pub of the Week.