Hickory's to open first Staffordshire smokehouse in this pub

Hospitality chain Hickory's Smokehouse is to open its first Staffordshire restaurant. Hickory's Smokehouse Stafford is due to open 'in the winter'.

It will open on the site of The King's Horse, on Kingsway, in Stafford, which is now due to shut this summer. It comes as both The King's Horse and Hickory's are operated by Greene King.

Hickory's Smokehouse has 22 venues across England - with three in Cheshire and one in Shrewsbury. Hickory's - founded in 2010 - brands itself as an 'authentic BBQ smokehouse restaurant'.

READ: Staffordshire pub now has sports bar and Wacky Warehouse play area - The King's Horse, in Stafford, has reopened in time for Christmas

READ: 'They could be pulling their last pint' - 15 North Staffordshire pubs in trouble - Hospitality giant Stonegate says its venues 'are not at risk'

A Greene King spokesman said: “We are pleased to announce plans for The King’s Horse Pub & Carvery to become a Hickory’s Smokehouse, in Stafford. Any changes are still many months away and the pub and its carvery remain open and serving our customers as normal. We have notified the team at The King’s Horse of this exciting long-term development for the venue and the current plan is for it to close later in the summer and undergo a significant investment before reopening in the winter as Hickory’s Smokehouse Stafford.”

Greene King has already started consulting its existing King's Horse staff following this month's announcement. It hopes affected staff will work at the new restaurant or transfer to its neighbouring venues.

The King's Horse reopened in 2021 after a six-figure refurbishment. Changes included a separate sports bar, an improved carvery menu, and a Wacky Warehouse-style play area for children.

King's Horse Football Club has been left 'saddened' by the announcement.

In a social media message to fans, the club stated: "Get yourself down to the Horse as much as possible and raise a glass with us and show the love and appreciation to the staff that have made it our second home. We want to thank the manager Matt and his incredible team for the hospitality they have shown us since joining - it’s been special. It’s a partnership that we are hugely saddened will end in August. However the powers above have made a decision."

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