Hickory’s Smokehouse opens its doors at The Lakes next week, serving up slow-smoked BBQ, hearty sides, and that signature Southern hospitality.
We popped by for a sneak peek — and y’all, Northampton’s about to get a whole lot smokier.
(And we decided to let our hair down a little and bust a few Cowboy moves or two!)
by the Editorial Team
We were kindly invited to a practice run before Hickory’s Smokehouse officially opens its doors next week — and let me tell y’all, I was not expecting to be this impressed. As we rolled up to the restaurant, just off the A428 Bedford Road, the place was all lit up like a Southern sunset — a little slice of the Deep South sittin’ pretty on the outskirts of Northampton.
Hickory’s Smokehouse, known for its Texas-style BBQ, with all meats smoked onsite and Southern-style open-hearted hospitality, replaced the former Lakeside pub. It’s doors will be swinging open to the public on Monday November 10th.
First stop: the bar
Weekes Baptiste, Benji Dotan and I got things rolling.
I ordered a root beer — seemed downright rude not to. Benji went for a grape soda, and Weekes opted for an orange juice. My root beer was mighty fine — I was tryin’ to pin down the flavor. Our hostess said it had a touch of aniseed, but I swear there were other notes dancin’ around in there, maybe vanilla, maybe maple syrup. Whatever it was, it went down smooth and fast.
Little Bags of Corn
Corn is a staple feed in South Carolina, and here at Hickory’s they love to greet customers with little bags of popping corn right off the bat. It went so well with our drinks that we took it with us to our table.
Starters: Frickles and Pickles
I chose ‘Frickles,’ juicy pickles deep fried in a crispy Cajun-spiced batter. They were crisp on the outside, tangy on the inside — just how they oughta be. Benji chose ‘Brisket Popcorn Bites’ which he said had a real unique smokey flavour which busted right up his nose!
Party Time!
Then the dishes kept a’ coming out of that smokey kitchen. My veggie burger with roasted soy patty, cheese, hash brown and roasted field mushrooms contained a lot of different flavours and textures and the chips were lightly dusted with ‘magic dust’ which brought them alive. Star of the show for me was the Southern Fried Onion Blossom – with hot honey ranch dip! Despite not feeling that hungry, Weekes ate Pig ‘n’ Chicks with gusto, a platter that looked big enough for four to share but he seemed to do mighty fine on his own after all. Must have been that bourbon-glazed half rack of Memphis-style ribs. And Benji? His Oklahoma Smash Burger was so finger-licking good he said, but his star-of-the show were the brisket bites and ribs.
Pudding time
I couldn’t resist the Cinnamon Sugar-Coated Churros dipped in chocolate. Oh lordy, those were so good — light, crunchy, and sweet enough to make you forget your manners. I was so full – two of these sweet cinnamon coated saddlebags came home with me in a box; too good to waste.
After dinner, we were given a tour of the restaurant— including the movie house, where you can drop your kids off to watch a flick while you tuck into your ribs. We even peeked into the kitchen, where they told us the mighty smoke pit came all the way from Tennessee on a cargo boat. Now that’s commitment to authenticity.
All in all, the atmosphere was spot-on — smoky vibes, Southern hospitality turned up to eleven. Everyone was so friendly, and the food had that signature Hickory’s flair: bold, flavorful, and just a touch of magic. Speaking of which — we even got a jar of their “magic dust” to take home.
We had intended on only staying an hour, but the vibe was so nice, we ended up staying long into the evening.
Verdict:
A real treat — a slice of Texas right on your doorstep. Unique flavours – that rootin/tootin beer – and Southern-style hospitality make it worth takin’ a short drive out for sure.
Tip: make sure you show up hungry.
Hickory’s Smokehouse Northampton will be opening its doors on Monday 10th November.
It’s located at 2 The Lakes, Northampton NN4 7YD. To book, visit their website at:
https://hickorys.co.uk/venue/northampton/
Our meal was complimentary, though all views expressed are entirely our own.
If you liked this article be sure to check out: https://northantsmag.co.uk/chefs-choice-at-spread-sandwich-shop