{"id":1317,"date":"2025-04-23T10:43:19","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T10:43:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/?p=1317"},"modified":"2025-04-27T08:03:41","modified_gmt":"2025-04-27T08:03:41","slug":"unreal-bbq-fast-food-chain-owned-by-uk-pub-to-open-10-new-restaurants-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/23\/unreal-bbq-fast-food-chain-owned-by-uk-pub-to-open-10-new-restaurants-in-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Unreal\u2019 BBQ fast food chain owned by UK pub to open 10 new restaurants in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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One Southern-inspired fast food chain has big plans for 2025 (Picture: Hickory’s Smokehouse)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Serving up burger stacks, steaks, and gooey mac and cheese, an American-inspired fast food chain <\/a>branded \u2018unreal<\/a>\u2019 is opening 10 new branches across the UK in 2025.<\/p>\n

The first Hickory\u2019s Smokehouse opened in 2010, born out of a US<\/a> road trip that saw founder Neil McDonnell travel across the likes of Texas<\/a>, South Carolina, and Tennessee.<\/p>\n

It all started in Chester<\/a>, a year to the day that he returned from the trip of a lifetime \u2013 and since it was acquired by pub chain Greene King<\/a> in 2022, its dreams have got even bigger.<\/p>\n

In 2024, Hickory\u2019s opened six new restaurants \u2013 bringing the grand total to 26 as part of a \u00a325,000,000 investment from the 2600-strong pub chain.<\/p>\n

So far in 2025, a new location in Milton Keynes <\/a>has already opened. The chain has plans to introduce 10 each year until at least 2027, some of which will see existing Greene King pubs converted into smokehouses.<\/p>\n

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The first restaurant opened in Chester in 2010 (Picture: Hickory’s Smokehouse)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018We knew Hickory’s was a brilliant brand with a unique proposition when we made our initial investment, but it has been great to see the expansion of the brand really resonate with guests,\u2019 said Greene King chief executive Nick Mackenzie.<\/p>\n

\u2018At a time when the sector is facing significant pressures and layering of costs, Hickory’s growth provides a blueprint for our investment strategy to drive the brand’s expansion, unlock value and delight Hickory’s guests.\u2019<\/p>\n

Thinking about popping down? Its smokehouses stretch across the UK, including Derby, Lincoln, Wrexham, Leeds, and Huddersfield, with new locations set to open in Swindon<\/a> and Sheffield<\/a> later this year.<\/p>\n

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@westmidlands_foodie<\/a> <\/p>\n

Solihull\u2019s newest smokehouse! Hickory\u2019s smokehouse is coming to Earlswood very soon. Their food is incredible! \ud83d\ude0d #solihull<\/a> #smokehouse<\/a> #smokedmeat<\/a> #texasbbq<\/a> #bbq<\/a> #bbqfood<\/a> #beefbrisket<\/a> #solihullfood<\/a> #hickoryssmokehouse<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u266c Can’t Stop – Red Hot Chili Peppers<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

It\u2019s no secret that fast food lovers have long been fangirling over Hickory\u2019s, which is known for Southern-inspired dishes including brisket popcorn bites, corn dogs, Memphis-style back ribs and smoked brisket.<\/p>\n

Burgers are also a menu staple, including the famous \u2018Go Big or Go Home\u2019 tower with three toasted buns, two beef patties, a Southern fried chicken fillet, streaky bacon, pork collar, hash brown, and not one but three slices of cheese.<\/p>\n

And of course, brunch is served every day until 2pm, offering American classics including homemade pancakes, steak and eggs, and a chicken fried waffle. We’ll have ours sunny side up, please.<\/p>\n

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The chain plans to open 10 new restaurants each year (Picture: Hickory’s Smokehouse)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Over on Reddit, @Dear_Hornet_2635<\/a> said they \u2018love[d]\u2019 their visit to Hickory\u2019s and recommended the \u2018pulled pork baked beans and the cheese and jalapeno sausages.\u2019<\/p>\n

@AfternoonPenalty recently stumbled across the Gloucestershire restaurant and immediately \u2018grabbed the brisket sub with gravy,\u2019 which they thought was \u2018bloody lovely.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Deffo worth a visit \u2013 and we will be going back,\u2019 they added, while @ihavenoimaginaation labelled their \u2018brisket and bacon bites with the blue cheese sauce\u2019 \u2018top tier.\u2019<\/p>\n

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@hickoryssmokehouse<\/a> <\/p>\n

Bank holiday brunchin\u2019 Who wants to start their day the Hickory\u2019s way?\ud83d\udd25 #hickoryssmokehouse<\/a> #hickorys<\/a> #brunch<\/a> #bankholiday<\/a> #tatertots<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u266c original sound – Chase Matthew<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Visiting Solihull\u2019s location after it opened in 2023, TikToker <\/a>@westmidlands_foodie described the food as \u2018incredible,\u2019 while @user751117768 said it was their \u2018absolute favourite place\u2019 and @jamesbcfc84 labelled the combo \u2018unreal.\u2019<\/p>\n

And Priya Holland, who visited the new smokehouse in Milton Keynes earlier this month, wrote in a Facebook post that \u2018the food was delicious\u2019 and with \u2018good-sized portions.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I have never experienced proper American-style food,\u2018 she added. \u2018I\u2019m planning my next visit already.\u2019<\/p>\n

Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One Southern-inspired fast food chain has big plans for 2025 (Picture: Hickory’s Smokehouse) Serving up burger stacks, steaks, and gooey mac and cheese, an American-inspired […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1319,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1317"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1323,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1317\/revisions\/1323"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1319"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.merlinscove.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}